Freelander just clicks instead of starting?

[redKirsten]

Hi,

I think I am posting in the right place but apologies if not.

My 53 reg freelander td4 has been playing up for a while now, when I try to turn her over she just clicks and doesn't start, this can happen 1 or 2 times then she will power into life othertimes it can take 10 minutes. I used to hear a little beep when I tried to start her but I don't anymore. She seems to be getting worse and I have no idea what it could be. I thought possibly starter motor? Or could it be an immobiliser fault (seeing as I used to hear a beep). There doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to this, sometimes she starts first time every time for a while other times she doesn't for a week.

I'm not sure if it is anything but also when trying to start her I sometimes don't turn her off completely when trying to start her just go back a key click and turn again and soemtimes she fires up from this others not.

I think it must be starting to affect her battery too as today after her 300 mile trip run she has started every time first time or that could possibly be she just decided to start first time as she sometime does.

Also her TC and Hill Descent light comes on occasionally whilst driving but I was informed that this is just a temp blip and happens often on these and isn't worth the cost of getting it fixed as it doesn't really mean anything is broken Also when trying to start her up not sure it it is meant to stay on but her red light near temp gauge and her oil light stay on until she starts.

Any help greatly appreciated or if anyone can recommend a independant garage in the North east would be greatly appreciated or even better recommend anyone who has the tools to come out to diagnose the problem.

Thanks guys.

[BliarOut]

99% certain it's your starter solenoid. It should be a relatively inexpensive fix depending on whether the solenoid is available separately from the starter motor or not.

[redKirsten]

Do you know if under the green flag (I took out my recovery with insurance) I would be covered, like pay them to do it when she doesn't start and they come out like the AA do or would they just automatically tow me to a garage?

[jsg612]

Could also be the battery thanks to the colder weather we've been having recently. Not necessarily a flat battery but could be a duff which is being temperamental. I had the same problem in my old BMW project car.

[LilPeteMordino]

I'm thinking battery aswell.

My car wouldnt start, just clicked. I didnt notice the beeping that was going on that lets me know the battery power was low! Try jump starting, if that works then its more than likely going to be a battery.

[Sam_68]

As above, the symptoms do tend to point toward either battery or starter solenoid, but the first thing to check is the cables connecting to the battery and starter.

Loose or corroded connections on these would produce exactly the symptoms you've described, so get someone to disconnect them, clean the terminals and refit.

Make sure the cables are in good condition while you're at it - I once had these symptoms where the metal conductor wires inside the cable had cracked through the fatigue of repeatedly flexing and it wasn't immediately obvious because the plastic insulating sheathing was still intact... it took me a while to track that one down!

[BliarOut]

If it's the battery you would expect it to turn more slowly as well as just click sometimes.

[blugnu]

BliarOut said:

If it's the battery you would expect it to turn more slowly as well as just click sometimes.

Diesels take a lot of starting. When the battery on my diesel went it just went - one day it was fine, the next morning it was completely dead. Modern batteries do that, apparently, so the man told me. Winter kills them too. The battery on the Sportka was similarly sudden in failing - two days parking in a wet field it started fine. Driving from Mallaig to Fort William was fine. Stopped at a petrol station, filled up, it wouldn't start - no turning over, just a click and a flicker of the dials.

[BliarOut]

Good point, my old Volvo battery just died completely one morning. My money is still on the solenoid though as there aren't any other symptoms described

[redKirsten]

I was told starter motor by a garage but that was only after I mentioned starter motor to them and they were deffo dodgy as apparently they had been on fne and ordered part in 30 seconds flat without me hearting that call when I was actually there, but got her booked in on Monday with a Reputable garage so we will see. Battery seems fine, must be cos sometimes it takes me 20 minutes now to get her started

[heightswitch]

This is a common Rover problem on all rovers but especially the diesel models.

On your starter motor is a big 12v red cable from the battery and also a Spade connector connection to the solenoid. When this connection corrodes you get those symptoms. Take off the spade, clean the connection and the spade terminal with a small rat tail electrical file, nip the spade terminal to give a better connection and you will find it fixes the problem.

Also check the earth straps on the car since these connections also degrade over time and cause the symptoms you describe.

N

[Blade13]

I had exactly the same problem -starter motor !