TD4 starting issue

[circusace]

Hiya!
I have an '02 TD4 freelander, which I have not had any major issues with, bar turbo pipes splitting & a new fuel pump last year.

In the last few weeks, obviously now it is very cold, I have had odd occassions of it struggling to start. It turns over, but doesn't fire up, almost a 'click, click, click', (obvioulsy waited for heater light to come on/go off). Then it will suddenly fire up, and all will be fine (big cloud of white smoke!), and once the engine is warm I have no trouble at all. Battery is fine, and lights etc bright.

One thing I have noticed, is that after one of these 'iffy' starts, the milometer resets itself to zero ( the trip one, not main one).

I was thinking glow plugs, but the milometer has thrown me...any ideas?

If it is glow plugs, are these easy to fit?? am guessing remove black air intake stuff, and they will be underneath on top of the engine?

Any help/ideas greatly appreciated!
Adrian

[Llanigraham]

Adrian,
there have been reports of problems with the ignition switch causing starting problems, but I don't know whether this would cause the zeroing.
Might be worth checking.

[circusace]

Thanks for that. That does sound a possibility....

so where is the ignition switch? is it a major thing to change??
Thanks again
Adrian

[Llanigraham]

Where you put the key in.

Take off the cowl, then inside there.

[circusace]

Thanks for that, it was very frosty here today, and it started 1st time no problems. So sounds like something electrical being iffy! If it continues, I will investigate the ignition switch first.
Cheers!!

[JimP]

The only time I had a clicking on my TD4 when i turned the key it was  flat battery, happened a couple of times and that reset the odometer too, might be worth checking the battery connections etc just incase??

Jim

[circusace]

I seem to have had a lucky escape after all. During further investigation, I discovered the battery lead on the positive terminal wasn't tight enough. It was done up as tight as it would go, but you could still turn it. I played with it & tightened it a tad more, and touch wood, it appears to have cured it! Phew.