starting problem 2003 td4

hi all
went out today in freelander 90 mile round trip car ran perfect has it has done for 3 years of owning it (i know i must be lucky) . but went out to go out in it a few hours later the engine just turned over but didnt start . took battery out of key fob and put it back in went back out to car and it started straight away . now does this mean i will be needing a new key fob or just a new battery .

if i but a new key fob will it need setting up to my car.

thanks..

I think changing the battery in the fob and it starting may just be a coincidence as if its turning over then it will not be the problem.
The main fault with non starting is often a leaking back injector, which will get worse over a period of time.
But if it is only a problem starting when warm then a faulty cam sensor can be the cause and also fuel pump problems are not uncommon.

you will get a bleeping from the dashboard and the red immobiliser LED will flash when the fob battery needs replacing

(just for info...)

thanks for replies . i think i will get a replacement fob just in case.........

truly unlikely to be the fob. when you unlock with the fob, it turns the alarm off and unlocks. but on the later models (such as yours I believe) the immobiliser feature is carried out by a transponder chip in the key, not by the fob.

secondly, if it is due to the immobilser kicking in, the engine would not turn over at all as the immobiliser inhibits the starter motor as well as various other bits and pieces.

would be looking possibly at a faulty injector leaking back, particularly if the problem is worse when cold, or cam position sensor if worse when hot.

there has been a few threads about this over the years.

good luck with this, nothing so frustrating as an intermittent fault.