QuestionHi - my '01 Disco is having starting problems. The problems began this past Friday when trying to start it & I noticed it struggling to crank & then all of a sudden it wouldn't turn over at all, the lights, air, windshield wipers, stereo, etc. all working properly, but would not turn over. Also - the alarm was going off. I mashed the button on the key fob & tried again several times with the same outcome. A few hours later, I went out & tried again & it slowly cranked over and started. Since then, I have experienced the same situation several times, as well as it not starting & the alarm not going off. I called the local LR service department and the guy told me it could be multiple issues, a starter, battery, fuel problem, alarm issue, etc.
I've only owned the vehicle for 2 months now and the battery is fairly old & not sure if it is the original or not but had a lot of corrosion which I cleaned off by pouring coke on it and then washing off with water yesterday. The truck started normally after that but then tonight it would not start again, I then used jumper cables & after charging it up for approx. 5 minutes, it started fine. I drove it home (2 miles) & turn it off & started it right away. I then tried starting it several hours later and it failed again. This time it was not setting off the alarm but it was cranking very slow for a second & then not cranking at all but would have all lights, music, air, etc. working like the battery was fine.
I bought the truck from a small “mom & pop” corner lot dealer but had it looked over at a local small repair shop that specializes in Land Rover. Nothing was mentioned at the time regarding this issue & I’ve driven it daily for 6 weeks without the problem.
I did have to have a guy come out about a week or 2 after having it to install a GPS tracking system per the finance company policy. The kid that came out & spent about 15 – 20 minutes installing this device up under the steering wheel. I didn’t really see exactly what he was doing but I did see him soddering some wires underneath the steering wheel. The GPS device is able to turn the vehicle off if the payment is not received on time and actually alerts you 3 days prior to the payment being due by giving you a series of beeps when the truck is started & when it is turned off. Once I make the payment on time, they give me a code to punch in a remote which keeps it from alerting me or preventing it from starting until the next month. Is it possible that this GPS device is something which created the problems I’m now 3 or 4 weeks later having?
Any information/suggestions are much appreciated!!! Thank you.
AnswerYou're going to have to figure out where the power is getting lost. Either the 12v is not making it to the starter moter terminal, or it's not making it to the solenoid terminal. One or the other. You'll have to test it next time the situation occurs and follow it back with the wiring diagram.
