P38 DHSE. 1996 MY. LEFT ME STRANDED.

Hello all. Please bare with me. Sat for an hour in the old car watching the world go by on Wednesday.. Go to start up and engine immobilised press fob appears on dash readout. Go onto landyzone via not so smart phone and follow various tips to try and bring back to life. EKA code would not enter etc. Call up son to save us by towing to nearest garage with his Discovery. Quite an interesting experience with no power steering or servo brakes. Made it just as garage closing but the owner and his lads pushed her inside for the night. Called back next morning and he has her running. He downloaded land Rover software onto his diagnostic equipment and re synced the keys. £40.All in. Which I thought very fair. He mentioned there was many old faults stored in her memory too. Anyway the problem I now have can she be trusted to not do it again as I don't know what caused this to happen? The place we were parked up is a spot where I have parked many times before. As a disabled person it leaves me a little scared to be stranded again. Your thoughts most welcome.

Perhaps get a list of the fault codes from the garage that were 'historical'. That would be my starting point.

Alternatively, get your own kit so you're not left stranded again.

Thanks for that . What kit is available? His kit cost 3x more than car worth.

Would you know if it was a Engine ECU to BeCM sync issue or EKA code lockout?

A syncmate will help with the former......and cheaper than a Nanocom....that being said, the Nanocom is a must have for the P38 owner!

Thanks for your replies. Called back to garage but codes no longer in his machine. He said nothing specific had come up with regards to key going out of sync. The garage were very helpful as far as they could be. Garage called." Redcar Auto and Performance". and he now of course has diagnostic software in his Autologic for Land Rovers. , Im going to remove aerial from rf receiver to make it less sensitive as doors have been locking/unlocking in certain areas, also when a chap was stood next to the car taking a picture with his digital camera?? see if that helps.

allanw said:

Thanks for your replies. Called back to garage but codes no longer in his machine. He said nothing specific had come up with regards to key going out of sync. The garage were very helpful as far as they could be. Garage called." Redcar Auto and Performance". and he now of course has diagnostic software in his Autologic for Land Rovers. , Im going to remove aerial from rf receiver to make it less sensitive as doors have been locking/unlocking in certain areas, also when a chap was stood next to the car taking a picture with his digital camera?? see if that helps.

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It is not the key going out of sync....it is the internal security check between the BeCM (Body Electrical Control Module - the cars brains) and the Engine ECU.....

They both contain a security code, when you go to start the car, the BeCM asks the Engine ECU for its security code, it compares this to the one it has stored and if it is the same, it allows the Engine ECU to commence the start process......if it is different it immobilises the car......

This is known as going out of sync....to which a SyncMate will help by making the two ECUs codes match.....it is more come for sync to be lost on the petrol models for some reason, but it is not totally unheard of on the Diesel models......

Key Sync is a different kettle of fish and so is the EKA access code.

This does occur at times if you leave keys in ignition and the car is near a strong RF source. I for instance always remove keys when filling up. Syncmate is the way to go for his car. Nanocom cannot input EKA code in his vehicle. BECM disarm can only be done on units that are PAM V36 or later. By the way no such thing as a 1996 DHSE. Unless he got the year wrong and it's a1999. In which case Nanocom should do EKA code.

never park by them green boxes that sit on grass verges behind pavements & if you end up on the top floor/roof of a multistory carpark get out & look/check for multiple satellite dishes/aerials before even considering arming the alarm been there got the medal

Don't unplug the RF receiver. Use BrianDSEs remote 12V switch on it.

Thanks all. Sorry wammers its a DSE 1996. a syncmate it is then. The remote switch sounds like a good idea too. Thanks again for all your inputs.

allanw said:

Thanks all. Sorry wammers its a DSE 1996. a syncmate it is then. The remote switch sounds like a good idea too. Thanks again for all your inputs.

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Slight error in my statement Syncmate will only sync the engine ECU to the BECM it will NOT enter the EKA code. If you have an out of sync car you get no message on dash it just will not start. Engine disabled is a function of the alarm system. This needs EKA to be entered. So it's either a new RF receiver at silly money or the cheap and cheerful isolation fob. Which works well i believe. Sorry for the error.

o.k. doke. Will try isolation fob.

Here`s the isolator fob trick http://www.landyzone.co.uk/lz/f10/rf-reciever-work-round-258096.html
you can get the switches for as little as £3 so a lot cheaper than the new rf receiver.

Thanks for that.

Its happened again this morning while getting MOT at same garage who sorted it last time. Went through MOT all o.k. went to drive out of testing bay and engine immobilised and remote key not operating door locks. Aaaarrgg. Have left it there until they can have a look.

Hi allanw, I had a lot of problems similar to yours, car locking and being immobilised etc., but since I put on a new RF receiver I haven't had any problems and that was about 3 years ago, I think it was about £190 approx but worth it in the end. Hope you get it sorted.

Thanks for that. The garage have "removed" immobiliser from the system with their diagnostic scanner. I don't have remote central locking anymore but can live with that. Will save up for new RF receiver then get them to reinstate immobiliser. I thought it could only be done on later models but apparently not. Very helpful garage. "Redcar Auto and Performance". TS10 5AW.

allanw said:

Thanks for that. The garage have "removed" immobiliser from the system with their diagnostic scanner. I don't have remote central locking anymore but can live with that. Will save up for new RF receiver then get them to reinstate immobiliser. I thought it could only be done on later models but apparently not. Very helpful garage. "Redcar Auto and Performance". TS10 5AW.

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Remote switch fix is way cheaper!

allanw said:

Thanks for that. The garage have "removed" immobiliser from the system with their diagnostic scanner. I don't have remote central locking anymore but can live with that. Will save up for new RF receiver then get them to reinstate immobiliser. I thought it could only be done on later models but apparently not. Very helpful garage. "Redcar Auto and Performance". TS10 5AW.

Click to expand...

Immobiliser and EKA code can be disabled in BECM.