BCU Re-Programming

the BCU of my Discovery 2 TD5 1999 has gone bad and i need to replace it. That because of a recent crash, after all bodywork and related works on the car, when we try to start it, it runs for 1 second and then turns off. So i figured it needs replacement. Do you have any idea if it needs re-programming once i relpace it. Since i live in Alabania i have ordered it from abroad, in Switzerland. Here in Albania, they have asked me to change all three electronic packages including the ECM, BCU and so on. However i checked them all and only the BCU (there is burnt glow on one of the integrated circuit chips) needs to be replaced, so i figured i was being ripped of by these technicians here in Tirana. Anyways, i was wondering if it is possible for the BCU to be or not re-programmed for me before the company delivers it, considering that i have provided chasis and car serial or identification numbers.

hi the bcu will need to be programmed on the car as it holds the key nos mileage and other details,are you sure its the bcu as it sounds like the engine managment and security systems are out off synch and may just need resynchronising will also have to be done on T4 has the inertia switch been checked out as these can go wrong,what list of electrical faults has the car got! does it lock it self correctly do interior lights work,please list do list of any faults and i will see if i can help

hey, sorry for the late reply,

actually i think it is the BCU, since there is a glow on one of the chips on the electronic circuit. From what i have been reading, its directs me to this problem, being also that the BCU has this problem on it, and that the engine runs for 1 second and then turns off, i deducted its the BCU. What happened is that, the technicians, after fixing most of the things on my car after the crash, they tried to start the car, however some battery liquid had dropped on the wires conecting the ECM( The electornic package close to the engine, next to the battery). This probably resulted on a eletric short cut and eventually messed up the BCU. We had the car checked at a "supposed" Land Rover garage, where they told me to change all the electroni/electric packages!!! They said they checked the car with a computer (prabably a T4) but did not give me the results! Hey its Albania! not so many things function here as they should! However, the interior lights, do turn on and off, the doors lock and so on. I don't know about the intertia switch, is there a way to check that maybe by not going to this guys? Is there another way of resynchronising these thorugh a different device than the T4? Im still waiting to recieve the BCU, will post later what will happen. Thanks!

hi ya the inertia switch is on the bulkhead on the right hand side from memory,if not look towrads the left hand side but sure its the right it will have a black cap on top made of rubber bottom half maybe red or black,if you bang it you should hear a noise press the top it should go in and reset,in a crash it should go off and shut off fuel and bring on hazard lights but the switches can go wrong all you need to do is disconect switch and use a paper clip to join both wires together this is the esay way to rule out inertia switch,i have an old bcu in my tool box that you can have if you pay postage i believe it may have a door locking fault and not sure if it will work on car but you may be able to salvage it for parts,you can only programme new bcu on T4 im afraid,and you wont be able to resynchronise any ecu"s with out T4 so much for modern technology i hope this helps in some way cheers tiga. oh yes as long as the keys are being read by the bcu and the car cranks i cant see that the bcu is at fault,try this turn ignition on and pump gas pedal 5 times quickly you should hear the fuel pump bleeding through filter down at the rear offside wheel,if the pump works and it cranks it should start,have you checked the crank sensor as if this is faulty car wont start let me know what you do and the results all the best tiga.

Thanks Tiga,

i'll have a look at the inertia switch! i ended up ordering a BCU in Switzerland which i might be recieving soon, nevertheless i appreciate your offer for your old bcu. i'll let know what happens with the one i already have if anything comes up with the inertia switch! laters, Martin

not a problem martinbej

Hello,

ok, now i got the BCU and had these guys at an authorised Land Rover service . ... re-programmed! However, they are telling me that i cannot use the current key, and i will need to order a new one so it can operate with the new BCU. I'm kind of stuck here because i thought, that after re-programming the BCU the rest would be synchrosied, the key and remote eventually. I will order a new one, but i'm not sure if they are trying to ripp me off again I think i read somewhere about this but have no clue yet where. If you have any ideas . . . ?

Martin

Hello,

after a few weeks, the car has been up and running, however i'm running into a few last problems. Anyone knows why the remote key won't work after replacing the BCU. At teh service i was told i needed to replace the car key as well because the current key won't be synchronised. I dont know if that i strue or not.

Aas well, my car won't drive faster than 120-125 km/h. Before it could drive up 160-165 sometimes 170 km/h. The thing is as if something is keepin it from reaching higher RPMs on the 4th and 5th gear, it looks as something clicks in and won't let the car go faster. I was back at the service shop but they gave me no response. Any ideas?

Martin

Hi when you change the bcu you can download the info from the old bcu to the new 1 BUT if the old bcu is faulty you could corrupt the new 1 transfering bad info, so in all fairness if this is a concern dont transfer info just reprogramme new bcu as a VIRGIN unit,te only downside is that the key codes are held in the bcu and can not be retreived on LR computors this is a safety thing so no 1 can reprogramme keys and steal your car so im affraid new keys is the only way to go but when you get new keys keep the security tags so if it happens again you can reprogramme the keys again,so ask dealer to keep the tags.
the engine running problem is not due to the bcu unless the fuel pump is not being switched on by the bcu have a listen to the pump or hold the fuel filter to see if the fuel is flowing td5 engines will run if pump is not working but will normally struggle at about 55mph plus,you could try doing a bleed procedure turn ignition to pos 2 push fuel pedal down 5 times quickly the mil light will flash on dash and you should hear the filter housing squeal like a strangled cat, hope this helps tiga.

Hey Tiga,

thanks for the thorough reply, in fact i kind of heard about downloading the old BCU program to the new one, but i wanted to know if in case i do that and the old program wont work on the new BCU, do you think i could reprogram the new BCU again with its own program?

and for the engine i wanted to ask u a few things. what would the bleed procedure signify and to what do u refer to the "mil" ?

one day as i was driving, and the car totally stopped in the middle of the road, i was igniting the car but the engine wouldnt start, until an hour passed by and then it started again. on another day i could hear some noise for something like 20-30 secs, kind of like that strangled cat u mentioned. as well these guys at the service shop have connected a wire from the inertia switch to somewhere in the car that i do not know where it ends, i dont what that serves for but it is there and i dont like it (since the car went to two different service shops, none of them takes responsability over connecting it where, why and for what). i hope this gives u an idea . ..

thanks again

Martin

Hey Tiga,

thanks for the thorough reply, in fact i kind of heard about downloading the old BCU program to the new one, but i wanted to know if in case i do that and the old program wont work on the new BCU, do you think i could reprogram the new BCU again with its own program?

and for the engine i wanted to ask u a few things. what would the bleed procedure signify and to what do u refer to the "mil" ?

1 day i could hear some noise for something like 20-30 secs, kind of like that strangled cat u mentioned and the car stopped. i think it was the fuel pump (the noise came from the back part drivers side), maybe it was a fuel prob (i was in yellow light since 40 km), cause i ended up putting some 10 liters and after several ignitions the car started.
as well these guys at the service shop have connected a wire from the inertia switch to some cables ending on the fuse box next to the ECM. if u disconnect the wire, the car won't start, look like it cuts power to the fuel pump. since it's never been there before, i dont like it (the car went to two different service shops, none of them takes responsability over connecting it where, why and for what). i hope this gives u an idea . ..

thanks again

Martin

I tested the bleed procedure, and the mil flashed as u expected, however, i did not hear any noise. . .

I tested the bleed procedure, and the mil flashed as u expected, however, i did not hear any noise from the pump, the "cat noise", what would that mean?

Martin

hi, again you only normally hear the sqeal if there is air in the system and if you change the fuel fiter,the mil light is a yellow light looks like an engine comes on if engine problems or carrying out a full bleed on diesel.
the bcu once fitted and programmed is no longer a virgin ecu and will not accept anymore programming so im afraid new key fobs is the only way to go.
not sure what they have done to your inertia switch was this done to overide the bcu so the car would run after you had problems with the original bcu hope this makes sense,tiga.