Land Rover Repair: Discovery 1 starting problems, starter solenoid, turning the key

Question
Hi John!
I keep having problems with the LR Discovery from 1996 that I own. The starter sometimes would not just click at all. It seems that there is no power coming to it or something. My thinking is that it could be e connection, as if it's to work then it works every time, just sometimes it would not even make a noise at all. Battery and alternator tested and working fine, engine working just fine, a few leaks here or there, just whenever you don't expect it, the car would not start.... please help me with this!
I must mention I live in Ireland and the car has around 200,000 miles and it's 2.5 TDI manual gear box.... just in case you want to know... Thanks in advance. All the best. Florin

Answer
You need an assistant to check this out.  When the vehicle fails to crank put a test lamp on the push-on plug at the starter solenoid while turning the key to crank.  Is it live?  If so, the starter is bad.  If not, you need to follow the wiring upstream to the relay, the neutral switch, and even the ignigion switch and the alarm/immobilizer.

It all starts with the test at the starter.

Best of luck with it!

John Elder Robison
check out my car blog at http://robisonservice.blogspot.com