Disco 2 Keys not working - Alarm / immobiliser problem

Afternoon all.. Not sure what I've done to anger the landrover gods recently, but I'm having problem after problem! Today's goes like this. ..I have 2 keys for my disco and in the last few days they've both been acting like the batteries are low, I just changed on one of them and tried to unlock, but no joy and it wouldn't start the car either.. But now neither will the other one and I hadn't touched that one yet?!.. I then locked the car with the key, but although I can unlock it the same way, the alarm goes off. I have a hawkeye, but even sitting in the car with the alarm going off, the hawkeye won't talk to the car (maybe because it's immobilised still?). Any ideas what's going on? or if there's a trick to resetting the system, I've just put the battery on charge in case it's some problem with low voltage on the car itself, but otherwise not sure how to proceed? Any help would be greatly appreciated.. Cheers

If both keys have failed at the same time, that would suggest a problem with the RF receiver unit located in the roofspace above the headlining, just in front of the rear sunroof.

First check there should be that all the connections are clean and sound, including the earthing nut.

The car will remain immobilised when you try to unlock it with the key unless you use the Emergency Key Access (EKA) code sequence. You do have the EKA ????? It's individual to your vehicle. While the vehicle is immobilised, for security reasons you will be unable to use any code reader to access any ECU.

Check out @neilly's excellent information on D2 alarm issues at:-

https://www.landyzone.co.uk/land-rover/handy-buying-alarm-info.311291/

I'll take a look thanks, what's the best way to access? hopefully I don't have to take the headliner out or anything, I don't have sunroofs, for an easy access point?. and any way I can stop the alarm going off while I'm at it, will disconnection the battery shut it up for now?. not sure about the EKA, I'll have a look in the documents I got with the car..

Ush said:

I don't have sunroofs

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Tut, some people have just got to be awkward!
As far as I'm aware, the location of the receiver unit is the same for all versions of the D2. So it looks like it's out with the headlining or cutting into it and arranging some sort of panel to close up again.

Ush said:

not sure about the EKA, I'll have a look in the documents I got with the car..

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The way of finding/acquiring the EKA are mentioned in the information by @neilly. That's always assuming that no previous owners have decided to change it for some reason.

I have the EKA, have downloaded Neilly's instructions too, they look just the thing.. excellent advice, thanks very much for the quick response!

Ush said:

I have the EKA, have downloaded Neilly's instructions too, they look just the thing.. excellent advice, thanks very much for the quick response!

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If you have not used the door lock with the key before , be gentle with it, they can seize.

Cheers

Hmm, charged the car battery and all seems to be working again. Probably should just be happy, but would prefer a more definite solution. Might try and get to the rf transmitter on the off chance it was a dodgy connection and just ensure they're all good (assuming I can get to it without cutting homes in the headliner).. Otherwise am definitely going to have a go at unlocking with the eka so that if it happens again when I'm out and about, I can get home! As always, thanks for all the advice!

Your battery shouldn't have discharged to the point where the immobiliser failed to de-activate after such a short period.
I'd be tempted to get the alternator and the battery checked using a drop test, and be prepared to put your mitt in your pocket again.

Yeah, definitely one to keep an eye on.. Its a good shout and I'll check the alternator today, but cause of the problems I've had over the last month or so, I've been out working on it for hours without really running it much, so not surprised the battery was down a bit. In my experience of modern cars (and by modern I mean anything with an ecu) a low battery can cause all sorts of electrickery, charging the battery's my normal first port of call and you'd be surprised how often it does the trick!

Hi, I was having the same problem, turned out to be the rf receiver in the roof. Took it out and all corroded. Bought a good one on ebay and changed it over. Fantastic now.

One to check for sure, another member pointed that one out although, suggestion was to get at it through rear sunroof cutout, as I don't have sunroofs and don't want to remove entire headliner how did you go about it? Or was it same for you ie. sunroof? Cheers

Ush said:

One to check for sure, another member pointed that one out although, suggestion was to get at it through rear sunroof cutout, as I don't have sunroofs and don't want to remove entire headliner how did you go about it? Or was it same for you ie. sunroof? Cheers

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Thinking about it, with no sunroofs the likelihood of moisture damage being caused to the RF receiver (the transmitter is in the fob) is greatly reduced, although I wouldn't go as far as saying it's eliminated.

On the issue of the charging of the battery appearing to be a bit low, check too the condition of the auxiliary drive belt, age and use can cause it to stretch over time, beyond what can properly be taken up by the tensioner.

Replacement belts and tensioners can be obtained as a kit, take care when specifying your choice of belt, different belts are required depending on whether your vehicle is fitted with air-con and ACE. You'd be advised to replace the tensioner while you're at it. The job is made very much easier if you have the proper spanners to remove the viscous fan. The bolt securing the tensioner to the engine block will require a 14mm thin walled multi-point socket. Don't even bother asking me how I know!

Drive belt blew a month ago in the first of my landrover crises (recently).. So all good there, but that is what made me think that your suggestion to check alternator was a great shout.. Because as we all know when the aux belt goes, it could have taken anything with it.. So far the idler pulley (non ace), crankshaft pulley and aircon pump.. I'll check the output on the alternator later.. Cheers

Ush said:

Drive belt blew a month ago in the first of my landrover crises (recently).. So all good there, but that is what made me think that your suggestion to check alternator was a great shout.. Because as we all know when the aux belt goes, it could have taken anything with it.. So far the idler pulley (non ace), crankshaft pulley and aircon pump.. I'll check the output on the alternator later.. Cheers

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The reason why I mentioned the tensioner as well as the belt was I replaced the drive belt on mine last summer in an effort to stop the "alternator pulley screech" just after start up. All went well until earlier this summer when the screech returned. Replaced the tensioner this time and that seems to have sorted it (at the time of going to press!)