P38 1996 RHD - Key Fob won't resync, passenger door won't open.

Hi All,

I have had my 1996 RHD P38 for nearly 8 years and to be honest it is the most comfortable 4x4 out there in my opinion. I have had several problems over the years but nothing major that made me want to tear my hair out... I have a niggling feeling it is something really simple, and I hope I am just missing that simple little thing that sorts out the problem and doesn't cost me anything accept time and patience...which I am running out of fast.......Please help..

Please note usually when I disconnect the battery and resync the key fob using my EKU number, and then reset the windows all is fine.

However this time I am having a few more problems than usual. I hope someone out there will be able to tell me what I am doing wrong, as I love this car but at the moment I am stuck.

1.I removed the battery and put it on trickle charge.
2.I also replaced my key fob battery for a brand new one.
3.When reconnected the car battery and doing the resync, the driver door unlocked and I put the key in the ignition and there was no resync light.
4.The dash computer told me "Engine disabled", I did the key code with the keys and the message on the dash dissapeared but the engine still did not start, I tried this sequence again and then it told me Press Remote Enter Keycode.
4. The alarm is also going off, but because my key has not resynced it will not turn off either with the button or EKU code.
5. After trying several senarios all through the night waiting 30 minutes between each three tried, I noticed that none of the other doors unlock when I enter the keycode, so I manually unlocked the other doors, but the passenger door would not open. And this was the only one not opening.
6. I cannot open the Passenger door at all. Looking at the forum posts, it suggests that it could be a BECM problem that may have put the car in superlock mode or a latch problem which is confusing he BECM and it thinks the car is being stolen. but when I use the keycode eku it does not turn off the alarm, I cannot resync the key.....


It has also been suggested that the alarm is asleep, or maybe different locators on the car asleep.

Before anyone suggests it , I do have the new RF antenna, so it shoudn't be that problem.

Please, any suggestions will be most welcome, As it was suggested that the passenger door may be causing a superlockout on the car, I have tried also to open the door via taking the panel off from the inside and checking the latch mechanism, but it is working nicely and pulling the mechanism up and down. It still will not open. However now the rear passenger is not opening either... is my car having a nervous breakdown.....because I am now.....


Any suggestions are welcome. Thanks for reading.

96? I'm pretty sure it doesn't have the easy re-sync option. you need to re-sync your FOB. PM Mozz He'll sort it for you.

I stick my key in the ignition barrel and press the open and close button a few time and that duz the job for me

Dopey said:

I stick my key in the ignition barrel and press the open and close button a few time and that duz the job for me

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Hi, Thanks for your quick reply. Do you mean the open and close button on the key fob or the open and close button on the door... ?

Datatek said:

96? I'm pretty sure it doesn't have the easy re-sync option. you need to re-sync your FOB. PM Mozz He'll sort it for you.

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Hi, thanks for your quick reply,

Is PM Mozz another member on this forum?

OK, my fault for getting my wife to post this message whilst I tried to sort the problem outside. What I mean by re-syncing the keb fob is that when I put the EKA code in the drivers door there is no tweet tweet sound like others have mentioned, and when I go to start the engine within 30 seconds, nothing, no light, no starting just the lights flashing and the alarm going. It's as if the BECM is not recognising the EKA code at all.

Plus of course the passenger door won't open, then after several tries the rear passenger wouldn't open either.

I am wondering, am I missing a step from connecting the battery? And is the fact that I cannot open two of my doors now, even when they are manually unlocked going to cause a problem in the BECM recognising the EKA code and mobilising the engine , switching off the alarm. It's like the BECM has got it's knickers in a twist and I am wondering if it is because I missed a very important step when reconnecting the battery.

Thanks in advance for everyone who looks at this post and kindly offers a solution... at this point I will try anything to get my baby back on the road again in the meantime I will see if I can find PM OZ.

Cheers!!

hi , see your messages !!!!!!! where are you based ???? ,,,,cheers MOZZ

Just get in put the key in, turn the egnition on without starting the car, and press the pads, like opening the doors and closing them, do this a few times, you should hear the locks open and close, works for me

Do you have another remote to try that has not had the batteries changed so does not need a resynch.
I believe all doors and bonnet have to be unlocked but closed to enter the EKA code.

Don1 said:

Do you have another remote to try that has not had the batteries changed so does not need a resynch.
I believe all doors and bonnet have to be unlocked but closed to enter the EKA code.

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Hi Thanks for your reply, I am afraid I can't find that key fob. The thing is the key fob battery was replaced about a month or so ago, and worked fine before I disconnected the car battery. I am considering buying the Faultmate MSV-2 or the Nano Evolution but not sure which is best. It is a lot to pay to find out something else serious might be wrong... but it seems that some others on this sight have a problem with the passenger door not unlocking, and they are still able to start the engine, although another member has to insert his EKA code everytime he enters the car, simply because of the passenger door problem.

So I am wondering if it is simply a syncronization problem.

I'll have to see what Blackbox Suggests. I am gutted with the snow and stuff it's the best time to have a 4x4.

Thanks for your help though.

The key in the ignition re-sync can only occur if the becm has been updated with the friendly re-sync software. An updated 1996 range rover could do it, but a 2000 model might not. Everyone can only guess what vehicle can & can't.

If you hit a brick wall with Mozz, I'll get you going.

Rick-the-Pick said:

The key in the ignition re-sync can only occur if the becm has been updated with the friendly re-sync software. An updated 1996 range rover could do it, but a 2000 model might not. Everyone can only guess what vehicle can & can't.

If you hit a brick wall with Mozz, I'll get you going.

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Hi , Thanks for your reply, I would be grateful for any help as I am completely without a car at the moment. I have tried so many options, it's hard to know what will work. I considered buying the BECM syncmate but again, I don't know if that is actually the problem.

If you have contact number I would be grateful if I could give you a call in the morning if it is still giving me problems. Just send me a private message with the details.

Thanks again

4x4P38 said:

Hi , Thanks for your reply, I would be grateful for any help as I am completely without a car at the moment. I have tried so many options, it's hard to know what will work. I considered buying the BECM syncmate but again, I don't know if that is actually the problem.

If you have contact number I would be grateful if I could give you a call in the morning if it is still giving me problems. Just send me a private message with the details.

Thanks again

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Buy a Nanocom not a Syncmate, does much more.

hi name is pete just joined today sorry if i am going wrong way about this site lol i have a 1995 p38 that i am going to buy hand grenade for lol. got same probs as lots of people it seems, cannot start car.does not let me sync key. tried a lot of ideas from here but no luck so far ?

Hi don't know where you are i have syncmate for p38 diesel happy to try and help if you not to far away i'm in buckinghamshire. thats if you think syncmate will help.

When you say you have moved the rod in the passenger door it might be you are moving the wrong part. Look at this site P38 Range Rover Central locking Door Lock Actuator-P38 Range Rover Electrical Common faults and Fixes if memory serves me right you need to move No4 (the white one) to release the lock. If not try the others too.

The actuator is lower down the door much lower than the door handle and key lock.

I had a similar problem with my drivers door lock. I had returned from a trip and as I switched the engine off the door locked, I tried to open it but nothing would get it open, key in lock,fob etc. I could open the window and with it fully down was able to wedge the glass away from the outer door panel and get a stiff wire down to push on the white lever - the door opened. The micro switches inside the actuator had worn so I replaced the actuator as a precaution, didn't want that happening again.

Also look at this site: http://www.rangerovers.net/repairdetails/doors/doorlocks.html

Have you fixed it?

Hi all I'm have exact same problem with my p38 2000 plate. If anyone can help I'm in the Oxford area. Will gladly pay for the time.

Bryant83 said:

Hi all I'm have exact same problem with my p38 2000 plate. If anyone can help I'm in the Oxford area. Will gladly pay for the time.

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I think that he'll have sorted it somehow in the last ten months.
Give us a few more details about your problem or you could try a PM to Mozz Smith, he's the lock/opening guru - and he's got a bit of spare time at the moment.

Hi thanks Dogsbody.
Had some work done recently in a garage round the corner from myself - not an R.R specialist. Just minor works while away on holiday. Went to collect the other day to find battery flat, so trickle charged battery, plugged battery back in, then the usual dash lights engine disabled ect ect.

Waited 30mins

Now my eka code doesn't work so what I normally do is get in the car turn key to position 2 , hold the fob button down while flicking the the locking mechanism up and down and normally works. But this time nothing.

Tried inserting the key in the door and holding the fob down to resync but nothing.

So tried all the tricks I know and which Have read any help would be appreciated.
Hope this makes sense.
Thanks

As DB says drop a PM to Mozz Smith, he has had good results talking it over the phone!