1. Home
  2. Land Rover 4WD vehicles
  3. Heeeeelp! Starter solenoid wiring in 200 TDI conversion

Heeeeelp! Starter solenoid wiring in 200 TDI conversion

Hi folks,

Marge, formerly a TD, now has an ex-Disco 200 TDI, fitted at Christmas by the local specialist (and not a bad job either). The cables to the starter ended-up between the exhaust manifold and the downpipe - not ideal, but presumably much the same as on the Disco it came from.

Well she let me down this morning - no starter solenoid, not even a click, but sensible volts (the battery's good). Investigations revealed the following problems: Battery earth post bolt not done up at all (thanks chaps!), ignition switch-to-solenoid cable is frayed where it negotiates the end of the solenoid, and the Lucar connector is weak...

So I can fix those pretty easily, but before getting stuck-in I've a question for anyone who's come across this as a problem:

How is it all properly routed/heatproofed on the Disco or on a conversion, to avoid heat problems?

All thoughts appreciated. Right now I'm inclined toward fibreglass (high-temp) braided sleeving, and careful anchoring out of the way with ties. It looks a bit tricky though as obviously the engine will move in the mountings, and I need to allow slack for that. The trouble is that if I stretch the cables so they don't sag, they're liable to fracture with vibration, but if I don't the insulation will melt and short (no fuses in that lot either!).

So is there a clever route/trick to it all?

Regards,

Simonm.

Reply to
SpamTrapSeeSig
Loading thread data ...

In article , SpamTrapSeeSig writes

Not exactly fixed, but working... here's how it went:

She wasn't even pretending to make an effort - ignition lights on the dashboard fine, but not even a pathetic click when I turned the key. Thus I didn't get L. to school (avec bike for cycling proficiency course), and got into extreme hot water with spouse who had to take her instead and then visit Maplins for bits to mend the wiring.

Spin on seven hours: had checked my wiring repairs thoroughly - all fine (everything in the engine bay is going brittle, so these won't be the last repairs I fear). Dug out the manual - yes all the wires do go where I thought they did. Checked relays - all working. Checked the removed-recharged-&-refitted battery - plenty of Volts. Still not even a click from the starter.

In exasperation, applied butt end of heavy screwdriver forcefully to casing of starter solenoid. Turned key. Marge started immediately, with a "can't see what all the fuss was about" sort of noise.

Make mental note to hit the solenoid *first* next time (and to budget for replacing the starter as soon as possible), and consider repainting her in purple to conform with that Jenny Jones poem...

... and incidentally, it seems the glowplugs are wired straight off the ignition switch (no relay), and that the solenoid has some sort of "brake test relay" in the circuit too. Seems backwards to me. Bodged up the solenoid cable route with cable ties (taking the wires straight out to the back parallel with the manifolds), and discovered that Maplins goo-filled heatshrink is rather useful.

Regards,

Simonm.

Reply to
SpamTrapSeeSig

I thought that was on page one, just after the "Yes" answer to "Are the headlights bright?"

Had this on the Mondeo once, trouble is I couldn't get at the damn thing to whack it hard enough, the AA man had a longer handle on his hammer. Starter started playing up after I drove slowly through a flood, with the bow wave just up to the bonnet, isn't deep water hard to drive through. Clutch and starter where never quite the same after...

Reply to
Dave Liquorice

Funny how odd the steering goes on a two-ton truck!

Had wonderful fun (in a very sad way) last week. Picked up oldest daughter from school and went looking for large puddles on the perimeter track of the Downs (it had been very wet), which we duly found and proceeded to investigate at speed, in both directions, several times (just to be thorough).

I'd forgotten that the garage had lifted the passenger floor plate when they put the TDi in, and they'd omitted a couple of clips. Didn't understand why daughter screamed (abnormally) when we went through the puddle, until she explained that a jet of muddy water had shot straight up the inside of her trouser leg.

Priceless.

Regards,

Simonm.

Reply to
SpamTrapSeeSig

Does a 110 have a optimum speed for puddles? I find just under 35mph good for the DII, almost guarantees that the water pushed forward and up by the tyres hits the windscreen. B-) Faster or slower that doesn't happen.

And what was the response from SWMBO'd?

Reply to
Dave Liquorice

MotorsForum website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.