Hi All,

I am the owner of a 2011 Freelander SD4 which has done 67000km is the past 6 years. Recently I am confornted with a problem while trying to start. it will make a click noise as if the battery is down. However it will start on the second or third attemptlike normal. All the electronics will operate as normal. It was very intermittent in nature. Recently it became more frequent and i took the vehicle to local LR garage. They tested the vehicle and advised me to change the battery. Since I was not convinced i took it to another mechanic and he too convinced me to replace the battery. After replacing the battery the problem is even worse. Half the time it will start as normal. Can anyone suggest what could be the potential problem. Thanking in advance , Jay

A click when trying to start is usually the starter motor not engaging - probably the solenoid - check your electrical connections may just be loose or cruddy No Longer the owner of a 2013MY Fuji White GS

"Fiat Lux" a philosophy not a car

I'd also check the earth from the engine to chassis. It has been a problem for some in the past causing several to add an additional earth cable.
The starter takes a lot of current at low voltage and a high resistance somewhere can seriously impede the starter motor. Jules

hi buy a starter motor repair kit, available on ebay and an easy DIY fix
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LAND-ROVER-FREEL...aLg6A8kzew

I had the same problem my last FL2. Tapping the starter and then it would fire up. I did change the battery before having the starter motor setvice kit job done. Its just carbon build up in the starter and worn bushes MY13 HSE LUX Aintree Green
MY57 SE Stornoway Grey. Gone
Nissan X Trail
Discovery V8 LPG
Series II Land Rover

Worn Throttle Body clicks when gears are stripped, plenty about them posted on here so try a search. FL2 MY10 TD4 GS traded in at 2 years
FL2 MY13 TD4 GS Current

+1 wth Hinchy give the starter a few GENTLE taps with a hammer or something when this happens and if it starts replace the brushes in the starter motor as it sounds exactly like the problem I had with mine

ricky64 wrote:

hi buy a starter motor repair kit, available on ebay and an easy DIY fix
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LAND-ROVER-FREEL...aLg6A8kzew

Thank you all for your helpful tips.

I took the car back to the dealer having replaced the battery . They diagnosed a problem with the starter motor and promptly provided me with a quote for a new starter motor (R10K) I took the starter motor to an auto electrician and it was fixed within a couple of hours (R800 for fixing the clutch and servicing the motor). The vehicle is starting without any problems.

It is clear that the LR dealership simply wants to exploit their customers of their lack of understanding of technical matters. I do not understand why they couldn't have put a slave battery to see if that could correct the problem instead of insisting on changing the battery. I have reported the matter to LR- Jaguar SA and waiting to see their response on the matter.

Thanks again for your wonderful support!