Can't enter EKA, 2001 P38

Hi LandyZone, new to the forum and could really use a hand.

I picked up a lovely P38, my first, about a month ago. It's a 2001 4.0 Bordeaux and I absolutely love the thing- well, I loved it, until I broke the key a couple of weeks ago trying to change the housing. I picked up my new key from land rover this morning after a long wait, and coming back to the car the battery was flat. No big deal- put it on charge, waited for the keycode lockout to pass, and proceeded to enter the EKA.

Thing is, I was getting no indication whatsoever that the EKA was being picked up by the car, even though I had the bonnet and doors closed, and had set and closed the sunroof/windows. I closed the door, locked the car and turned the key to the lock position 4 times and entered the code. I repeated this a good 5 or 6 times, taking care to do it reasonably slowly and forcibly, but there were no lights flashing after each turn on the dash (aside from the little red alarm LED which flashes continuously) and the car didn't enter keycode lockout mode either.

Before I start tearing out the door card or pulling the BECM out, what would be your recommended plan of action/diagnostics? Or could you recommend anyone local to Bristol that could pop out to have a look?

Things to note that may or may not be useful;

Battery was changed around 2 months ago
Alarm siren doesn't seem to be working


Thanks ever so much in advance and I look forward to contributing to the forum wherever possible in the future!

H

You're up very late.

Check the door latch in the drivers door. If one of either the CDL or Key microswitches are faulty, then you won't be able to enter the EKA code.

If you have a look on my website, here: http://p38webshop.co.uk/index.php?route=product/category&path=71 (link should take you to my technical information page) there is a downloadable file to test the microswitches in the door latch, with the expected results.

I would do that before pulling the BECM out. It could be that the BECM has gone into a locked out state, yes - but the door latches are known to have problems with the microswitches (even the 'youngest' ones are going on 15 years old now!) and mo st people find out there are problems with them when they are in the position of having to enter the EKA. Most of the time when I see BECM's that are in an alarmed state and won't accept the EKA, it goes through the motions of looking like the EKA is being entered, but will refuse to accept it.

The fact you aren't getting any signs of it even trying to take the EKA to me says it's worth taking the door card off and testing the latch first. On my '01 vogue, with the first 4 turns to lock, I get the indicators flash once every turn - and then after that you should get the sidelight telltale on the instrument cluster flash for every turn of the key (in either direction). I know that some vehicles don't flash the hazards on the first 4 turns (as this depends on whether the hazard lights are set to flash on arm/disarm of the alarm), but you should still get the sidelight telltale flash and be able to count the number of turns it thinks it's had input. If you get nothing, then again points to door latch not sending the pulses to the BECM in the first place.

Hope this helps,
Marty

Rick the pick suggests using the sill button as well as the key when entering the EKA code. I guess with the window open

Stupid question but why would a flat battery require the EKA inputting? New key will need to be synced to the car. Method changes on year but should be in your handbook.

The guru for this is @mozz smith but he requires lots of cake in order to work.

tomcat59alan said:

Rick the pick suggests using the sill button as well as the key when entering the EKA code. I guess with the window open

Click to expand...

Really? Worth remembering.

Grrrrrr said:

Stupid question but why would a flat battery require the EKA inputting? New key will need to be synced to the car. Method changes on year but should be in your handbook.

Click to expand...

If it was locked and alarmed when the battery went flat it'll need the EKA to unalarm it because the key fobs will no longer be synced so you can't turn the alarm off with the push of a button. It'll also think that it's possible a thief is attempting to bypass the alarm by disconnecting the battery.

If it was UNlocked when the battery went flat, you should be good to go.

The key in the drivers door will disarm the rangy, I had the same problem, also if you don't have locked out on the dash all you do is put the key in the door lock while pressing the keyfob button until the indicators flash twice I think then try the remote

Oh you have to turn the key with one of the buttons pressed sorry didn't ad that bit in

hi, if your still stuck send me a P.M. and will send u my number to ring me . and sort it for you , regards Mozz