My FL2 started being reluctant to start about 3 months ago - when putting key in slot, foot on brake and pressing Start the car made a click but nothing happened. After a couple of tries the car started and all was fine. The problem has gradually got worse over the months until on several occasions it wouldn't start at all. Left it for a day and then it started. The non-start occurs at any time and any place, after standing overnight, hot weather, cold weather, short journey, long journey etc etc. There is no pattern to this.
Eventually the car would not start at all and I called recovery service who tried jump starting but still didn't start, they then transported to local LR dealer. Whilst at the dealers the car started first time every time. All diagnostics tests on the car showed no problems. Collected car and it was fine for a week and then starter problems started again. Returned to dealer who then had the experience of car not starting. Now the dealer is saying that I need a new battery and new starter motor even thought no problem is being shown on the diagnostics with either component. Starter motor is on back order with no sign of one being available this year ! Customer services are not interested in the problem apart from saying 'what do you want me to do, I'm not a mechanic'. Well I actually want my car to start and to go away for Christmas but never mind.
Anyone got any ideas a) what to do with the car, b) what to do with the dealership. All help gratefully received.

Is your FL still covered by warranty? Another member of the failed FL2 clutch/DMF club, twice.

electric steering lock faults can cause this problem, have you waggled the wheel during a non starting event?

Its a long shot, but you never know  At work
At home

"I can't always believe facts I read on the web" - Charles Dickens

winner by default of the tractor vs caravan race

No its out of warranty so it all looks expensive. I am reluctant to replace battery and starter motor unless this is definitely going to cure problem. the battery has been tested by the recovery chap and an independent garage and it seems to be OK but LR will not do more tests unless this is replaced.
Haven't tried waggling steering wheel - will give it a try.
Forgot to mention that I have managed to get it to start in N twice when it wouldn't start in P, but that may be a red herring, and it may have been going to start anyway.

It could be a number of things, starter motor solenoid, starter relay, starter motor bushes. Is there someone near you who will refurbish starter motors? Another member of the failed FL2 clutch/DMF club, twice.

Auto electrical specialists & they rebuild starter motors
Curd Brothers Tunbridge wells. They have been their almost as long as Tun-wells !

someone replaced the start button, fixed the problem.

stupid fob/button system so many possibilities At work
At home

"I can't always believe facts I read on the web" - Charles Dickens

winner by default of the tractor vs caravan race

Maybe it's not the battery or starter motor, maybe it's the auto's micro switch that should only allow you to start in 'park'

Last edited by EYorkshire on 20th Dec 2011 11:56 am. Edited 1 time in total

Last edited by dunroof on 17th Feb 2013 9:51 am. Edited 1 time in total

This is a very common problem on Yanmar marine engines, it is usualy a poor connection on the wire from the start button to the solanoid, cleaning the connections with something like ACF-50 may well solve the problem. Probably too simple and a little technical for a LR dealer.

The click you are hearing is the solenoid activating so there is probably power trying to get to the starter which also means that the start button is probably ok. Sounds like the starter to me  Cheers,
Raz
FL1 TD4 GS Auto 2001 Silver
FL2 TD4 Auto 2007 Black
FL2 XS SD4 Auto 2012 Fuji White

The private dealer that sold me my i6 recently had a similar problem with it. He claims it was down to a relay behind the steering column that got stuck. You could either have an instrument panel that worked or a car that started but not both. In the end it was a new instrument binnacle that solved the problem!

Have you had any problems with flashing / flickering instruments?

there are many causes that can cause an intermittent fault. the simplest way is to run a small wire from the starter motor solenoid terminal to an LED and earth. each time it starts you should see the led light up. If the led illuminates but starter fails to turn it may well indicate a lazy solenoid.If the light fails to illuminate when it starts then it may well be a dash board or relay fault or inhibitor switch fault.
This is the best way to diagnose it first time rather than try this and try that.
Now on numerous occasions I have had excess voltage drops in car wiring looms causing a starter solenoid not to operate due to a current drop. We used to overcome this issue on some German cars by fitting a 30 amp relay to the battery with a wire straight to the starter solenoid from the battery via the relay and used to use the starter excite wire to trip the relay. This was always a brilliant fix for voltage drops in the loom. Now there will already be a starter relay but there can still be a current drop in the loom as most manufactures seem to put connections in the loom in stupid places to make it easy on the assembly line !

The LED light & wire will be the cheapest way of finding the fault

Last edited by dunroof on 17th Feb 2013 9:50 am. Edited 1 time in total

Thanks for so many replies and your help which indicates many things rather than the Starter Motor. The LR dealer has just phoned to say that miraculously they have now found a starter motor which they can fit for me on Thursday. Do I get this done or do I show them the stream of replies and ask them to do more checking prior to installation, or do I find a real mechanic who can help with the suggestions you have all made and forget the dealership ? Any ideas about a useful mechanic in Surrey ? After so many responses I am loathe to return to the dealer as it appears that I am going to receive a huge bill and still have the problem.