RF Receiver

Hi all,

I bought a 1996 4.6 HSE a week ago - compared to my Disco 1, it's a completely different experience behind the wheel, and I'm delighted I got it. I am however suffering with the battery, which I now learn is an issue with the P38. The previous owner installed a switch connected to the battery, which he advised me to use if I wasn't using the car for 3 or more days - I now appreciate the relevance of this advice as I haven't been able to start the car on two occasions within the space of a couple of days now. I've now been using this switch everyday, though it's really laborious, and more annoyingly it wipes all window, sunroof, mirror etc settings! Theoretically the switch is a good idea, but it's just not practical.

I've read peoples' advice on the new RF receiver, and am seriously tempted to get it, if it actually solves my problems. Can anyone tell me where the RF receiver is located (on the car) so that I can check it. Can it only be changed by a dealer?

One final question on tyres: I want to take my All Terrain Pirelli Scorpion tyres from my Disco, and put them onto the P38 for winter driving. I've used these tyres on my Disco in winter and apart from the odd little skid, they've coped well. Size wise there is a 0.3% difference, which unless I'm mistaken, shouldn't present a problem - but please tell me if I'm wrong. The P38 has 255/60/17, the Disco 235/70/16.

I am wondering if the characteristics of an automatic will make it more dangerous on these tyres in winter, than it was with my manual Disco - i.e. wheel spin. I just don't know - so any comments are appreciated.

I should point out that I'm in Russia, but before you all shout that of course I need winter tyres, i should point out that the roads are kept very clean in winter - unless of course there's unexpected snowfall, in which case the roads are covered in several inches of snow in the space of a couple of hours... apart from that, the roads are fine and IMHO i think there's little point forking out 400-500 quid for spiked winter tyres.

OK thanks for reading, and please share your wisdom with me!

thanks,

Alex

The rf receiver is under the plastic trim behind the rear seat drivers side, you cant see if its faulty. If you are going to replace it make shure its the latest one as the first attempt landrover made to rectify the problem failed.
All the best
Mark

pull the aerial wire from the reciever and see if problem goes away, that what i did and it was fine so i changed it, aerial wire is the single wire.
found it! look here for plenty info!
http://www.landyzone.co.uk/lz/f10/woke-up-morning-53374.html
theres pics of what it loks like too, when i changed mine i looked into the old one and it was different again, so it was the very first type.
Its a rip off price completely for what it is, but for what it does its well worth the money, i would recomend fitting the new type due to the problems with lack of voltage R/R's suffer.

Advice given is good though I'm a believer that with Wifi internet routers the early RF's are getting more crap, resulting in battery drain because of BeCM self check routine.

I've heard stories that early 322 suffered as well.

The part you need for 433Hz is YWY 500170. Part cost is about £130.

As far as I'm aware its a twenty minute swap job ... though that didn't stop my Indy charging an hour.

P38martin said:

Advice given is good though I'm a believer that with Wifi internet routers the early RF's are getting more crap, resulting in battery drain because of BeCM self check routine.

I've heard stories that early 322 suffered as well.

The part you need for 433Hz is YWY 500170. Part cost is about £130.

As far as I'm aware its a twenty minute swap job ... though that didn't stop my Indy charging an hour.

Click to expand...

20 mins? more like 5! it really is so quick to do!
mine has been absolutely wonderfull since it changed, spins over quickly to start up every time no matter how long it left and the remote works from such a greater distance now too!

my friend (boydonegood) has had drain and lockout due to neighbours new door bell! he got them another one instead of swapping recievers!

thanks for all your comments. I saw on Beamends the price is GBP 140, which is a bit steep for a part that probably cost less than 5 pounds to manufacture, but it seems like it'll be money well spent in the long run, so i'll probably take the plunge!

Can I ask what is probably a silly question, but if you are changing the RF reciever due to noise / interference on the old frequency, doesn't that mean you have to change your transmitter (ie the key fobs) as well?

No problem with keys as the RF simply sends signal to the BeCM. That then does the acceptance routine. Far as I'm aware shouldn't need to re-sync though should you need to and have difficulties there is an accessible off-manual way of doing it using a routine of button pressing whilst holding in the drivers door lock. Will post URL later - unless someone gets there first!

noelmc said:

Can I ask what is probably a silly question, but if you are changing the RF reciever due to noise / interference on the old frequency, doesn't that mean you have to change your transmitter (ie the key fobs) as well?

Click to expand...

No! the new unit dont work on another frequency, its just more finely tuned to the right frequency, all the other things that are on 433mh tend to interfere with the crappy old reciever that wasnt designed to be that picky!

also theres probaly 1000's of different individual frequencies within the 433mh wavelength

Can anyone provide instructions for disconnecting the aerial from the RF receiver. I'd rather not F things up! There were a few pics posted of the RF receiver, but i can't see any relevant wires in the pic. Any more info would be greatly appreciated. thanks.

To answer your other question, the 255/60/17 aren't standard fitment to a P38 (sure you don't mean 255/60/18?), whilst the 235/70/16 is the standard size, so no problems with them. The smaller 16" tyres are better performing allround anyway, just don't look as good as the bigger alloys is all.

no they are definitely 17s. as you say, they look good, but a narrower tyre is meant to be better even for grip on icy surfaces. thanks for that.

Thank you Redrange, my silly question answered

looking from the rear you want to remove the right hand boot panel. tip the seat.

Then there are two black screws that hold the top trim panel.
remove these.

you will need to remove the grey trim clips with a tack remover or trim clip puller.

lastly the panel is held by next to rear quarter glass by spring clips-I genlty eased my hand inside and pushed and they freed.

rf receiver is the box close to rear seat belt with three wire plug and single antenna wire

Alex

We've been here before - check out the full thread at http://www.landyzone.co.uk/lz/f10/p38-remote-receiver-problems-53360.html.

It would appear that if you go for the aerial disconnect you'll be OK for a few days then start to experience funnies.

Trust me - I bit the £130 quid bullet and have been able to happily park in an area of my street which consistently gave battery drain or lost security link problems.

Just make sure you get the right part number though - you need the one ending 170.

Regards

P38martin said:

Alex

We've been here before - check out the full thread at http://www.landyzone.co.uk/lz/f10/p38-remote-receiver-problems-53360.html.

It would appear that if you go for the aerial disconnect you'll be OK for a few days then start to experience funnies.

Trust me - I bit the £130 quid bullet and have been able to happily park in an area of my street which consistently gave battery drain or lost security link problems.

Just make sure you get the right part number though - you need the one ending 170.

Regards

Click to expand...

ditto to all the above, only mine was £151......still a con for what it is but for what it does is worth it!

ok! new RF receiver it is then! i was going to first try disconnecting and see if that worked, but judging by what i've read from some of you guys, it's not really a solution. i'd rather enjoy my P38! at the moment, every time i get home, I have to get under the bonnet and twist this key to disconnect the battery. the previous owner put it in, as he said that due to the number of electrical parts, if the car is left for over 3 days, the battery is liable to die - try a couple of hours at the local shopping centre! that was a nice surprise 3 days after buying the car - i was wondering if i'd bought a lemon, so at least relieved to here that it can be solved! it seems he didn't know that there is a simple solution.

so the only other question is where can i buy it? google comes up with very little...Beamends have it, but don't do mail order; someone mentioned Hadleighs; any other suggestions??

Cheers
Alex

If i've understood correctly, fitting the new receiver doesn't require any soldering - just need to connect the plugs. is that right?

one screw to remove receiver and a muti plug and a single aerial plug

ok, a doddle then! thanks.