Engine immobilised!!!

I've just popped down to the post office in the village and got out of the car and tried to lock it, but it would not lock using the remote. So I locked it using the key. When I came back I still could not unlock it and used the key again. I put the key in the ignition and the dash came up with a warning beep and this message "engine immobilised - press remote". I have tried to press it in all manner of ways including whilst in the actual ignition, in the door and in my hand. One button and two but nothing changes. I took the batteries out and put them back in but to no avail. The remote central locking is not the best in that sometimes I can lock/unlock the car from say 20 feet one day, and others it takes multiple attempts at vey close range. Why is this? The batteries are new.

What has happened here and why? Is ther some kind of standard procedure to sort this?

It has happened about 3 times in total over the last year and the other times I have just fiddled and fiddled and it's allowed the engine to start again, but I don't know what I did to fix it unfortunately. I have heard that pressing the wrong button toomay times can bring this on but I don't know if this is true.

Any help on this would be most appreciated.

If it is a P38 with an old RF receiver then it is probably Radio interference.Try moving the vehicle 100metres or so and try again.if you keep on trying where you are the becm may go into lockout.It then need removing ,unlocking and resetting with the specialised software from BBS.

Thank you for the advice. I really appreciate it.

Is that likely even though the car is in the same street almost daily?

Have you tried to resync key?

No, I don't know how to.

Put key in door, lock door then press lock button, unlock door then press open button repeat lock. do not remove key untill finished.

I tried a keyfob reset upon my return to the car tonight without initial success. Accessing the rear side shelf from the rear seat/seatbelt mount area (by taking out one screw and a couple of clips), I disconnected the blue wire and then reset the keyfob in the door as you said.

FANTASTIC!!!!! It worked like a dream. Thank you so much, you have no idea what a worry off my mind that is. You are a scholar and a gentlemen.

JohnP38 said:

If it is a P38 with an old RF receiver then it is probably Radio interference.Try moving the vehicle 100metres or so and try again.if you keep on trying where you are the becm may go into lockout.It then need removing ,unlocking and resetting with the specialised software from BBS.

Click to expand...

not totaly true you can do it with testbook and autologic.

you need to do a couple of tests
one when you unlock on the key does the rest of the door unlock?
as stated move the vehicle leave it locked and retry
or the immobiliser has gone out of sync
or the key has gone out of sync
do you have a spare key does this work
have you got the eka code and entered that

KJT said:

I tried a keyfob reset upon my return to the car tonight without initial success. Accessing the rear side shelf from the rear seat/seatbelt mount area (by taking out one screw and a couple of clips), I disconnected the blue wire and then reset the keyfob in the door as you said.

FANTASTIC!!!!! It worked like a dream. Thank you so much, you have no idea what a worry off my mind that is. You are a scholar and a gentlemen.

Click to expand...

You need to replace your RF receiver (the bit you disconnected the blue wire from) with the latest version to avoid further trouble.

working on that already

KJT said:

I tried a keyfob reset upon my return to the car tonight without initial success. Accessing the rear side shelf from the rear seat/seatbelt mount area (by taking out one screw and a couple of clips), I disconnected the blue wire and then reset the keyfob in the door as you said.

FANTASTIC!!!!! It worked like a dream. Thank you so much, you have no idea what a worry off my mind that is. You are a scholar and a gentlemen.

Click to expand...

Nice to hear positive out come, as has allready been said you will need new rf box. Do you have a key 1 and key 2?

Can I not just keep using the existing one with the blue cable removed? And No, I don't have key 2. Is that a problem?

Personally i wouldnt bother repacing the RF i have a 2001 wth latest RF and still get problems. as you say just live with the wire disconnected.

Well I am suprised by that. I have read on here that the change to the latest one is fool proof. I guess I'll save myself a load of cash..

There were three variants of the RF receiver. The 2001 model will have the Mk2 if it's the original. You'll need the Mk 3 - part nr YWY500170. Don't buy anything off Ebay. The part numbers aren't stamped or labelled on the receivers so there's no way of telling what you're getting.

KJT said:

Well I am suprised by that. I have read on here that the change to the latest one is fool proof. I guess I'll save myself a load of cash..

Click to expand...

If you don't replace the RF receiver, you may find you have other little problems, like you may have to start the car quickly after you unlock or you will have to lock/unlock again. It will still also be susceptible to RF interferance if the signal is strong enough.
As Derek says, it has to be the MK3 to fix the interferance problem.

vougese39 said:

not totaly true you can do it with testbook and autologic.

you need to do a couple of tests
one when you unlock on the key does the rest of the door unlock?
as stated move the vehicle leave it locked and retry
or the immobiliser has gone out of sync
or the key has gone out of sync
do you have a spare key does this work
have you got the eka code and entered that

Click to expand...

Also not completely true.When my RR suffered from this issue ,autologic was not able to solve the issue.The only solution was to remove the BECM,and have it unlocked and reset.Believe me I tried everything and the experienced tech with his auto logic tried all the tricks he had learned and eventually gave up as well.

What is an eka code, where do u get it and how is it different to a fob resync?

look here under owners hand book.

Land Rover Owner Information (prs01736)