Land Rover Repair: 1997 Range Rover Range rover p38 1997 starting problem, range rover p38, starter solenoid

Question
Hello,

I have a problem with my Range rover p38 1997.

It cannot start, the battery is new, the check engine light is on, but when I turn the key to start the car, nothing happens, and all the lights on the dashboard disappear. I don't have any click. And I had a smoke coming from the starter.

Any advice on that?

Thanks a lot for your help.

Pat  

Answer
Hi Patrick,

could be the starter solenoid relay, found in the engine compartment.  

"When the Ignition Switch (X274) is switched to position III, the
BeCM (Z238) grounds the starter solenoid relay inside the Engine
Compartment Fuse Box (P125) which then energizes, applying battery
voltage to the Starter Solenoid (K136) and Starter(M134)."

Otherwise, its either the starter or the starter solenoid (usually).  With the lights going out, something is drawing all those amps.  

One winter, my Disco grounded out ... turned out to the the main lead from the battery to the solenoid.  It was soaked in oil, road grime and superfine sand.  I had to cut a section off and spice in a new piece to correct the problem.  SO, you may want to take a look at that as well, while you are at it.

Best of luck,
JohnMc