Sometimes when I try to start my 2011 TDV8 I just get a click and no start even though I have a fully charged brand new AGM battery.

I read in the WSM that if you put your windscreen wipers on and try again it might start. It does!! How on earth does that work.

I seem to be suffering the same starting problem, but have never heard of the washers trick.

There were comments previously about it being clockspring related, so maybe the act of switching on the wipers is enough to jar the clockspring into allowing the car to start.

Next time it happens, i'll give the washer tip a try.

Mile

Our 2012 has been doing this on and off since it was new.

It's on it's 3rd start motor and for a brief period of time the new starter motor cures the issue until it occurs again. Sometimes it'll click so many times you begin to wonder if it's actually going to start.

It's quite a common problem with the 4.4 engine I believe, it's usually the starter motor that causes it.

David. 2002 4.6 Vogue SE - Alveston Red with Lightstone Leather
2007 Range Rover Supercharged in Java Black with Ivory Leather
2012 Range Rover 5.0 SC Autobiography in Indus Silver with Jet/Ivory Interior
2012 Range Rover 4.4 TDV8 Autobiography in Baltic Blue with Sand Interior

My 2012 4.4 tdv8 is exactly the same, have just had a new battery fitted, went to start it today and just kept on clicking, tried the wipers and it started, really weird, i am going to phone my local range rover specialist tomorrow to see if they have heard of this.

It's quite a common fault on the 4.4 TDV8...

Here's another forum where a few people report start motor failure as being the cause...

https://www.landyzone.co.uk/land-rover/201...ed.309022/

David. 2002 4.6 Vogue SE - Alveston Red with Lightstone Leather
2007 Range Rover Supercharged in Java Black with Ivory Leather
2012 Range Rover 5.0 SC Autobiography in Indus Silver with Jet/Ivory Interior
2012 Range Rover 4.4 TDV8 Autobiography in Baltic Blue with Sand Interior

I wonder if it1s a cold start thing? I have a 2011 SE when I press the start button the engine turn`s once then turns over and starts? It would appear that by turning the engine it moves the oil around which is cold and thick then starts the car don`t have the same thing when it`s warm.

These cars have some strange quirk`s

Tinman, that's a different fault altogether by the sounds of it.

On ours, there's a clunk as it tries to energise the starter but fails, when turning the ignition off with the button you can hear it clunk again so presumably it's moving the solenoid but the starter isn't spinning.

Repeatedly pressing the button with result in a few more clunks but it always starts.

David. 2002 4.6 Vogue SE - Alveston Red with Lightstone Leather
2007 Range Rover Supercharged in Java Black with Ivory Leather
2012 Range Rover 5.0 SC Autobiography in Indus Silver with Jet/Ivory Interior
2012 Range Rover 4.4 TDV8 Autobiography in Baltic Blue with Sand Interior

My experience of the scenario of pressing the starter button and getting just a click sometimes, when battery fine, was that the starter motor was faulty and needed to be replaced, as others have said it seems a common fault. The button itself can also be faulty, but with that there is no click. Only Range Rovers since 1988

I just wonder if all these starter motor problems are real. There is another relay in the starter circuit and I just wonder if it is that one we hear clicking. My gut feeling is that it is software related.

When mine does start the starter motor turns it over really fast and I can't believe the fact that it either works perfectly or not at all has anything to do with the starter motor. 2011 4.4 TDV8 Vogue SE
1993 Discovery 1 3.5 V8i

Ours is the same, the starter works perfectly when it does start.

I had my Dad sit in the car and press the button whilst I peered under the bonnet. The click that comes from it is much louder then a relay and sounds to be coming from much deeper into the engine bay. It does certainly sound like it's down towards where the starter motor is located.

I'm all ears for a fix other then a starter though as ours is doing it again now. This will be the 4th starter motor in 16,000 miles. Every time it's been replaced before it has come back perfect for a while but then starts to do it again.

David. 2002 4.6 Vogue SE - Alveston Red with Lightstone Leather
2007 Range Rover Supercharged in Java Black with Ivory Leather
2012 Range Rover 5.0 SC Autobiography in Indus Silver with Jet/Ivory Interior
2012 Range Rover 4.4 TDV8 Autobiography in Baltic Blue with Sand Interior

My p38 had a similar issue or on the face of it it was - random not starting but when it did it was fine changed the starter a couple of times in the end I put a new cable from the battery to the starter just doubled it up never had a problem again.
Took the old lead off and stripped it back it was corroded internally and it was vibration the determined whether it worked or not
Not sure if any of this is any help I recently replaced my alternator and all leads because the car is 10 years old all were working ok but after 10 years thought they might fail

David,

After each starter motor replacement did you ask the garage to give you the old starter motor? I would have loved to bench test the old motors.

In my experience with cars over the years, starter motors are one of the most reliable items especially as they don't really work a lot - at least on the non start stop vehicles! 2011 4.4 TDV8 Vogue SE
1993 Discovery 1 3.5 V8i

I did but couldn't get them unfortunately. They were replaced by Land Rover under warranty so the originals had to be returned to LR by the dealer.

They tried to blame under use on the starter failing on our car but I pointed out that sitting in the garage for months at a time and coming out only to do long trips puts less wear on a starter motor then doing dozens of short trips every day of the week.

David. 2002 4.6 Vogue SE - Alveston Red with Lightstone Leather
2007 Range Rover Supercharged in Java Black with Ivory Leather
2012 Range Rover 5.0 SC Autobiography in Indus Silver with Jet/Ivory Interior
2012 Range Rover 4.4 TDV8 Autobiography in Baltic Blue with Sand Interior

Makes me wonder if the act of replacing the starter motor is what sorts it out for a while?

By replacing the starter, you are disconnecting the heavy duty cables and re-attaching them, thus having clean(ish) terminals to take the current.

Over time, corrosion will build up and start to cause high resistance in the connectors.

Mike

can confirm it works on the 3.6 TDV8 2010MY Current Vehicles :
L322 2010MY TDV8 Autobiography
BMW E38 735i
BMW E63 645ci