Engine Disabled - ALL the time!

I've got a '96 P38 and have been getting "Engine Disabled”, EVERY time I turn the key in the ignition, it’s been going on for a while and it's driving me nuts! I know you can apparently press the button on the fob when starting up, to override this, but that doesn't work for me. So I need to get out, and enter the code into the driver's door, and then everything is fine. All a bit embarrassing when you've got guests, not to mention a complete bloody pain for me personally!

The two front door locks blew some time ago, which I know is a common fault on the P38 - so I've wondered if it's linked to this, though that did occur some time before this Engine Disabled problem appeared.

Anyone got any ideas??

remote receiver possibly not sending remote responses

had the same problem when ever i went to work(right by airport) the rf reciever wasnt picking up the signal from the remote, simple fix is to upgrade to the newer rf reciever, as this has been a common problem landrover produced a newer version, think the part number is YWY500170 costs about £150!

is a simple job of unplugging and plugging the new one in! If you want a quick fix then just disconnect the one in there at the moment, its behind the drivers side rear parcel shelf support, this will mean your remote signal range will be pretty poor and your have to unlock it with the remote by the rear window.

Oh and dont be tempted to get one of ebay the is no part numbers on the recievers so people pass off old ones as new.

Hope this helps.

after going through the dead battery saga, I changed the RF receiver (£150 from a dealer!), so it can't be cos of that. but I’m not entirely happy with it. For a start, contrary to what i've read on it, it’s much weaker than the previous one (i was then told by a mechanic 'of course it's weaker, it's on a lower frequency than the previous one!'), so now i need to stand next to it to unlock the car - whereas before it had a better reception....
but I did expect it to allow me to leave the car sitting untouched for at least a couple of weeks without it going flat – but even that is too much for it. OK, it’s an improvement on 2 days that I had previously, but just under 2 weeks is still pretty poor…i'd like to know if those that have changed the receiver are still having problems with the battery, albeit over a couple of weeks now instead of a couple of days, or is it just me....??

Alex RF said:

i was then told by a mechanic 'of course it's weaker, it's on a lower frequency than the previous one!

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:hysterically_laughi:hysterically_laughi:hysterically_laughi

bull**** baffles brains!

wot a load of bollix! The frequency has no effect whatsoever on the signal strength.

Who changed the receiver for you? Are you sure it was actually changed and that the aerial has been plugged in again correctly, because it sounds as if the aerial may be disconnected if you have to stand next to it to get it to work. As for the mechanics stupid comments about it being "weaker" because its on a "lower frequency" - I've never heard such rubbish ever!! What planet is he on??? Just for the record, the new RF receiver DOES work - it SOLVES the problem - mine certainly has!!! If yours doesn't then you have another battery drain problem - perhaps a poor earth connection as well. I'd double check the installation of your "new" RF reciever though, sounds like it wasn't done too well!!!!

gulp...well actually i installed it, and while i'm certainly no specialist, it was simple even for me. just plugged it in, there wasn't much else to it - hard to f up really.

i did read that if you've got leaks in the air suspension - like i do (mine is on its bushes the day after), the EAS system will be working every couple of hrs levelling the car, but that's only going to be a 'drain' on one night, after that once it's sunk to the bushes, it's not going to be working at all, is it.

Maybe recheck the aerial is plugged in properly, because it certainly sounds as if it isn't - usually, if people don't want to spend the £150 on the new RF receiver, the problem can be temp fixed by unplugging the aerial lead - then you have to stand close to the car for the fob to work - that's why I think there may be an aerial connection problem as you are having that problem.

The new RF unit, just to clarify, is definitely NOT "weaker" than the old one, the mechanic who told you that is talking complete and utter drivel!!!! Its just on a different frequency which doesn't pick up wireless doorbell signals, broadband internet router signals, wireless weather stations and the like.....so if your battery is still dying, albeit slower, then there is another area of drain or the battery may not be 100% - RR's are notoriously completely intolerant of a battery that is any less than 100% healthy.

the new and old parts are both listed under the same part number in the stealers, the only way to check if you have got the right one is to open it up? there are pictures on the net and the forum to show you the diffrence. I got mine of ebay from a stealer and they did try it on? i just said i wanted the part i had paid for and they sent me the right one no extra charge.

cav1 said:

the new and old parts are both listed under the same part number in the stealers, the only way to check if you have got the right one is to open it up? there are pictures on the net and the forum to show you the diffrence. I got mine of ebay from a stealer and they did try it on? i just said i wanted the part i had paid for and they sent me the right one no extra charge.

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That's true - the dealer may have sold you a duff one or even worse, one of the original ones....trouble is there's no identification marks on the box, just the electronics inside look different. Maybe ask dealer to exchange unit as it appears faulty? You should NOT have to stand up close to it to get it to work, if the aerial is plugged in correctly.