bobcat Posted October 2, 2006 Share Posted October 2, 2006 Hi, my defender won't start. I turn the key and there is a 'buzzing' sound coming from behind the dash. Opening the bonnet the relay (?) screwed to the bulkead a few inches below the windscreen vibrates away, the dash lights flicker and nothing happens!! Any ideas? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BogMonster Posted October 2, 2006 Share Posted October 2, 2006 Flat battery The buzzing is all the relays dropping out as the battery voltage drops, then as the load is removed voltage rises, they come back on, off, on, off, on.... etc. The relay you refer to will be the heater plug timer unit, buzzing for the same reason. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
western Posted October 2, 2006 Share Posted October 2, 2006 Definitly sounds like a duff or almost no charge battery, try a known good one from a mates vehicle or jump start yours & charge the battery for a few days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest diesel_jim Posted October 2, 2006 Share Posted October 2, 2006 Yup, i concur, flat battery. had it the other week on one of the 90's Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aragorn Posted October 4, 2006 Share Posted October 4, 2006 if its not the battery it could be the chassis to battery earth lead Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BogMonster Posted October 4, 2006 Share Posted October 4, 2006 Sure is takin' a long time to see if the battery is flat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Posted October 4, 2006 Share Posted October 4, 2006 my battery has a flat top.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BogMonster Posted October 4, 2006 Share Posted October 4, 2006 Mine hasn't, it's got two sticky up bits that look like they are made of metal Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
western Posted October 4, 2006 Share Posted October 4, 2006 Mine hasn't, it's got two sticky up bits that look like they are made of metal mine too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mo Murphy Posted October 5, 2006 Share Posted October 5, 2006 my battery has a flat top.... My mate had one of those hair dos in the 80's Mo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BogMonster Posted October 5, 2006 Share Posted October 5, 2006 My mate had one of those hair dos in the 80's Mo What, a battery on his head? I never understood that one. Was it something to do with "acid"? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Posted October 5, 2006 Share Posted October 5, 2006 doh *takes foot out of mouth* walked myself into that didnt i? arent the sticky up bits that look like their made of metal below the level of the top of the battery though? oh ok i wont win i'll go away quietly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobcat Posted October 7, 2006 Author Share Posted October 7, 2006 Sure is takin' a long time to see if the battery is flat Sorry, had another problem, this time with BTbroadband! Thanks for the replies. Cleaned the contacts on the relay which stopped it buzzing away as soon as the key turned - and then realised that yes, the battery was low (doh...). Checked the earth strap, and that had come away from the chassi connection (still bolted to the gearbox though) so maybe that was compounding the problem? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BogMonster Posted October 7, 2006 Share Posted October 7, 2006 Bad earths will often lead to starting problems, slow cranking etc. I had this for about two years on my old Discovery (very slow cranking, but always started so I never looked at it...) and then one day while looking at something else, I found one of the main earths broken off once fixed, normal service was resumed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobcat Posted October 8, 2006 Author Share Posted October 8, 2006 Bad earths will often lead to starting problems, slow cranking etc. I had this for about two years on my old Discovery (very slow cranking, but always started so I never looked at it...) and then one day while looking at something else, I found one of the main earths broken off once fixed, normal service was resumed I've actually got a lot of minor electrical glitches that seem to come and go. I'm wondering where else should I look for bad earths - which are the important ones? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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