JonJon Posted November 16, 2008 Share Posted November 16, 2008 Morning It must know I've been talking about it. Earlier, It turned over once, then died. Then proceeded to 'click - click' on every key-turn after that. Not being overly technical, I undid everything, checked battery charge and reconnected and it started just fine. But to save my other half getting stuck or stranded in the week, what could be the cause of click-click-fever? It couldn't have been poor connections because the glow-plug light and battery light came on with the ignition, and the charge seemed o.k? Following yesterdays post asking for electrical references (thanks for the suggestions) this is in light of every week, a new function going off-line. It's quite exciting actually, we never know what will work or what won't every time we get in it. Rear screen wash means "indicate right" and reverse light flashing means "intermittent fog wiper". I guess. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retroanaconda Posted November 16, 2008 Share Posted November 16, 2008 I had the same thing (in John Craddock's car park of all places). Turned out the earth battery clamp wasn't provinging enough of a connection. It was enough to run the auxillary systems and lights, but on cranking it couldn't provide the juice. I discovered it when I accidentally bridged the clamp and the post with a multimeter and there was one hell of a spark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beekay Posted November 16, 2008 Share Posted November 16, 2008 Hi, You say that it couldn't be a bad connection because the ignition light and glow plug light came on. However, after disconnecting the battery and reconnecting , it started fine. A clicking solenoid is a classic symptom of current starvation to the starter motor caused either by a faulty/poorly charged battery or a poor earth or positive connection. A starter motor on a cold diesel engine draws a huge current, any high resistance connections will cause a large voltage drop which in turn drops the solenoid out allowing the battery voltage to come back up and the starter to engage again, and so on... hence the click click click. Lower current devices such as dash lights and relays will not generally be affected as they do not create enough voltage drop across the faulty connection. I suggest that assuming you have checked the battery charge condition and found it to be good, you did indeed have a bad connection onto the battery terminal which you rectified by disconnecting and reconnecting. Still it would be a good idea to check the other connections such as the chassis/gearbox earth and main starter solenoid positive feed just in case. If after all this you still have problems, get the battery checked properly using a battery analyser or drop tester (Quickfit will generally do this free of charge) or any auto electrical place, and make sure the alternator is charging the battery correctly - winter is upon us!!! Hope this helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat_J Posted November 17, 2008 Share Posted November 17, 2008 As its now cold I was getting this problem. I changed my 480CCA/65Ah battery over for a 720CCA/95Ah (£50 from work, woop) and its been sweet as ever since. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonJon Posted November 17, 2008 Author Share Posted November 17, 2008 Thanks everyone for your help! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JLL Posted March 21, 2009 Share Posted March 21, 2009 Ok folks, Here is am also stranded with the 'click click' routine. Of course just in teh middle of a moving house week, where the 110 was really really needed to haul stuff around..... I am going to try the checks descibed above, but I woudl appreciate some help in locating: -Earth to battery clamp. - chassis/gearbox earth - main starter solenoid positive feed just in case Any help in locating this owuld help enormously. Mine is a 1990 110. Thanks ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
western Posted March 21, 2009 Share Posted March 21, 2009 1 earth lead from negative terminal on battery to main gearbox/transfer box joint 1 earth lead from engine block to chassis [on a Tdi, it should be from the PAS pump/alternator bracket to the chassis part of the left engine mounting. starter leads at the starter, could be a poor/dirty connection. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JLL Posted March 21, 2009 Share Posted March 21, 2009 1 earth lead from negative terminal on battery to main gearbox/transfer box joint1 earth lead from engine block to chassis [on a Tdi, it should be from the PAS pump/alternator bracket to the chassis part of the left engine mounting. starter leads at the starter, could be a poor/dirty connection. I think it also has to do with the car radio circuit, as that's off too. I was working underneath teh car trying to disconect the rear propshaft, and was listening to teh radio on the car for an hour or so. then the radio went suddenly, then the click click. I thought listening to the radio discharged the battery some, but I tried jump leads, another battery, nothing, just click click and the radio is dead...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
western Posted March 21, 2009 Share Posted March 21, 2009 you've probably pulled the battery right down then, charge it up overnight & try tomorrow morning to start it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JLL Posted March 21, 2009 Share Posted March 21, 2009 you've probably pulled the battery right down then, charge it up overnight & try tomorrow morning to start it. I don't think the battery is gone, I tried to jump start it linking to a 7 series diesel engine on, then with another battery...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TD5 power Posted March 21, 2009 Share Posted March 21, 2009 hi it could still be the battery as if it is completely flat it will take all the charge from the jumper battery and still not start better to charge the battery as western says then try again or swap it for a known good one. if you put a multimeter across the battery and then turn the key the reading should not dip below 10v if it does the battery's flat or dead, if it doesn't change at all then you have got an earthing problem. HTH Matt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave88sw Posted March 21, 2009 Share Posted March 21, 2009 if a battery drops below,something around 10.7? volts it can become permanently damaged, i did this to mine, not realising how long i'd had the radio on (and the radio also powered the amp and cd changer so quite a draw) and despite charging it was still dead, took backto battery place (still under warranty and sure enough,it was stuffed. Try swapping out the battery for a known good and fully charged battery, while youre at it, give the terminals a clean up and loosen the earth at the gearbox etc and clean the terminals, you'll be surprised how much better it willturn over. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JLL Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 Still stuck, can't start the thing and hence can't be towed. Question: Is there anyway I can start it by jumpstarting the starter motor ? ie switching the ignition on, and connecting the battery directly on the starter motor itself ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
western Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 with a jump lead. still reckon either the starter solenoid is stuffed or the battery isn'y fully charged. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
landroversforever Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 Having similar troubles regularly with the disco 2. Charging the battery solves it, so I think it is just lack of use/flat battery. But I dont know where the earth clamp is to check it. where is it western? thanks, and sorry for the hijack! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
western Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 on a 90 or 110 earth lead from battery Negative terminal to main gearbox to transfer box joint under one of the bolts. probably a different location on a Disco as the battery is under the bonnet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
calle-fas Posted March 25, 2009 Share Posted March 25, 2009 I've had the same trouble on a Td5. The solenoid would pull, but wouldn't power up the starter motor. It turned out to be inside the solenoid. The surfaces that connect and give power to the starter had worn down. I had an extra starter laying around, but changing the contacs shouldn't be too hard. Removing the starter might prove a challenge though since the top nut is really tight to find. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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