Key fob problems near high radiation sites

Suffered that heart stopping message - ENGINE DISABLED whilst picking up my son from a Laser Shoot out place last night. First symptom was not being able to lock door. Then when I tried to start the engine - the message!

Couldn't even lock the door using the key, couldn't reset the system with EAC. So had to leave the car unlocked in the city centre.

Came home and read all related forums and deduced it was the radiation from the laser guns. Waited until morning when Laser place was shut, car was intact and unmolested and started first time.

Lesson learned? Stay away from airports, laser shoot out places and aanywhere there may be radio signals stronger than one tenth of a watt!

Johnny Fart Pants said:

Suffered that heart stopping message - ENGINE DISABLED whilst picking up my son from a Laser Shoot out place last night. First symptom was not being able to lock door. Then when I tried to start the engine - the message!

Couldn't even lock the door using the key, couldn't reset the system with EAC. So had to leave the car unlocked in the city centre.

Came home and read all related forums and deduced it was the radiation from the laser guns. Waited until morning when Laser place was shut, car was intact and unmolested and started first time.

Lesson learned? Stay away from airports, laser shoot out places and aanywhere there may be radio signals stronger than one tenth of a watt!

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Have to disagree there, my work means i park at airports on a regular basis and have never had any issues. even next to the the Marconi radar at LGW UK. Check fob batteries, (even without low battery msg on dash).
Airports were around when the P38 was dreamed up so this would have been taken into account. Problems nowadays are Digital TV signals and wireless broadband, doorbells and everything that has been invented since.

Try standard door sync next time - turning key in door to lock while holding lock button and vice versa before resorting to EKA.
Also try pressing unlock when unlocked first before locking. This always works for me if the remote becomes unresponsive.

If all the above fails your looking at replacement RF unit which has been modified to take into account the above issues. Expensive though.

Change the RF receiver before you get stranded and it burns your locks.

In my days in the airline,I parked at an international airport all the time ,never had an issue even with an old type RF receiver installed.Had an issue eventually at a petrol station.Replaced RF receiver with the latest version and have not had any issues since.(yes even at the same petrol station)

Agree - I work at LHR in rented offices in one of the BA Hangars -have done for the last 10 years (bar 2.5 when I was a Design Engineer for the Channel Tunnel Rail Link in London) and none of my 3 P38's had issues....

Saint.V8 said:

Agree - I work at LHR in rented offices in one of the BA Hangars -have done for the last 10 years (bar 2.5 when I was a Design Engineer for the Channel Tunnel Rail Link in London) and none of my 3 P38's had issues....

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T'is all to do with the RF frequencies in use.

Datatek said:

T'is all to do with the RF frequencies in use.

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What exactly does the RF stand for? It just occured to me i never knew...is it remote frequency receiver?

aerofabrique said:

What exactly does the RF stand for? It just occured to me i never knew...is it remote frequency receiver?

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Radio Frequency - in my mind....

What did they change for the RF receiver mk2 from the 1st one?
(You need to get the 3rd edition (green spot) to avoid signal related problems)

TCubed said:

What did they change for the RF receiver mk2 from the 1st one?
(You need to get the 3rd edition (green spot) to avoid signal related problems)

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Just additional shielding I suspect between 1 & 2. MK3 is a complete re-design with much better frequency discrimination.
RF is Radio Frequency

Hi,

I've have been down this road and can confirm all that has been said but I refer you to this article: Battery Drain on a Range Rover 4.0/4.6

And offer this part number:YWY500170 as the final upgrade solution. Don't get the YWY500010as it was an interim fix that isn't as good but may be what you get off ebay

Read also: The updated RF receiver YWY500170 to solve battery drain

D

Glad you have the heart to disagree. All standard lock and reset practices tried (I've owned this car from new) and nothing worked. as for working near an airport - just try monitoring the battery current useage of the BECM when your vehicle is parked and the unit is supposedly asleep. They wake up for the slightest hint of radiation regardless of the frequency. This was my first (and last) flirtation with lasers and I'm trying to give others a 'heads up' about the issues. Your disagreement didn't do me any good trying to start my vehicle. But I will remember to quote you should I get the 'engine disabled' warning again.

Johnny Fart Pants said:

Glad you have the heart to disagree. All standard lock and reset practices tried (I've owned this car from new) and nothing worked. as for working near an airport - just try monitoring the battery current useage of the BECM when your vehicle is parked and the unit is supposedly asleep. They wake up for the slightest hint of radiation regardless of the frequency. This was my first (and last) flirtation with lasers and I'm trying to give others a 'heads up' about the issues. Your disagreement didn't do me any good trying to start my vehicle. But I will remember to quote you should I get the 'engine disabled' warning again.

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I think the point being made is whether you have the latest RF receiver installed or not.If you do and still have issues that is unusual as the reports from owners who have fitted them indicate they have had no further issues since doing so.
I have parked at an airport for up to a week at a time while away on flights and my RR (even with the original RF receiver installed) never had a lockout or flat battery.
The problem with an original receiver can actually be very localised and in some cases just pushing the RR a 100m away from the parking spot has resulted in the engine starting.
The fact you had an issue and were thoughtful enough to warn others dosent make your event a universal happenning.
I have been to collect a friends son from a Laser tag event and did not have any issues.I do have the latest RF receiver installed though.
As to the BECM waking up (latest RF receiver) at the slightest hint of RF radiation ,is not my experience and I have specifically parked in an area with RF radiation in order to observe this.