98 P38 2.5DSE BeCM fault??????

This site contains affiliate links for which LandyZone may be compensated if you make a purchase.
Diesel Do

Diesel Do

Well-Known Member
Posts
5,213
Location
Nottingham
Hi guys. Help needed:)
Ongoing problem, it's been to several garages inc land rover.
It cranks but non start, warnings on the dash are:-
ABS fault
Airbag fault
Slow: 35 mph max

Also no glow plug light,
It's very intermittent, and it gets very little use. Over the two plus years it's been doing it, it's had an engine ECU, battery, fob batteries, re sync, in December it broke down permanently, I checked the fuse box, all main earth and live cables, as many connections as I could find, removed the BeCM, opened it no dry joints or water ingres, connections all look good, code reader won't talk to it (snap on) :(
Couldn't fault anything, so sent the BeCM to BBA reman, the reckoned the software was corupted, erased it and reinstalled. I refitted it, dragged it to land rover had it all programmed, it was fine, oddly it actually seemed to go better than it ever has. Then three days ago exactly the same:mad:
Soooo do we reckon a sync mate will get it going? Do I need to buy a hawkeye pro (tempted) cos me solus pro is ****!
In the past it would tend to sort itself out after a couple of hours or worst case a day! Last time it didnt this time it's been three days.
The freelander fix of a gallon of petrol is rapidly coming:eek:
It's going to be sold cos theyve had enough but it'd be better if it works so it can be traded in,
Any help greatly appreciated. :rolleyes:
 
I've seen that problem before. The no glow plug light tells me it's the engine management causing the problem. If the fuse that is strapped to the side of the engine management ecu is intact then the problem lies within the ecu itself.
It can be done but i will need the becm & the engine ecu.
PM me if you need help.
 
Rick-the-Pick said:
I've seen that problem before. The no glow plug light tells me it's the engine management causing the problem. If the fuse that is strapped to the side of the engine management ecu is intact then the problem lies within the ecu itself.
It can be done but i will need the becm & the engine ecu.
PM me if you need help.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the reply. It has had a new engine management ecu already, no change? And last time becm repair fixed it?
 
Sorted:) big thanks to Rick the pick at callrova, sent BeCM and engine ECU to him for testing, turned out to be faulty BeCM, suspect spiked at some point,
Great service, very knowledgable, and very quick repair.
Can't recommend him enough for these things;)
 
Folks, I would be very grateful for some help on this problem on my '97 P38 diesel manual please.

I have the EXACT symptoms of the first post, including the diagnostics (Autologic? Blue with triangular handles each side) not being able to communicate with either the BeCM or ECU!

Rick at Callrova found both BeCM & ECU spiked, then repaired & tested OK.
BUT after refitting........
Diagnostics still the same, no data from BeCM or ECU!
(Can communicate with other areas eg suspension.)
Symptoms still the same.

I have changed the glowplugs (NGK) & relay (New genuine part), 80A fuse on each intact - but still no glowplug light.
(Fuel pump not running, but RAVE says not, some posters say does?)

I have changed the fusebox (New genuine part).
It came with new fuses, but no relays, so I used the old relays.
Have been swapping positions with these and tried swapping the three engine start relays for new ones.
The old fusebox was mint, aftermarket.

Brand new Hankook 135 a/h, 1000cca battery!
(This cleared all problems for a few days.)
Old battery was knackered.

No ABS pump running.
(This is on different circuit, yet affected?)
Swapped this relay too.

This car has run perfectly for 5 months, since purchase.
104,000 miles, 1 owner, really good condition, perfect mechanicals, road use only.
Then intermittent on start - With these symptoms.
Turning key off/on a few times cleared it originally, then got worse.

Now dead!
Two P38 guy's involved, one looking at it now.

Any help much appreciated.
Many thanks,

Simon
Axminster Devon
:confused:
 
Last edited:
simonh836 said:
Folks, I would be very grateful for some help on this problem on my '97 P38 diesel manual.

I have the EXACT symptoms of the first post, including the diagnostics (Autologic? Blue with triangular handles each side) not being able to communicate with either the BeCM or ECU!

Rick at Callrova found both BeCM & ECU spiked, then repaired & tested OK.
BUT after refitting........
Diagnostics still the same, no data from BeCM or ECU!
(Can communicate with other areas eg suspension.)
Symptoms still the same.

I have changed the glowplugs (NGK) & relay (New genuine part), 80A fuse on each intact - but still no glowplug light, fuel pump not running.

I have changed the fusebox (New genuine part).
It came with new fuses, but no relays, so I used the old relays.
Have been swapping positions with these and tried swapping the three engine start relays for new ones.
The old fusebox was mint, aftermarket.

Brand new Hankook 135 a/h, 1000cca battery!
(This cleared all problems for a few days.)
Old battery was knackered.

No ABS pump running.
(This is on different circuit, yet affected?)
Swapped this relay too.

This car has run perfectly for 5 months, since purchase.
104,000 miles, 1 owner, really good condition, perfect mechanicals, road use only.
Then intermittent on start - With these symptoms.
Turning key off/on a few times cleared it originally, then got worse.

Now dead!
Two P38 guy's involved, one looking at it now.

Any help much appreciated.
Many thanks,

Simon
:confused:
Click to expand...
:welcome2: Nice to see you did a search before posting but put in your location, there may be someone close who can help.:)
 
Did you fit the correct fuse box? There are about 5 different ones. Is the diagnostics device you are using capable of reading P38 ECU's? The P38 is not OBD compliant, most diagnostic tools do not work.
 
Datatek said:
Did you fit the correct fuse box? There are about 5 different ones. Is the diagnostics device you are using capable of reading P38 ECU's? The P38 is not OBD compliant, most diagnostic tools do not work.
Click to expand...

Fusebox fitted was AMR6477 - Was listed as diesel and within year range.
(The old fusebox worked fine for months, looks same but not OE).
So this is just possible, but not probable.
And the old (working) fusebox displayed exactly same symptoms.

Diagnostics was Autologic.
Had "P38" and / or "Mk2" on screen - Just Landrovers on screen.
The guy seems to know these and runs a landrover workshop.
Seems competent to me, listens well and has car at the moment.

Thanks for help, can check both these things out.

Simon
 
Last edited:
simonh836 said:
Fusebox fitted was AMR6477 - Was listed as diesel and within year range.
(The old fusebox worked fine for months, looks same but not OE).
So this is just possible, but not probable.
And the old (working) fusebox displayed exactly same symptoms.

Diagnostics was Autologic.
Had "P38" and / or "Mk2" on screen - Just Landrovers on screen.
The guy seems to know these and runs a landrover workshop.
Seems competent to me, listens well and has car at the moment.

Thanks for help, can check both these things out.

Simon
Click to expand...
Drop the OBD connector and see if the wires have corroded off the back, common problem.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

M
P38 new problem with abs and traction fault
4 5 6
Replies
119
Views
7K
Datatek
Datatek
Joss155
P38A 2.5 dse becm syncmate
Replies
17
Views
2K
Joss155
Joss155
R
Main Dealer or Independent (still under warranty)
2
Replies
24
Views
2K
norseman
norseman
rover75lover
L322 rear left air valve fault (sorted)
Replies
0
Views
661
rover75lover
rover75lover
P
L322 ABS HDC faults
Replies
6
Views
826
roythebus
R
Back
Top