HELP Need DIAGNOSIS

[wellsy1234]

Greetings all,

Need some help to diagnose a, what I hope is a small problem!

DISCO 1995 300 TDI

Driving on the motorway yesterday, there was a quiet tapping sound coming from roughly underneath the vehicle. This got louder and more frequent (approx. 1 "tap" every 0.5 sec) This lasted for about 30 secs, and I began to slow down to pull over when the engine died completely. This happened without any loud noise or bang at all.

The vehicle now refuses to turn over with symptoms listed below:

- when the key is turned, the starter motor has no effect. No turning, nothing.

- there are no obvious signs externally on the engine and the oil level is still healthy

- the gears can still be changed / engaged (so clutch sems okay)

- tows / rolls fine so no drive engaged

Im thinking along the lines of transfer box??....could this be now jammed by broken teeth hence preventing any turnover??

Any help would be great.

Martin

[Buddy Lee]

If the vehicle tows and rolls just find the transfer box is not jambed. Because it's between the gear box and engine. So if you can put the gear box in neutral and roll the vehicle it's not stopping the engine from turning over.

Have you tried to turn the engine over by hand to see if it's seized? Basically if it was driving and when you have the clutch pushed in and the vehicle moves but the engine does not turn over when trying to start it. I would say with 99% certainty the problem is not with your drive train.

See if the engine will turn over by hand. Put a wrench on the crank and try and turn it over. If this is possible on a 300 TDI We don't have those here in the US at least not in disco's.

[300bhp/ton]

Is the battery connected? And does the rest of the vehcile have power/electic. Usually if a start motor is jammed then it clicks if it can't turnover.

Generally these engines are very reliable and robust, how many miles are on it?