key ignition

I may have to replace the key ignition on my 1996 disco. Are there any problems with this, the manual says chisel round the shear bolts till they move ? Is this the best way.Also it is best to remove the steering wheel for access. Am I alright disconnecting the battery will it remove any memory for the radio or other geeky things.
Thanks

We use a center punch and hammer to knock them round.

Rob

Punch or chisel, it's your choice. The whole thing can be removed without disconnecting the battery if you're feeling lucky. You'll need to get some new shear bolts or replace the ones you take out with normal hex bolts. If you use those though, it's easier to pinch!

You could remove the wheel for access but it's not really necessary.

Just done mine,flat blade screwdriver and hammer,didn,t remove steering wheel or disconnect battery nae bother

did mine a few months back and my brothers recenty, long chisel or flat bladed screwdriver with a hammer. Undo 3 screws from the cowling (with a small philips not a hammer and chisel), undo the bolts with the chisel (mine weren't tight) unplug everything, refit in reverse only do up the bolts with an M10 1/4 drive or similar. 10 min job.

Thanks for all your assistance will do it next week thought that Haynes was going a bit OTT.

Stickybackbob said:

You'll need to get some new shear bolts or replace the ones you take out with normal hex bolts. If you use those though, it's easier to pinch!

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why easier to pinch? I am thinking of swoping all the locks and barrels on my disco and am at the planning stage so not looked/seen them.

But I am guessing the bolts hold the ignition barrel in place and shear bolts will stop it been removed quickly. But don't they usualy just snap the plastic connector (switch) on the end and hot wire it? (This is what they did on my kit car last week, I am just glad I didn't charge the battery like I was going to!)

I suppose it would stop them been able to sell it on as quick but if they have the time they could replace it like others have with a chisel?

Does anyone know if the key barrel has a transponder ariel / transponder key? I.E. the key has a proxy chip in that is required to be in the key to disable the immobiliser? (Best seen on ford transits as the chip is in a red slide in plug)

And if so where is this information stored is it in the main ECU (Again new to Discoverys so not sure if it has one) or in the Alarm ECU (I have read they have them in the passanger footwell but soon to find out).

the daddy said:

Does anyone know if the key barrel has a transponder ariel / transponder key? I.E. the key has a proxy chip in that is required to be in the key to disable the immobiliser? (Best seen on ford transits as the chip is in a red slide in plug)

And if so where is this information stored is it in the main ECU (Again new to Discoverys so not sure if it has one) or in the Alarm ECU (I have read they have them in the passanger footwell but soon to find out).

Click to expand...

Dont know what disco u have but on a D1 there's a external coil, also D1's dont have a main ECU like the D2 but I don't know of any relevent info that should be stored anyway.
You are correct the alarm ECU is located passenger side up by the glove box

discool said:

Dont know what disco u have but on a D1 there's a external coil

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I just spoke to the key cutter we use and he says that only the TD5 keys have transponders, so I would expect there to be no coil/ariel around the key hole on the ignition.

Is that what the external coil is for? Or have I missed something?

I was just guessing that the remote fob and central locking must have switched the immobiliser on and off?

Anyone know if it is as easy as swoping the Alarm ECU box and using the fobs with the other car?

I suppose the easy way is to just try it and change it back if all else fails.

the daddy said:

I just spoke to the key cutter we use and he says that only the TD5 keys have transponders, so I would expect there to be no coil/ariel around the key hole on the ignition.

Click to expand...

was it a key cutter or vehicle locksmith that told you that?

They do both cars and houses! lol so may not be the best!

the daddy said:

They do both cars and houses! lol so may not be the best!

Click to expand...

at least that'll explain their answer being both right and wrong at the same time. Right in the sense that only the disco TD5 keys onwards have chips in them. Wrong in the sense that earlier ones do have chips but they are in the fobs.

i couldn't get a centre punch to the shear bolts on my 200 tdi without removing either the whole steering column or the dash board, so i just used a chisel on the thinnest part where the bolts go through the clamp