dead at the super market

[supersquid]

Last night my wife sent me to the super market to pick up dog food. Dam dog food is expensive, anyway when I came out my 97 disco would not start, just a soft click. Before you bash me for being an idiot I did all the simple stuff: check the battery, check the ground, and checked all the fuses. So any ideas what could be going on?:banghead: The Disco does NOT turn over at all. This is a very strange one??

 

[robertf]

First make sure its in park, maybe shift it a few times and retry. Mine is getting more sensitive to being in just the right spot the older it gets. Since you said there is a soft click (coming from the footwell?) this is probably not the problem

If you have a test light it would be easy to rule out the starter. There is a spade connector on the front of the starter solenoid, no tools necessary to remove. See if it goes 12v when you try to start it. If not, rebuild/replace the starter.

 

[I HATE PONIES]

Last night I CAME BACK TO THE TRUCK AFTER TRACKING A WOUNDED BEAR IN DENSE BRUSH. I DECIDED TO LEAVE AFTER IT HAD KILLED ALL 3 DOGS AND MY FRIEND TOM. anyway when I came out OF THE THICKET DRAGGING TOM WHILE CARRYING MY 600 NITRO EXPRESS IN MY TEETH THE BEAR CHARGED AGAIN. I QUICKLY DROPPED TOM, BROUGHT MY TRUSTY RIFLE INTO POSITION, AND KILLED HIM DEADER THAN LAST YEARS HOPES AT A DISTANCE OF ONLY 3 INCHES. I PICKED UP TOM AND HEADED TO MY TRUCK TO GET HELP BUT my 97 disco would not start, just a soft click. Before you bash me for being an idiot I did all the simple stuff: check the battery, check the ground, and checked all the fuses. So any ideas what could be going on?:banghead: The Disco does NOT turn over at all. This is a very strange one??

Fixed it for you!:bigok:

 

[Two Cold Soakers]

Corroded connectors at the starter or battery terminal???

Eleven years is a long time. Good luck.

 

[RovinAround]

Fixed it for you!:bigok:

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: PRICELESS! Thanks, I needed that!!

 

[supersquid]

Poor Tom but then the second bar came out of the woods and charged me. I pulled out my rambo knife and cut the bars foot off. I used the claw to un-screw my starter and skinned both bars. I put the bar skins on e-bay and use the cash to fix my starter. My only problem is Tom's wife is now hunting me:ack:

 

[I HATE PONIES]

Poor Tom but then the second bar came out of the woods and charged me. I pulled out my rambo knife and cut the bars foot off. I used the claw to un-screw my starter and skinned both bars. I put the bar skins on e-bay and use the cash to fix my starter. My only problem is Tom's wife is now hunting me:ack:

Got pics of the wife???

 

[hywy61]

Last night my wife sent me to the super market to pick up dog food. Dam dog food is expensive, anyway when I came out my 97 disco would not start, just a soft click. Before you bash me for being an idiot I did all the simple stuff: check the battery, check the ground, and checked all the fuses. So any ideas what could be going on?:banghead: The Disco does NOT turn over at all. This is a very strange one??

Mine does this all the time. Totally dead sometimes. No lights no nothing. Disconnect postive lead from the battery and reconnect. Starts right up. Worth a shot.

DII 2000

 

[dirtyjim]

check the spade connector on the starter. mine had become loose over time & did the same thing.
down here in texas, when those pesky bears charge us we pull out the 700 nitro express. why do we pull out the 700NE? because they don't make a 800NE yet. the only reason they make the 700NE now is because a texan told them to!

 

[supersquid]

In Kentucky we have lots of guns and bars! I hope Toms wife does not find me at the KY Derby this weekend GOOO Big Brown!!! I have to fix my truck because I can always find creative parking. Hey if I winch the Disco up a tree it saves me 30 bucks...

 

[BJ64]

Fixed it for you!:bigok:

Yes I agree. That slight modification/rewrite made it much more interesting!

 

[97Rover]

I have that issue, but I pull my key out, flip it over, and bingo.

 

[Azdiscovery]

gently tap the solenoid on the starter with a hammer and try it again.

 

[Two Cold Soakers]

gently tap the solenoid on the starter with a hammer and try it again.

Which could be done with the buttsock of the rifle, but would leave your feet open to a nasty moose bite.

 

[ninjzx998]

Any prior issues? Or do you have the one issue free Disco that I heard about?!!!
The starters on our trucks like to corrode at the connections, I had it happen to me at the gas station, no prior starting issues then like your situation. I heard the same from someone yesterday. Good news was I was able to figure it out hold the contact there with some insulated pliers and get her started. LR replaced the whole started since it was in warranty at the time.
Check started connection, as mentioned earlier the starter lockout from gear selector would be second most likely, cycle through the gear box.

 

[dirtyjim]

Which could be done with the buttsock of the rifle, but would leave your feet open to a nasty moose bite.

just pop the hood & jab the solenoid with the end of your barrel, it fits between the manifolds very easily. no need to crawl under your truck & risk a moose bite.
i actually did that with a junk barrel i had in the floorboard of my truck when my starter was acting up. old mauser barrels make good jackhandles & whacking sticks

 

[BJ64]

just pop the hood & jab the solenoid with the end of your barrel, it fits between the manifolds very easily. no need to crawl under your truck & risk a moose bite.
i actually did that with a junk barrel i had in the floorboard of my truck when my starter was acting up. old mauser barrels make good jackhandles & whacking sticks

Excellent idea!

Since this thread is already started I'll add my experience to it.

'03, D II, 83k miles on it, Starter won't crank

The battery was old so I didn't mind replacing it since this is my wife's daily driver.

I did find out or at least strongly suspect that it is a bad starter motor. An assistant could turn the key and the starter solenoid would engage (make the clunk noise) but the starter motor would do nothing. With the Disco scotched safely, we would turn the key with the gear shifter in reverse and of course the starter solenoid did not engage at all. This caused me to believe that the park position sensor was working fine.

The question at this point is if there is simple problem that could allow the starter solenoid to engage but not send signal for the starter motor to crank.

The other question I have is what is the procedure for removing the starter motor. How may bolts hold the starter on and what size are they? I cannot find my Rave DVD at all.

To keep in sprit of the thread I did all this while fighting off two angry squirrels and a cross eyed skunk with the lug wrench. I bet these little monsters got away with my Rave DVD.

 

[Azdiscovery]

Which could be done with the buttsock of the rifle, but would leave your feet open to a nasty moose bite.

Lol, yeah it does seem a little backwoods.

But you'd be amazed what you'll try to fix your shit when your stranded in 120+ temps.

--I had the same *type* of problem and it was a sticky solenoid. Tapped it and it worked for one engine startup--more than enough to get me back to the garage.

 

[Discotec]

The other question I have is what is the procedure for removing the starter motor. How may bolts hold the starter on and what size are they? I cannot find my Rave DVD at all.

The starter is held on with two bolts, you need a socket that looks like an allen wrench 5/16" i think.....you will also need a variety of extension bars, the bottom bolt is easy, the top is hard to get at, work with a long extension from the front of the axel......

The hardest thing is to remove the heat shield, it is held on to the solenoid with a "clip" and bolted thru the front motor mount. this takes a 10 mm wrench or socket........

Tell the truth it's a "bitch" of a job....

 

[dirtyjim]

while your changing the starter i would also swap the allen bolts for studs & nuts. it makes changing the starter out while laying in a mud hole fighting off rabid moose & squirrels much easier