Starters Land Rover Discovery L318

DESCRIPTION

On Discovery, the starting system consists of starter motor and solenoid located at rear right side of engine. A starter solenoid relay is located behind passenger-side kick panel. Starter solenoid is controlled by the Body Control Unit (BCU) and supplies battery voltage for starter solenoid operation. The starter motor receives battery voltage directly from the battery.

On Discovery Series II, the starting system consists of starter motor and solenoid located at rear right side of engine. A starter relay, controlled by the Body Control Unit (BCU), supplies battery voltage for starter solenoid operation. The starter relay is located in engine compartment fuse/relay box. The starter motor receives battery voltage directly from the battery.

On Range Rover, when the ignition switch is turned to the start position, the BECM grounds the starter relay located in the engine compartment fuse/relay box. When the starter relay is energized, battery voltage is applied to the starter solenoid and starter.

All models are equipped with a 12-volt starter. Starter is a brush-type, series-wound electric motor with an overrunning clutch. Components consist of solenoid and housing, armature, brush assembly and drive assembly. Drive gear housing includes a bushing and supports armature. Splined armature shaft carries drive assembly. (Scheme 4)

TROUBLE SHOOTING

Note. See TROUBLE SHOOTING article in GENERAL INFORMATION.

SYMPTOM TESTING

Note. Before beginning symptom testing ensure vehicle immobilization system is operating properly and is not activated.

Discovery

1. Turn ignition off. Remove starter relay located behind passenger-side kick panel. Measure voltage between ground and starter solenoid relay connector terminal No. 30 (Brown/White wire). See «WIRING DIAGRAMS»(/land-rover/discovery/l318-1998-2002/remont/starter/#starters) . If battery voltage is present, go to next step. If battery voltage is not present, check maxi-fuse No. 5 (60-amp) located in engine compartment fuse/relay box. If maxi-fuse No. 5 is okay, repair open or short in Brown/White wire between starter solenoid relay and fuse.
2. Turn ignition switch to START position. Measure voltage between ground and starter solenoid relay connector terminal No. 85 (Brown/White wire). If battery voltage is present, go to next step. If battery voltage is not present, check fuse No. 17 (10-amp) and Brown/White wire between starter solenoid relay and fuse. Perform repairs as necessary. If fuse and Brown/White wire are okay, check ignition switch.
3. Turn ignition off. Measure voltage between starter solenoid relay connector terminals No. 30 (Brown/White wire) and No. 87 (Brown/Red wire). If battery voltage is present, go to next step. If battery voltage is not present, check Brown/Red wire between starter solenoid relay and starter solenoid. Perform repairs as necessary. If Brown/Red wire is okay, ensure starter solenoid is properly grounded. Repair or replace starter solenoid as necessary.
4. Turn ignition off. Ensure engine is not seized. Ensure gear selector is in Park/Neutral position and parking brake is set. Connect a fused jumper wire between starter solenoid relay connector terminals No. 30 (Brown/White wire) and No. 87 (Brown/Red wire). If starter engages and cranks engine, go to next step. If starter does not engage and/or crank engine, check Brown/Red wire and starter solenoid. If Brown/Red wire and solenoid are okay, replace starter.
5. Ensure gear selector is in Park/Neutral position and parking brake is set. Reconnect starter solenoid relay. Using a fused jumper wire, backprobe between ground and starter solenoid relay connector terminals No. 86 (Black/Orange wire). Turn ignition switch to START position. If starter cranks engine, replace starter solenoid relay. If engine does not turn over, check Black/Orange wire between starter solenoid relay and starter relay diode. Check Black/Yellow wire between starter relay diode and ground or theft alarm unit. Check starter relay diode. Check park/neutral position switch. Perform repairs as necessary.

Discovery Series II

1. Turn ignition off. Remove starter relay located in engine compartment fuse/relay box. Measure voltage between ground and starter relay connector terminal No. 30. See «WIRING DIAGRAMS»(/land-rover/discovery/l318-1998-2002/remont/starter/#starters) . If battery voltage is present, go to next step. If battery voltage is not present, check fuse No. 10 (30-amp) located in engine compartment fuse/relay box. If fuse is okay, check Red wire between engine compartment fuse/relay box and battery.
2. Turn ignition switch to START position. Measure voltage between ground and starter relay connector terminal No. 85. If battery voltage is present, go to next step. If battery voltage is not present, check fuse No. 23 (10-amp) and White/Red wire between starter relay and fuse. Perform repairs as necessary. If fuse and White/Red wire are okay, check ignition switch.
3. Turn ignition off. Measure voltage between starter solenoid relay connector terminals No. 30 and 87. If battery voltage is present, go to next step. If battery voltage is not present, check Brown/Red wire between starter solenoid relay and starter solenoid. Perform repairs as necessary. If Brown/Red wire is okay, ensure starter solenoid is properly grounded. Replace or replace starter solenoid as necessary.
4. Turn ignition off. Ensure engine is not seized. Ensure gear selector is in Park/Neutral position and parking brake is set. Connect a fused jumper wire between starter solenoid relay connector terminals No. 30 and 87. If starter engages and cranks engine, go to next step. If starter does not engage and/or crank engine, check Brown/Red wire and starter solenoid. If Brown/Red wire and solenoid are okay, replace starter.
5. Ensure gear selector is in Park/Neutral position and parking brake is set. Reconnect starter solenoid relay. Using a fused jumper wire, backprobe between ground and starter solenoid relay connector terminal No. 86. Turn ignition switch to START position. If starter cranks engine, replace starter solenoid relay. If engine does not turn over, check Black/Orange wire between starter solenoid relay and Body Control Unit (BCU). Perform repairs as necessary.

Range Rover

1. Turn ignition switch to START position. Using voltmeter connected to ground, backprobe engine compartment fuse/relay box Pink 8-pin harness connector terminal No. 1 (Brown/Red wire). (Scheme 1) If battery voltage does not exist, go to next step. If battery voltage exists, check Brown/Red wire between starter solenoid (located at lower right rear of engine) and engine compartment fuse/relay box. Check starter solenoid. Repair as necessary.
2. Turn ignition off. Disconnect engine compartment fuse/relay box Gray 8-pin connector (C0570). Measure voltage between component-side of Gray 8-pin connector terminal No. 6 (White/Red wire) and ground. (Scheme 2) If battery voltage exists, go to next step. If battery voltage does not exist, check starter solenoid relay (located in engine compartment fuse/relay box). Check engine compartment fuse/relay box. Repair as necessary.
3. Turn ignition off. Disconnect Body Electrical Control Module (BECM) Yellow 10-pin connector (C1282). BECM is located under right front seat. Measure voltage between BECM harness connector terminal No. 2 (White/Red wire) and ground. (Scheme 3) If battery voltage does not exist, repair White/Red wire between engine compartment fuse/relay box and BECM. If battery voltage exists, go to next step.
4. Check White/Red and Black wires between engine compartment fuse/relay box, BECM, ignition switch and ground. Check ignition switch. See STEERING COLUMN SWITCHES article in ACCESSORIES & EQUIPMENT. Check BECM. Repair as necessary.

Scheme 1

Scheme 2

Scheme 3

STARTER SOLENOID CLICKS, BUT ENGINE DOES NOT CRANK OR CRANKS SLOWLY

1. Connect negative lead of voltmeter to Red wire terminal at starter solenoid (located at lower right rear of engine). Connect positive lead of voltmeter to positive battery terminal. Turn ignition switch to START position and measure voltage. If voltage is less than 0.5 volt, go to next step. If voltage is not less than 0.5 volt, check Red wire between starter solenoid and battery. Check for poor connections at starter solenoid and battery. Repair as necessary.
2. Connect positive lead of voltmeter to negative battery terminal. Connect negative lead of voltmeter to ground. Turn ignition switch to START position and measure voltage. If voltage is less than 0.5 volt, check starter and starter solenoid. Repair as necessary. If voltage is not less than 0.5 volt, check Black wire between battery and ground. Check for poor connections at battery and ground. Repair as necessary.

BENCH TESTING

Note. Bench testing information is not available from manufacturer.

Removal & Installation (Discovery)

1. Disconnect negative battery cable. Raise and support vehicle. Remove heated oxygen sensor from right front exhaust pipe. Mark front drive shaft and drive flanges for installation reference. Remove 4 nuts retaining drive shaft to flange.
2. Rotate drive shaft to gain access to starter. Tie drive shaft aside. Position starter motor heat shield above motor. Disconnect electrical connector from starter solenoid. Remove feed wires from starter solenoid.
3. Using an extension bar positioned between engine mounting bracket and exhaust manifold, remove top starter motor retaining bolt. Remove bottom bolt, and remove starter motor.
4. To install, reverse removal procedure. Ensure mating surfaces of starter motor and engine are clean. Tighten starter motor bolts to specification. Ensure marks on drive shaft and drive flange are aligned. Using NEW nyloc nuts, install drive shaft bolts with heads toward transfer case and away from differential. Tighten drive shaft bolts/nuts to specification. See «TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS»(/land-rover/discovery/l318-1998-2002/remont/starter/#starters__torque-specifications) .

Removal & Installation (Discovery Series II)

1. Disconnect negative battery cable. Raise and support vehicle. Remove front exhaust pipe and gasket. Remove starter heat shield. Disconnect electrical connectors from starter solenoid. Remove 2 Allen head bolts and remove starter.
2. To install, reverse removal procedure. Ensure mating surfaces of starter motor and engine are clean. Tighten starter motor bolts and heat shield to specification. Using a NEW exhaust gasket, install front exhaust pipe and tighten nuts to specification. See «TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS»(/land-rover/discovery/l318-1998-2002/remont/starter/#starters__torque-specifications) .

Removal & Installation (Range Rover)

1. Disconnect negative battery cable. Raise and support front of vehicle. Remove nut securing cables to starter solenoid, and position cables aside. Disconnect electrical connector. Using an extension bar positioned between engine and suspension, remove top bolt retaining starter motor. Remove bottom bolt, and remove starter motor.
2. To install, reverse removal procedure. Ensure mating surfaces of starter motor and engine are clean. Tighten starter motor bolts to specification. See «TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS»(/land-rover/discovery/l318-1998-2002/remont/starter/#starters__torque-specifications) .

OVERHAUL

Note. Overhaul procedures are not available from manufacturer. For exploded view of starter (Scheme 4)

Scheme 4

TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS

TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS

Starting System Wiring Diagram (Discovery). Scheme 5

Starting System Wiring Diagram (Range Rover). Scheme 6

See also:
• WIRING DIAGRAMS
• TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS