On the last two very cold mornings when starting The old boilers Defender starter cranks then stops then retry and then cranks until starts, once warm starts. Ok so I am thinking starter on its way out? or relay?

Glow plugs good, earth good, battery good, have I missed anything? milage 120k 2013 FL2 XS.
Defender 90 300 TDi.
Defender 90 300 TDi CSW.
1964 MGB Roadster.
1944 Willys MB "Jeep" with bullet holes. (gone)
17 hand Irish Drought Thoroughbred (mostly lame)
Nagging Old Boiler.

Mahatma Gandhi said if there is an Idiot in power those who elected him are well represented. The Enemy is our own corrupt Government.

Are you able to measure real time battery voltage during starting attempts ? Jules

Yes not not tried it yet but Battery is a fairly new heavy duty one. So will wait till the next frost and measure it. 2013 FL2 XS.
Defender 90 300 TDi.
Defender 90 300 TDi CSW.
1964 MGB Roadster.
1944 Willys MB "Jeep" with bullet holes. (gone)
17 hand Irish Drought Thoroughbred (mostly lame)
Nagging Old Boiler.

Mahatma Gandhi said if there is an Idiot in power those who elected him are well represented. The Enemy is our own corrupt Government.

Hi Rommel,

Had same fault on my Disco 1 300TDI…..only when - dégrées…..just when you want it to start……!
Traced fault to starter motor solénoïd…….local vehicle electricians had come across it before…..bad contacts inside starter…..damp contacts…once started & warm no probs…… I remember taking off s/mtr…..bit of a pig with exhaust d/pipe in the way…….
Bizzare thing…..as often happens…had very similar fault on D2 TD5…..Denso starter ….same electricians repaired it……FOC…..(was trade customer at time)………
Same fault ….but more intermittent with current FL2 SD4……Denso starter again……à year ago…being retired now no freebie repairs so bought brand new Denso unit …..been ok since…..


——————————————————
FL2 SD4 HSE Lux Auto MY 2012….157k mls…..started up no probs after 15days
D2 TD5 HSE Man MY 1999 470kmls…….gone 2014….lovely engine..rotten chassis
D1 300TDI Man MY 1996 60kmls….gone ‘99……D2 much better
Wife’s FL1 1.8p…..gone …..cost à bomb.

Thanks for input, spoke to my local indy Safari Engineering and was advised most likely starter on its way out which was what I thought, so put a cheapo S**tpart for now and all is good the starter that I took off was the original LandRover one nearly 30 yrs old so I will get this reconned as the slitty eyed one will not last 30 months will be taking it to this firm which is not far from me they are very good .

https://www.burghfieldstarterandalternatorcentre.co.uk/ 2013 FL2 XS.
Defender 90 300 TDi.
Defender 90 300 TDi CSW.
1964 MGB Roadster.
1944 Willys MB "Jeep" with bullet holes. (gone)
17 hand Irish Drought Thoroughbred (mostly lame)
Nagging Old Boiler.

Mahatma Gandhi said if there is an Idiot in power those who elected him are well represented. The Enemy is our own corrupt Government.

Rommel,

Glad you sorted it. OE starter did well …30yrs….Bosch unit I presume…good gear.
Looked at Burgfield site……looks good, like you can speak to the people doing the work, like the firm I used to deal with in BHX. Made a note since they are not far from me either, nice to have recommendation.

Yes Bosch. 2013 FL2 XS.
Defender 90 300 TDi.
Defender 90 300 TDi CSW.
1964 MGB Roadster.
1944 Willys MB "Jeep" with bullet holes. (gone)
17 hand Irish Drought Thoroughbred (mostly lame)
Nagging Old Boiler.

Mahatma Gandhi said if there is an Idiot in power those who elected him are well represented. The Enemy is our own corrupt Government.

I have the opposite with a car, when the engine is hot it wont turn over, give it 5 mins and its fine,

Sounds like s/motor problem……weak s/mtr……..it takes a lot more effort to turn engine when hot …..

I second what Oxonpete says, starter motor most likely. 2013 FL2 XS.
Defender 90 300 TDi.
Defender 90 300 TDi CSW.
1964 MGB Roadster.
1944 Willys MB "Jeep" with bullet holes. (gone)
17 hand Irish Drought Thoroughbred (mostly lame)
Nagging Old Boiler.

Mahatma Gandhi said if there is an Idiot in power those who elected him are well represented. The Enemy is our own corrupt Government.

you can get repair kits for the solenoid.

But depending upon your time and capability it might be easier to just swap it for a recon starter unit.

Are the starter motor connections pristine ? Jules

Last edited by jules on 5th Jan 2025 11:24 am. Edited 1 time in total

bobtail4x4 wrote:

I have the opposite with a car, when the engine is hot it wont turn over, give it 5 mins and its fine,

its a scimitar, but just a ford V6 lump

No relevance to a forum for Freelander2’s …… but I think you will find it is the starter motor……

No relevance either but I had a TVR in mid seventies with same Essex V6 3.1 Ltr

If the starter motor squeals when you try to start hot engine…….it’s conclusive….faulty clutch on drive cog.

New starter or refurb……