As above. On three separate occasions in the last week or so I've turned the key to the first stop, waited for the checks to complete and the glowplug light to go out and then turned and held only to find nothing happens. No sound from the starter motor even.

On subsequent attempts it may start on the next or after several tries.

Here's what the manual has to suggest: with my comments in italics

Symptoms
The engine does
not crank (starter
motor does not
turn)

Possible causes

Gear selector not in P or N position (vehicles with automatic transmission) It's not this!

Battery unlikely - cranks over fast once it does crank

Starter relay Possibly!

Invalid key code received by central junction box (CJB) Possibly?

Harness/Connectors Possibly but unlikely since it works eventually?

Starter motor unlikely?

Ignition switch Possibly

Generator Unlikely?

Transmission control module (TCM) Unlikely, but was was recently changed

Engine control module (ECM) Would this be intermittent?

Engine seized Definitely not - not yet anyway!
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I checked the battery connections and the voltage with engine off and both seemed OK (12.4 volts).

On older analogue cars I'd be suspecting the starter relay and changing it but on the RRS I think this is integral to the starter motor so not an easy thing to do as the starter is hard to get at.

The garage recently had the body off so I wonder if something is not tight - like an earth strap?

Does anyone have experience of this happening and if so what was the fix? 2008 MY Java Black TDV8 HSE

The relay is a common fault, cheap and easy to change.

Has to be Step 1

+ 1 for the relay, swap it for another one in the engine fuse box of the same rating and see if it starts.

The top relay (in red) is a spare.

Try that one for the starter (if it's the same type)

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If no better after the relay swap would plumb for the starter. Seems to be common fault. Make sure you get the mod breather kit as well. About a 30 minute job to remove the starter, but about 1 to 2 hours to get the out of the engine bay and the new one in.. 2008 G4 RRSport TDV8 current
2009 TDCi 90 current
2018 Discovery 5 HSE lux current
1994 Dakar current

I'd go with starter. Had the same symptoms when mine last died.

Breather pipe essential if you go wading. Killed a couple of starters over two or three years because of this. Eventually got the breather fitted correctly - after telling the LR dealer how it should be fitted! 2012 SDV6 - it's missing a couple of cylinders
2008 TDV8 - it was a labour of love and is much missed

My fault diagnosis would be:
1. load test the battery!
2. replace starter relay with known good
3. check and clean engine earth linkages
4. check megafuse and positive lead from battery to alternator to starter to good continuity and no loose connections
5. remove starter and bench test. MY08 RRS TDV6, Chawton/Black, sunroof, hk, 268k km
2001 Audi A4 1.8T quattro 5mt sport, 340k km
1990 Nissan Pintara TRX, lots of mods, 438k km

Thanks for all the suggestions

Checked the battery voltage again and after overnight it was 12.4V so not too bad.
Checked the tightness of the megafuse connections - all OK
Assuming the starter relay is R6 - (the one with a pictgram of a thunderbolted engine) I pulled it and cleaned the contact points inside. The spare one that Andy K suggested appears to be different so not tried swopping them.

Read the fault codes and found nothing that looks related. Only engine one was U0405-85 lost comms with speed sensor?

Gave the key a twist and it started instantly of course

Put battery on charge just in case but that's as far as I'm going today; it is far too cold outside for crawling about underneath with spanners. Time I delivered on that long term plan to build a huge heated garage with a two post lift.

Don't you just hate intermittent faults?  2008 MY Java Black TDV8 HSE

When I first got my car I had an intermittent fault with the heater fan. When it was very cold, it didn't work but came on a little later when things had warmed up a bit.

I traced this to the relay which I replaced and it has been fine ever since.

It was only around a fiver from LR dealer in Welwyn Garden City, might be a good investment.

I think the start motor relay is marked M with a circle round it.

Bottom left in the pic ?


M for motor


or is it SM for starter motor ?

Thanks Mr K. The bottom relay is marked 'SM'. Pulled it this morning and engine won't crank with it out so suggests you are right

Popped open the relay to have look inside and the contact points showed signs of blackening . For now I've cleaned up the contacts and since had two clean starts. Time will tell.

Battery by the way seems good; after charging and then standing overnight in sub zero conditions it read 12.6 volts.

If the relay isn't the cause of the fault then the next most likely culprit is the starter motor solenoid? Way too cold to be messing with that though. 2008 MY Java Black TDV8 HSE

Excellent.

Don't forget about the spare relay if required.

very Helpful Thanks

RichG wrote:

My fault diagnosis would be:
1. load test the battery!
2. replace starter relay with known good
3. check and clean engine earth linkages
4. check megafuse and positive lead from battery to alternator to starter to good continuity and no loose connections
5. remove starter and bench test.

Look for 4ga to 8ga wires leading from the engine block to places on the body. On the TDV6 from memory there is one on each side of the engine. Sometimes the nuts can come undone or water ingress can cause corrosion which stops continuity. Good luck, the TDV6 is hard enough to navigate around, I can't imagine what the TDV8 must be like! MY08 RRS TDV6, Chawton/Black, sunroof, hk, 268k km
2001 Audi A4 1.8T quattro 5mt sport, 340k km
1990 Nissan Pintara TRX, lots of mods, 438k km