Land Rover Repair: 97 Disco does not start, land rover service, starter solenoid

Question
QUESTION: Hello, Ineed help,  I just purchased a 1997 discovery SD ans it ran fine for a week and sunday morning it just would not start.  Battery very powerful and it's not the fuel pump.  Does this model have a history of this and what may be the possible problem.  I check the reset fuel switch and changed the spark lugs and still nothing.  Help.
tyrone m.

ANSWER: Hi Tyrone,

do you know if it is ignition or fuel feed related?  Do your spark plugs work?  There are meters to measure each wire to determine if there is 'juice' in the wires.  Fuel feed is important - you could deliberately try to flood your engine - then remove the spark plugs to see if they are wet.

ALSO, does your starter motor turn over?  Most times, this kind of problem is either the starter or the starter solenoid.  ON older models, even the main lead wire to the starter solenoid can become soaked in grime and oil (gradually over time) and thus prevent a full contact needed for the starter. What happens next is that the starter is straining to work but does not have the amps it really needs to get going - and "poof" there goes the $700 starter.  I've rebuilt mine a few times and this is my guess.

Best of luck,

JohnMc

NB:  www.car-part.com is a good place for salvaged LR parts -  $100 for a salvaged, low mileage starter (and that's a good price!)

John



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hello,  I told the mechanic also that I had the car detailed when I got it and also had the engine washed, they started laughing.  I found out today that that may have been the mistake of the century.  I got it to a land rover service place that does 85% land rover and a couple of sensors I must have damaged.  This may be a $500.00 engine wash.  I did not know not to wash the engine.  I learn and pay as I go along.
thanks for the help.
tyrone m.

Answer
Follow-up;

Hi Tyrone,

you left that part of your problem description out.  Had I known...

The alternator has an amplifier module that can be easily damaged if wet;

yes, some sensors contacts can short out if not properly protected before washing;  

Thanks for the followup info - hopefully it won't cost you much more than the $500 they quoted.

JohnMc