Lost key & fob now dealer says needs new ECU

No unfortunately I am still in the same situation as when I started the thread. I have a key cut from the V5 from the main dealers and a blank fob but the car still needs programming.

There is no EKA code available to allow the car to be driven in limp mode and I cannot find anyone who will come out and programme the car here. I have phoned and emailed different companies with little success. The car will therefore need uplifting and trailering to wherever I can find to programme it.

The local main dealer still states it needs an ECU when other LR main dealers state it does not need one. As this has dragged on so long with the main dealers messing me about the car has now run out of MOT and tax which means the RAC or AA will not uplift the car as it is not road legal.

I have found an auto electrician locally who thinks he might have some new software which he is yet to download which may programme the key or fob but until I get the car trailered to him he cannot be sure.

I am struggling to resolve this

I would still suggest ringing LR Customer Service. People have said on this thread that they do not talk to end users, but they do. Plenty of people with faulty rear diffs have been given repair bills of £1,000s and when they ring up LR, LR come to an agreement with the dealer to do it at a reduced price. Different situation - but they do talk to end users. If you tell them that all their dealers are saying the key just needs reprogramming, but the 1 local to you have got it wrong and say you need a new ECU - they may just help out on your behalf.

Hi GrumpyGel

Thanks for your suggestion.

If you read post 77 you will see that I have telephoned LR Customer Service on several occasions and their response has been unhelpful (to put it mildly).

During one conversation to LR customer services they put me on hold for quite some time. The CR representative eventually came back and informed me that the reason the dealer could not locate an EKA code for my car is that Freelanders have never had them, only Discoveries. When I informed him that this was incorrect he told me that the tech team had assured him this was the case. Just a further example of how poor LR customer service is.

Like you, I had expected much more support from them. I was also promised that certain information would be emailed to me (never received) and callbacks were promised three times which never materialised.

To top it all, in one conversation when I rang LR I was told by the CS rep that he had spoken to the CS Manager at the main dealer who had informed him that I now also needed a lock set as well as an ECU. The LR rep even gave me the name of the CS manager he had apparently spoken to that morning. When I then rang the main dealer and asked to speak to this CS manager I was told he had left the company in November 2013 !???

My faith in all of them is at rock bottom.

I am not sure what else I can reasonably be expected to do in order to gain the assistance of LR.

I am constantly trying but hitting brick walls.

sounds like this dealer are idiots, why on earth are they talking about a lock set now

dont know if this is any good but maybe if u post in the general land rover section to see if someone has a trailer and will take u to the guy with the software to see if he can program them for u

another idea is if u get i touch with some of the other land rover dealers, get a 100 percent reply from them if they will just recode ur car without the mention of having a new ecu or key lock set that maybe then see if someone can take ur car there

dont mention the other dealer to them but just ask can they simply plug ur car in and recode it

i know when i spoke to my dealer down here in kent they said all it needs is plugging in, no need for ecus or lock replacements

just thinking of ideas in a way of moving this forward for u

hope u get it sorted out

I've just called guy salmon in Sheffield for mine their more than helpful maybe worth a call, even if they can just dig a code out for you to use elsewhere..

thequeenscheese said:

I've just called guy salmon in Sheffield for mine their more than helpful maybe worth a call, even if they can just dig a code out for you to use elsewhere..

Click to expand...

even my local dealer cant belive what crap this dealer is coming out with

believe theres a dealer in Norfolk which i think is another part of the hunters group

if i was in debs shoes would find a dealer that will code it without an extras and then somehow get it trailered , as main dealers have the guaranteed software that will work and maybe do an mot at the same time to save costs

if they dont some dealers outsource the work to another mot garage but can drive it on their trade plates

here are some local dealers

https://uk.local.yahoo.com/search.h...+rover&poi=Norfolk,+England&wid=12602141&cb=1


plus a few more independent garages that do land rovers

http://haywardlandrover.co.uk/OurServices.asp

http://www.yell.com/biz/t-j-c-landrovers-king-s-lynn-2659667/

plus found this from autologic , scroll down to the key section

so this proves the dealer is talking out there backside

1.2.2 Table headings in vehicle-specific capabilities sections
 Service reset – To reset the service indicators warning light or message.
 Full car configuration editing – To alter the configuration of the vehicle such as to enable accessories to be fitted.
 Manufacturing mode disable – Some new control units are supplied in manufacturing mode. You need to clear this before you can use the control unit on a vehicle.
 Calibrate air suspension – Autologic gives diagnostic and calibration functions that exceed the dealer tool. Fault code reading, dynamic data, component activation and standard height calibration is available for all Land Rover models equipped with air suspension. Discovery 3, Range Rover and Range Rover Sport models also have the additional ‘height lowering’ function which can lower the vehicle’s standard ride height at the touch of a button.


 Add, recover, replace, remove and verify keys – You can add additional keys, recover existing keys that have been lost and found, remove lost or stolen keys and test the operation of the key so you know that the vehicle is receiving the correct signal.


1.3 Land Rover vehicles that Autologic can diagnose Autologic can diagnose all Land Rover vehicles as far back as 1989 up to the
present day. The Range Rover Classic was the first vehicle that was diagnosable.
Technical Specifications for Land Rover Vehicles

found an interesting link

ur ecu can accept up to 30 x keys

Land Rover Workshop Manuals > Freelander System Description and Operation > SECURITY > Operation > Diagnostics


The ECU is programmed during manufacture with data to support up to 30 keys which can be enabled with TestBook/
T4. Replacement or spare keys will be ordered and delivered to the dealer as a disabled key. The dealer will use the
previously described 'Learn Blank/New Keys' procedure for enabling the new key. The key will be supplied with the
correct key blade profile for the applicable vehicle lockset.

plus found this so it proves there idiots

On late 2003 model year vehicles (from VIN 242164 onwards), the EWS3-D immobilisation system was replaced. A
new system was introduced which improved the process for adding or replacing keys, allowing the dealer to enable
new keys using TestBook/T4. Apart from the immobilisation ECU, the system retains similar components and
functionality of the previous immobilisation system. The system is not available as a replacement for vehicles fitted
with an EWS3–D system.

Don't know if it helps but I lost a key and fob last year and had key insurance with tesco. They sent the AA out to programme a new (non landrover) key and new (Lucas) fob to my 2006 Td4 at my home address. Might make a difference that I still had a key and fob but can't see why it would.

Also see if there's anyone on ebay advertising a trailer service to get your car trailered to a decent land rover dealer.