Land Rover Repair: My 2000 Disovery II Wont Start, fuse box, pep boys

Question
Parked my 2000 Discovery II (51k miles) in the garage last night. I smelled a burning smell not usually associated with engine exaust. This morning, I went to start it and it would click but not turn over. All electrical functions such as radio/cd , fans and lights were fine. I took the newer battery over to Pep Boys for a test. It was completely charged. Poped the battery back in and still did not turn over. I opened the fuse box under the hood behind the battery, and noticed that the 30A square female fuse under the box labeled SM was burnt. The fuses in the interior fuse box under the steering wheel are all fine.

As I am waiting for a tow to the service station, I have read that starters and alternators have gone on the Discovery II. In my 51k miles, all I have had to replace is tires and brakes and a battery, while Land Rover has serviced all recall related issues.  Does this sound like the starter or alternator, or a more serious electrical problem? And how often do these more serious problems start to occur on higher mileage Discovery's.

Thanks  

Answer
Hi Mike,

sounds like the starter relay was blown. Probably a seized starter or solenoid shorted out.

Make sure to test out the alternator after your starter is repaired or replaced.  

I would think it normal for a six (6) year old Disco to have the starter fail.  Corrosion/rust infiltrates everywhere, including the starter and solenoid.  

Routine maintenance reduces the chances of the starter failing as the engine turns over easier.  Winter cold starts are the bane of most starters.

The alternator is a different matter.  It's role is to recharge the battery and unlike the starter, it's working constantly.  I've had a few replaced on my '95 Disco and I suspect it will happen again in a couple of years.

51,000 miles is not considered high mileage.  350,000 miles is high.  

When I rebuilt my starter, I noticed that the mainshaft was all rusted.  This was the cause of my starter seizing.  Perhaps over time, water ingress creates rust and thus begins the problem.

Keep your engine oil clean, replace all fluids every two years and you'll do better than most.

Best of luck,

JohnMc