Well, the SD does not like it when I pay too much attention to the Land Rover. Went out today and glowed the plugs after a week or so and turned the key one more notch to start. Zero. Nothing. Like a wire is off the starter.

Glowed it again a couple of times and same thing. Zero.

Opened the hood, popped open the plastic case and bridged two of the wired screws with two screwdrivers. Starter came alive immediately and the SD started up like a charm.

Drove it around some and tried to restart. Perfect; no problem.

Do I maybe have a loose wire or is the starter thinking about conking out? I think this is the starter that replaced the original maybe fifteen years ago - or then again it might be original. Do not remember.

Any help is appreciated. What do you guys think?

Forgot to mention I replaced the shifter bushings and NSS a year or two back so that should not be the problem. Just to check I did try to start in neutral and after jimmying the shifter back and forth - no luck until I used the screwdrivers - so pretty sure it is not shifter bushings or NSS.

I'm going with a wiring problem, you essentially performed a bypass test and confirmed the starter was good.

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1998 Ford Escort ZX2 5 speed - 279,000 miles My Daily

1992 Mercedes 300D 2.5 202,000 - Pure junk
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Don't forget to grease the screw and threads on the spring compressor.

I agree with FOG. I would check all wiring going to the starter, as well as the ignition switch.

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Milan Brown 1979 240D, rebuilt OM617.952 turbo diesel, rebuilt 722.315 transmission (my only daily driver)

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Do you hear the solenoid clunk at all when you're turning the key? If it clunks and the starter doesn't spin, the solenoid is probably on its way out. If no clunk, the fault likely lies between switch and solenoid.

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Current stable:
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Neutral safety switch would be what I tested

No clunk. I replaced the neutral safety switch earlier.

So maybe I get under there with an open end wrench.

Did you check power to and from the switch?

No. It was dark in the garage and I could not even see the plastic case where I ended up jumping the starter. Not quite sure how to check the power to the switch anyway. I am hoping an open end wrench takes care of it.

For the Neutral Safety Switch issue sometimes it will start with the gear shift in neutral and if it is the shifter bushings some times it will start if you giggle the gear shift.

I had a similar issue it happened once and then 2 months later it happed again and for 3 months now it has been starting fine. I have been waiting for something to fail completely before I change anything.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

I am aware of and went through the problems with faulty shifter bushings and then faulty NSS. Replaced both and have had no problem since - maybe two years or so. Do not think either of these is the problem.

So how do I check power to the switch (which is original)?

Test light to the wires. Crank. If the output of the switch doesnt light the probe the switch is out of adjustment or bad. A power probe would be very helpful.

Great. Thx

Dunno. Started right up today.

Shifter bushing?

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