Remote doesn't work, EKA doesn't work but car is fine

Ok,

so I know this is really boring and very common, but I've read everything on all the sites and I've tried everything and I've hit a wall.

First of all I have to point out that I am in Rwanda and therefore do not have access to call out disgnostic people and super dooper dealers.

I have an automatic lhd 1999 p38 DSE. And it's brilliant!

I imported the car here over a month ago and everything works brilliantly except... the remote... and the red light doesn't flash on the dash... and the indicator lights don't flash when I lock and unlock etc. the car with the key. The car opens and locks fine with both my keys and the central locking works perfectly.

This is what I've tried so far:

1. I've replaced the battieries in the keys, red lights flash nicely when the buttons are pushed, I've tried resyncing at the lock in the door and also in the ignitiion (supposedly the correct way for my model and year).
2. I've tried the EKA sequence clockwise, anti-clockwise, four times lock, one times lock first etc. etc. no reaction from the car at all so I suspect that the switch that detects this in the lock may be faulty... but does this explain the no response to the key remote?
3. I've bought a replacement receiver, the one that apparently eliminates interference from mobile phone masts, because I thought maybe the reciever was bust. Still nothing.

So, I can only think that perhaps a previous owner in the dark and distant past got fed up of being locked out the car and bypassed/disabled the whole system or there is a problem with the central computer, or the link betwen receiver and and car is broken.

Now, I must emphasise that I am having no other problems with the car (fingers crossed) and therefore I'm wondering how far I want to push this thing given the nightmares some owners experience wit the whole immobiliser thing. However it is a bit annoying having to open and close the car all the time using the driver door only - having said that, most defender owners have to do this all the time and in the olden days... but it would be great to make this work.

Can anybody suggest anything I can try here myself? There is a Land Rover Dealer here but they are relatively new and still feeling their way with testbook, they don't have the correct connecting lead for p38 like mine yet anyway... but they've ordered it.

This is my first time on a forum like this so I'm pinning all my hopes on you fellow sufferers...

Btw, anybody considerng buying a chip for their p38 - Do it! I just fitted a Rimmer Bros one and drove the car to Uganda for the weekend up steep and windy mountain roads - incredible difference.

:welcome2:

Hi KR. Welcome to the forum where you will find many many knowledgeable individuals to help you out with advuice and guidance. You will also receive a fair bit of stick from time to time but hey.

Have you looked at fuse 15 in your BeCM under the drivers seat? This is the fuse for the RF receiver along with the courtesy lights, ICE subwoofer, rear wiper etc. Thing is that if all these other things are working then it's probably not duff. Might be worth a look though.

Also have a look at the attached picture from the workshop manual. Pin 17 on mulitplug 2 in the picture or C325 in the list, runs the RF receiver and may be corroded or disconnected.

Just a few thoughts for you.

Thanks Nidjet,

I'll defnitely have a look at both of those, but as you say seeing as the other things are working I suspect that at least the fuse is OK. I'll report back once the sun rises again and I have a chance to follow this up.

Thanks for the warm welcom too.

No worries my friend, I know what it's like to be out on a limb like you are. Please do let us know how you get on as we always like good news stories on here.
:tea:

the configeration in the bcim has been changed using textbook etc .done mine today from english to australin ,all works fine but i have to use door to unlock. no more door lockin on there own no more stuck out in the sticks when engine wont start, heaven!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wadyano! My caaz bin turned into an ozzie, cobber!

If I've understood you right embo, this has been deliberately done and I should be glad of it and leave well alone. Is that right?

Now, where did I put my swag bag...

gud day mate.that is whot i did and seems same as yours cobber.we should be neighbours,,,,everybody should be neighbours ha ha:welcome2:

I tried what you suggested Nidget, but as I suspected all is well with the becm. However I did check the main engine fuse box a the same time and was surprised to find the follwing fuses missing:

RL-2, RL-10, F-28 and MAXI - 2

All of these have the same symbol on the fuse ap on the inside of the fuse box cover - an engine with a lightning strike through it. Are these related to the immobiliser?

I can't seem to find anywhere a list of what each fuse does in the engine fuse box in my workshop manual although there is a table for the becm fuses.

So perhaps embo is right, something deliberate has been done to bypass the whole lock you out immobiliser thing.

Any thoughts....anyone?

What if I were to replce all of these fuses? Would I be signing up for a whole load of trouble?

Is this just too hard for you all... or just too easy?

I have a 1999 4.6 HSE in Qatar, there are no battery's in the remote keyfob but the car starts and runs fine, central locking works on the door lock, seen somewhere that the central locking has been dissabled at the BECM on USA an North American exports? I have the BECM in the UK for repair with IR so will ask him to check this and post findings.

tbh i would just leave it if every thing you want is working it could kick you in the arse. j

hi again ill think you will find that in the bcim setting and in the configeration setting the keyfob has been turned off .thats why the fob wont work but the key works fineand turns alarm on only through putting key in door .i could not get my p38 start so i did this and its fine now.ok no open and close through fob ,but put key in door lock and it works fine hope this helps

Chances are that the immobiliser, EKA and alarm functions have been disabled in the BECM to prevent potential "Lockout" problems. The remote locking function may also be disabled and/or the RF receiver disconnected.
In a nutshell, the security electronics have been disabled in view of your location. That said, you still have a high level of security in somuch as only a matching key code will allow engine cranking/starting. If there is anyone local with good diagnostics, they should be able to enable the functions you want. Bear in mind though that the higher you go, the more the possibiliteis of problems cropping up especially with a car of unknown history.

Put the key in the ignition, then with the key still in, press the button to lock , then again unlock, do this a few times, then it should sink the code, it worked for me and a few others, tell us how it went ok?

burn the ****er out and collect yer insurance and get a proper landie
problem solved

Irishrover said:

Chances are that the immobiliser, EKA and alarm functions have been disabled in the BECM to prevent potential "Lockout" problems. The remote locking function may also be disabled and/or the RF receiver disconnected.
In a nutshell, the security electronics have been disabled in view of your location. That said, you still have a high level of security in somuch as only a matching key code will allow engine cranking/starting. If there is anyone local with good diagnostics, they should be able to enable the functions you want. Bear in mind though that the higher you go, the more the possibiliteis of problems cropping up especially with a car of unknown history.

Click to expand...

sorry but did i just say that or did i word it wrong???

Thank you all,

I've decided to leave well alone. Apart from no remote locking the car works like magic. A colleague just brought the same model over from the UK and had it sitting in the middle of Kigali completely immobilised next to a mobile phone tower for a week.

Anyway, security or no security, who's gonna want to nick a p38 in the middle of Africa?

Cheers for the inputs.

Btw, trying to resynch just didn't work so I think it must just have had a lobotomy like most of you said.