Hi,

My Td6 won't start. The key turns in the ignition, all of the lights come on, turn the key to start it and then it just clicks.

My initial thought was the battery, and the one in it was quite old, so I swapped the battery today for a new one (Bosch, 110Ah, 920 CCA), but still the same problem. I have had a play around tonight, and tried the following:

Tried running a jump lead directly from the case of the starter motor to the battery earth.

Also tried shorting the terminal of the solenoid straight to the +ve terminal on the starter motor, still just clicked.

Does anyone have any suggestions? I am thinking starter motor, but hadn't planned on spending my Saturday under the bonnet of the R-R!

Thanks,

Nik. 2005 FFRR Td6 Vogue
1991 Defender 90 200Tdi

Jump start it from your defender, see what happens.

Thanks for the reply. Unfortunately I have already tried jump starting, and again it just clicks. 2005 FFRR Td6 Vogue
1991 Defender 90 200Tdi

Then you either have a loose connection on one of the cables serving your starter or engine earth or a faulty starter. Possibly starter brushes.

That's what I was thinking. I have checked all of the cables and they are good and tight. Access to the starter motor doesn't look too bad for removal - is it a straightforward job? 2005 FFRR Td6 Vogue
1991 Defender 90 200Tdi

Sorry, can't help you with that.
Not had to remove it ...yet.

Just checked the workshop manual, and found this:

The starter solenoid is energised by a signal from the immobilisation ECU when the ignition switch is moved to the crank position. When engine cranking is requested, the immobilisation ECU checks that a valid key code has been received before granting the crank request.

Could it therefore be the key which is at fault??? 2005 FFRR Td6 Vogue
1991 Defender 90 200Tdi

try moving your gear selector just in case the inhibitor switch is stuck, V8 facelift Range Rover Autobiography 22" wheels.
1976 Harley Davidson Iron Head Sportster

Surely the fact that the starter solenoid is clicking means that the crank request has been confirmed by the ecu?

All of the starter motors I have dealt with in the past have the thick +ve cable direct from the battery, and then one small wire which is the 12V signal from the ignition switch. The R-R's starter motor has two smaller wires, one going to either side of the solenoid, as well as the thick power cable.

I had been thinking the same as you, nicedayforit, but the way that the manual reads makes it sound like it gets a signal to energise the solenoid, and if the valid key is present then a second signal to crank the engine.

I have also dried cycling the gear shift several times, but unfortunately it makes no difference. 2005 FFRR Td6 Vogue
1991 Defender 90 200Tdi

Do you have any diagnostics kit? Sounds like a faulty cam sensor..... Land Rover Addict
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Previous
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
2009 5.0V8SC Autobiography
2006 4.2V8SC Autobiography
2004 4.4V8 Vogue

Hold on a minute... just remembered that I have an old key without a transponder chip in it, so I will go and give it a try and see if it still clicks... 2005 FFRR Td6 Vogue
1991 Defender 90 200Tdi

Had the same - it was the starter solenoid and not available seperately. I had to buy a new starter motor and since then no problems.

No diagnostic kit to hand, but I am reluctant to go out and buy a new starter motor in the morning if that's not definitely the problem.

The key without the transponder won't even turn past stage 1 of the ignition. 2005 FFRR Td6 Vogue
1991 Defender 90 200Tdi

Try the dud spare key in the ignition and the good key beside it so that the transponder chip signal can be picked up to allow you past stage 1