A few p38 questions if I may.

Busterthebulldog said:

Hi all , I bought a little one owner 2001 P38 4 litre County the other day, its a lovely old car but I need to ask a few questions.

1. I know the County is pretty basic but I did expect the ability to play a cd.....but no ...its a not very good radio or a cassette tape. What are my options ? Can I just buy a used changer off fleabay and plumb it in easily ?

Hmmmmm....only if you have mid or high line stereos as the basic spec didnt have CD multiplayer inputs....either change for after market stereo fitted properly or fit original fitment highline stereo with multiplayer

2.On day 3 a bumpy road brought up srs light with airbag fault. Checked yellow wires under seat,no side airbags fitted so anything obvious to look at next ?

could be either a loose SRS Bulb as the system uses two...one comes on if the other fails! Or the wiring loom to the dash or steering wheel rotary collar....rotary collar is most common.

3. Should I invest in a code reader ? If so which one and why ?

Cant own a Range Rover and not have your own diagnostics....the Blackbox Solutions Nanocom is the best choice for its price range as it is the most comprehensive unit...£400 odd...and will do everything the home user requires



4 The car calls an alarm fault when he key is inserted..apparently due to the spare being used as original is in poor condition. Does this sound correct ? Has anyone used this company for a ey refurb ?

Repair refurbishment service for Land Rover Range Rover P38 remote flip key fob | eBay

Inserted where? Door or ignition? If ignition, it could be the internal ultrasonic sensors...they tend to fail....doubt there is anything wrong with the key as it still unlocks and starts the car!!

5.How is it best left parked up suspension wise? I have been leaving it fully up,is this ok.

leave suspension in Standard ride height at all times...lowering it to access only makes the system work harder as it has raise the car up each time it goes anywhere....

6. Should I ditch my 16 inch wheels and invest in 75inch chrome spinners with biscuit tyres ? ..lol

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Nah, stick the spinners on, tint the windows, add LED strips, bang out some Cypress Hill and hunnies will flock to your door wanting a piece of the Meister

Busterthebulldog said:

Hi Saint,thanks for the reply..

1.radio cassette (lol) has a cd button so I m guessing its compatible somehow...if not then I shall have to cope with radio 2...this means I cant go out after 7pm
2.Loose srs bulb ? Can you enlighten me a little more please?
3. thank you
4. Key inserted in ignition.
5. ok will do
6.Wife wont allow hunnies so 16 inch it is for me

Click to expand...

Busterthebulldog said:

Hi all , I bought a little one owner 2001 P38 4 litre County the other day, its a lovely old car but I need to ask a few questions.

1. I know the County is pretty basic but I did expect the ability to play a cd.....but no ...its a not very good radio or a cassette tape. What are my options ? Can I just buy a used changer off fleabay and plumb it in easily ?
You sure there is not a CD player in the boot?


2.On day 3 a bumpy road brought up srs light with airbag fault. Checked yellow wires under seat,no side airbags fitted so anything obvious to look at next ?
I'm surprised there are no side airbags, though they were standard from about 1999

3. Should I invest in a code reader ? If so which one and why ?
Nanocom, you WILL need it.

4 The car calls an alarm fault when he key is inserted..apparently due to the spare being used as original is in poor condition. Does this sound correct ? Has anyone used this company for a key refurb ?

Repair refurbishment service for Land Rover Range Rover P38 remote flip key fob | eBay

5.How is it best left parked up suspension wise? I have been leaving it fully up,is this ok.
I keep mine locked at motorway height to save it going up and down all the time.


6. Should I ditch my 16 inch wheels and invest in 75inch chrome spinners with biscuit tyres ? ..lol

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24" rims with 20 profile tyres would be best if you plan off roading

quavey said:

I also thought the seat airbags were standard after MY99, are you sure its got its original interior?
I would have thought all P38's were pre wired for a CD changer into the boot on the left hand side. Certainly a P38 from the BMW era would be I suspect an alpine changer, the same as used in the E38/E39/E53 etc they are easy to get hold of!

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gfromleeds said:

The standard 18" hurricane are nice wheels have a look at them
Leave the suspension to do its own thing! unless you offroading I wouldent ever touch the hight switch
As for the radio not all models had cd and as you say if yours is a low spec probably wont have the conectors to take a multi changer (plenty of threads on fitting aftermarker though)
Nancom is the reader to get unless your real pally with someone that has one but that said ive owned 3 p38s over a 6 year period and not needed one (touching wood)
As for the alarm try locking it without the dead lock (just one button push) my alarm sometimes false alarms so I dont use it anymore

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gfromleeds said:

The standard 18" hurricane are nice wheels have a look at them
Leave the suspension to do its own thing! unless you offroading I wouldent ever touch the hight switch
As for the radio not all models had cd and as you say if yours is a low spec probably wont have the conectors to take a multi changer (plenty of threads on fitting aftermarker though)
Nancom is the reader to get unless your real pally with someone that has one but that said ive owned 3 p38s over a 6 year period and not needed one (touching wood)
As for the alarm try locking it without the dead lock (just one button push) my alarm sometimes false alarms so I dont use it anymore

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Busterthebulldog said:

Hi Saint,thanks for the reply..

1.radio cassette (lol) has a cd button so I m guessing its compatible somehow...if not then I shall have to cope with radio 2...this means I cant go out after 7pm
2.Loose srs bulb ? Can you enlighten me a little more please?
3. thank you
4. Key inserted in ignition.
5. ok will do
6.Wife wont allow hunnies so 16 inch it is for me

Click to expand...

Busterthebulldog said:

I intend to leave the 16 inch wheels I think they are rather smart and suit the car....no6 was tongue in cheek
Re the suspension..is button pushing a bad thing then ?
With regards to the radio..it as a cd button so I shall nozy in the boot and look for a wire. Its a County so its bog standard I suspect...it sure doesnt have the toys my other one had...but theres less to go wrong going on past experience.
Will the nancom access all the bits I need..eg the airbag fault..
The alarm doesn't sound it just displays alarm fault on key insertion.


Empty boot


cd button

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Busterthebulldog said:

Well fault number 2..srs airbag yesterday vanished off the dashboard, I guess its reset itself somehow. Which was nice .
I found a coolant leak, on a long pipe coming from the engine to the coolant bottle. It was just a case of badly positioned clamps...but...the clamps were fitted to a connection on the asforementioned pipe...a smaller bore pipe into a larger one...it doesn't seem correct to me, but I a thrown by some of the pipeclips being sized for the smaller bore pipe. Its basically larger bore off the exp bottle for a few inches,then a smaller bore going to around battery position then going back to larger bore. Anyone know it if normal ? thanks

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Busterthebulldog said:

Well fault number 2..srs airbag yesterday vanished off the dashboard, I guess its reset itself somehow. Which was nice .
I found a coolant leak, on a long pipe coming from the engine to the coolant bottle. It was just a case of badly positioned clamps...but...the clamps were fitted to a connection on the asforementioned pipe...a smaller bore pipe into a larger one...it doesn't seem correct to me, but I a thrown by some of the pipeclips being sized for the smaller bore pipe. Its basically larger bore off the exp bottle for a few inches,then a smaller bore going to around battery position then going back to larger bore. Anyone know it if normal ? thanks

Click to expand...