Disco 1 300tdi EDC 1997 without a Spider Security

Hello All,

I have a 1997 300tdi Automatic Discovery with the EDC.

My Discovery turns over fine but doesn’t actually fire, upon plugging it in to diagnostic software it mentions the immobiliser is causing the issue.

I have read and searched a lot about this, and everything points to a spider unit if one is fitted. I have had a look today inside the the dash around the heater controls, and there is no spider unit there.

So I am at a blank now, in what to try next. I have done the EKA code on the drivers door to, and that hasn’t worked either. I have tried both ways holding the key in the lock and unlock for five seconds each before entering the code. On one of the ways with the key held in the unlock mode the alarm sounded, which I shut off with the remote fob and didn’t proceed any further, that way. The text I have seen that is the right way, and YouTube videos show the other way. But don’t know if that will really sort the issue anyway.

Battery is ok and have tested it for a good voltage. There is no power to the glow plugs, caused by this fault to, as well as small wire on starter and fuel stop solenoid.

If anyone can point me in to next direction I would be very very grateful.

When you say battery is ok, are you referring to the car battery or the fob battery. It might be a weak fob battery causing it.

Col

I would say both batteries are ok, have even tried the other two remote fobs I have. They unlock and lock the Discovery perfectly but, when I go to start the car, the same thing happens, turns over nice and fast but doesn’t fire.

Some misinformation being stating there in that there's a "spider" immobiliser, when EDC was fitted the immobiliser was then incorporated into the Engine Control Module, which controls the fuel shut-off solenoid.

The Diesel D1s isn't my field, but I take from previous threads on the subject it the first point of call to start testing for voltage at the solenoid, and possibly installing a temp 12v supply, although this will entail removing the security aspect that the pump has, the Haynes manual shows on a single page the electrical circuit of the ECM but understandably not the security part.

Ok I try taking a wire from the positive on the battery and connect it on to the fuel pump solenoid. Would I have to disconnect what is already on the solenoid, or leave it connected as it is and add an aditional wire.

Thanks

Leave it connected its up to you its only an overlay, u may find there's already 12v existing and therefore something else electrical in the wizardry of a Diesel engine that's stopping it starting.

Ok thanks, I will try this tomorrow and post up the result.

I know there is no power to the glow plugs and the starter motor is also been affected by this issue I’m having, so fingers crossed.

You should be able to completely disable the immobiliser with that lynx tool as to go into the security menu and set alarm and/or the immobiliser to "not fitted" or "disabled", i didnt do that myself but i remember i've read it in hawkeye's user guide and lynx is built by the same company on the same protocol

I too have a 97 auto - no EDC though, I took it orft...

However... if the fobs have gone out of sync you might get this issue... the info is in the handbook - but is something pressing the lock button on the remote four times with the key in a specified position..

I feel for you - I hate electronics

Disco1BFG said:

I too have a 97 auto - no EDC though, I took it orft...

However... if the fobs have gone out of sync you might get this issue... the info is in the handbook - but is something pressing the lock button on the remote four times with the key in a specified position..

I feel for you - I hate electronics

Click to expand...

Interesting, why do the think a fob will give that issue, even that as stated in #3 that the fobs lock and unlock the vehicle. Also "the key in a specified position" what position would that be? The key doesn't need to be anywhere near the vehicle when re-synchronising the fob.

Here is the result of some digging, the EDC has a dedicated alarm ECU:
Electronic Engine Immobilisation
(MFI–T16) (300 Tdi with EDC)
The electronic engine immobilisation is controlled
jointly by the engine management system’s
Electronic Control Module (ECM) (Z132) and the
Theft Alarm Unit (Z163).
When the Theft Alarm Unit (Z163) immobilises the
vehicle, it sends a signal to the ECM. The ECM then
immobilises the engine management system until a
mobilise signal is received from the Theft Alarm Unit
(Z163)

there are 2 more versions:
1. Remote “Smart Spider ” Immobilisation (MFI–V8) (300 Tdi without EGR)
2. Diesel Fuel Shut–off Immobilisation (DDS) (300 Tdi with EGR)

Though if the EKA code didnt work and the engine is cranking IMO the problem is with the ECU cos if it was immobilised it wouldnt have cranked

I have another look at the lynx system tomorrow before anything else.

Did look in to the fobs but they do unlock and lock the Discovery perfectly, and they have never caused an issue in the past.

The other things that have been suggested by other is “trying one or both of these things... link a wire from starter solenoid spade connector to +be of battery then cut wire in half and put a switch push to make release to break type into the cabin so you can reach it with left hand as you turn ignition key with right press button if that doesn't work keep it there then part 2.. the fuel cut solenoid may not be energizing due to immobilizer so do the same via a wire to +ve and link to another switch push to make push to break type. These should work plus you'll have a sweet way of stopping any thirds trying to take your car!”

Even though this could mean over riding the power source, not to sure if it will work if they are immobilised. Only switches I have laying around at the moment are for some driving lights, so may have to look in to which sort of swicthes to.

sierrafery said:

Here is the result of some digging, the EDC has a dedicated alarm ECU:
Electronic Engine Immobilisation
(MFI–T16) (300 Tdi with EDC)
The electronic engine immobilisation is controlled
jointly by the engine management system’s
Electronic Control Module (ECM) (Z132) and the
Theft Alarm Unit (Z163).
When the Theft Alarm Unit (Z163) immobilises the
vehicle, it sends a signal to the ECM. The ECM then
immobilises the engine management system until a
mobilise signal is received from the Theft Alarm Unit
(Z163)
View attachment 134255

there are 2 more versions:
1. Remote “Smart Spider ” Immobilisation (MFI–V8) (300 Tdi without EGR)
2. Diesel Fuel Shut–off Immobilisation (DDS) (300 Tdi with EGR)

Though if the EKA code didnt work and the engine is cranking IMO the problem is with the ECU cos if it was immobilised it wouldnt have cranked

Click to expand...

Bit of interesting reading there, is there a way of testing or fixing the fault, or is it a case of a new ecu or ecm, and will it need programming some how.

Thank you all, some good things to try here

Insist with Lynx in the security menu and if you can disable the alarm/immobiliser cos i'm affraid that if it's really some immobiliser issue(even though as long as it can be unlocked with fob and cranking it's not immobilised) this part "immobilises the engine management" is worrying cos even if you give external feed to the pump the ECU will not open the injectors

If you have to install 12v supplies just pick up from the ignition switch supply where it enters into the under dash fuse board. Why are you interfering with connections at the starter as u say the engine turns over (cranking). So it's still possible that the second immobilising circuit is faulty which is fuel supply inhibit.

D1 V8 have three circuits that any one will immobilise the engine.

just been told that the lynx doesn’t disable the immobiler on the Discovery 1s

And what does it do in the security menu then? did you enter yourself to see what's there? ... albeit IMO your problem is not immobiliser related

Just allows me to programme the key fobs.

I think it’s immobiliser as the three things it does has happened, Cuts power to glow plugs, fuel pump solenoid and starter. All three of these have been affected. Unless it a coincidence.

Trust mine not to have a spider Ahhhhhh lol

1997 Discovery said:

Just allows me to programme the key fobs.

Click to expand...

That's a shame, so in the security menu you have the "EDC immobiliser" section and under that you can only synk fobs? .... if your first post you said that you can unlock with fobs and you can crank it that's why i said that maybe it's not immobiliser issue

EDC immobiliser in that picture came under the EDC management section.

Immobiliser allows engine to crank, but it shuts all the bits down that allows it fire. Just like if I were to take out the fuse for the injector pump, same thing happens.

Fuse was the first thing I checked lol just in case, and it’s fine.