Help Plz, At A Loss - 2000 Disco II Won't Start

[TeeLeeTX]

Hi! I am new to this forum, the forum I used to read is having problems...
Anyway, I have a 2000 Disco II that I love and miss. I appreciate any help you can give.
Here is what has happened so far:

Noticed last weekend that the brake lights were all out. It was running fine, just didn't want to get a ticket (or have some yahoo run up my butt). :eek3:
Husband replaced the brake light switch, lights work, tried to start it to go - nothing. Cleaned the battery cables, tried activating/deativating with remote per instructions on this site, took battery in for testing and it's good. Lights and radio work, engine won''t turn over, just a click.
Not sure that the brake light switch had anything to do with it but you never know. ?????
Posted on other forum. It was suggested that I had a dead battery or that I needed to reset the inertia switch.

Results:
I reset the inertia switch, unfortunately, nothing. Also, double checked with my dad about the battery and he said that when they took it in this morning the parts store did a load test (good) and checked the voltage (10.5 out of 12, not sure what that means?).

I'm getting desperate. I really don?t want to have her towed to the other side of the state to the dealer and I won?t take her to the local ?expert? after he tried to rip me off and then lectured me for 10 minutes when I wouldn?t let him complete the work. Sometimes is sux being a girl...

Thanks in advance!
Trina
(blonde, but not dumb)

 

[braves6117]

Wait for some more input, but weekends can get slow here on DWEB. Im sure someone will know whats up.

Edit: Just saw year of truck....

 

[SGaynor]

The voltage on the batter seems low (10.5), although it should still turn over. Have you tried jump starting the battery? If that gets it starting then I would say it's the battery. If that doesn't work, then we need to start looking at other things. How old is the battery?

Also, make sure it is in Park. Move the shifter to Drive and then back to park a couple of times. I've had instances where the shifter wasn't in park all the way that caused a no start.

 

[TeeLeeTX]

Tried to jump start and that didn't work. Also, moved shifter back and forth and even tried starting in neutral. Still nothing.
So what do I try next?
Thanks a bunch!

 

[braves6117]

If you remove what your husband fixed, will it start up again?

 

[Jkid]

10.5 volts is a DEAD battery. 12.6 is fully charged and anything below 12 is not good, I don't know why they told you otherwise. If you try jump starting it again, you would need to leave the cables hooked up to the other battery for 15 minutes or so. This gives it time to get the dead one up to charge before it will even think about turning the engine over.

 

[Ol'Drippy]

Start by replacing the battery.. these trucks do strange things w/o the proper voltage. When we got my mom her '04 DII they had alot of problems. The local Advance Auto said the battery was fine.. continued having problems. I came home with a new battery and put it in and all the problems went away. Good luck

 

[NiteTrain]

just take a battery out of another vehicle that you know is working to see if it can start your disco..if that doesn't work I'd say the problem is something your husband did.

 

[Jagfixer]

9 volts is just enough to keep the computers alive. 10.5 will not even turn over a lawn mower.

 

[Peterb]

sounds like a dead cell in the battery, EACH of 6 cells is good for about 2 volts, Alot of times if 1 cell is bad, A jump will NOT help.
Try a new battery, If still no, Whack the starter a few times with a hammer and try again.
Peter

 

[riceybean]

sounds like a dead cell in the battery, EACH of 6 cells is good for about 2 volts, Alot of times if 1 cell is bad, A jump will NOT help.
Try a new battery, If still no, Whack the starter a few times with a hammer and try again.
Peter

I second the starter. I had the same problem last winter. Tap it with a rubber mallet and give it a try.

 

[TeeLeeTX]

I replaced the battery. No start. I know that my starter is new (12/07) but am still willing to give it a whack if one of you will explain to me where it is/what it looks like. Thanks!

 

[flyfisher11]

I replaced the battery. No start. I know that my starter is new (12/07) but am still willing to give it a whack if one of you will explain to me where it is/what it looks like. Thanks!

Look on the passenger side of the engine block down under the exhaust manifold. The starter is attached there where the transmission and engine mount. FWIW you may just have a bad connector on the starter. Sometimes they get loose or the connector breaks. Wiggle the connector and make sure it is firmly attached to the starter.

edit: there is a heat shield surrounding the starter.

Good Luck,

Mike

 

[SGaynor]

Look on the passenger side of the engine block down under the exhaust manifold. The starter is attached there where the transmission and engine mount. FWIW you may just have a bad connector on the starter. Sometimes they get loose or the connector breaks. Wiggle the connector and make sure it is firmly attached to the starter.

edit: there is a heat shield surrounding the starter.

Good Luck,

Mike

What he said, but disconnect the battery before playing with the wire connections.

 

[reka12]

Did you try resetting the momentum kill switch (or what ever it is called) located on the passenger side firewall? Could not get ours started, hit the switch and all was good.

 

[reka12]

NM, read the first post.

Mike

 

[RamRod]

Actually I would check the brake light switch just installed.....

1- Running fine before install now installed and now it's not

If the brake light switch is defective i.e. not making contact when depressing the netural saftey switch will not disengage. If the netural saftey switch is not operating correctly the vehicle will not know if its in park therefore will not start

 

[TeeLeeTX]

Thanks for the advice! I will try your suggestions and get back to you!!

 

[ptschram]

Trina:
I'm only two hours south of you, should you need help, we can get your truck down to me.

PT

 

[TeeLeeTX]

FINALLY got it started. Took a few whacks to get it to turn over, but it did. Starter replaced in January so I took it back to the shop to check it out. Should have it back Monday. Thanks a bunch!!!