Unknown warning light illuminating??

Hi Guys

When i go to start my landy (1998 defender 300tdi ) a unknown warning light illuminates, at the same time the horn sounds quickly twice. The engine will not start, i turn the ignition off and try again and everything is fine. The symbol is the warning square under the heater plug symbol.

The symbol is red and looks like a thermometer. This is the only time the symbol shows itself when illuminated. When it is extinguished you cannot see it on the dash, like the other warning symbols.

I have been through the haynes manual, user handbook and the workshop manual, with no joy, any help appreciated.

Sounds like an engine immobiliser, probably third party, not Land Rover.
Does the engine turn over and not fire, or not turn over at all when the warning light it on?
Has it got an alarm system fitted as well?

Hi Patman, Yep its got a alarm system fitted. When the warning lit comes on, i cannot start the engine.

Percy Pongo said:

Hi Guys

When i go to start my landy (1998 defender 300tdi ) a unknown warning light illuminates, at the same time the horn sounds quickly twice. The engine will not start, i turn the ignition off and try again and everything is fine. The symbol is the warning square under the heater plug symbol.

The symbol is red and looks like a thermometer. This is the only time the symbol shows itself when illuminated. When it is extinguished you cannot see it on the dash, like the other warning symbols.

I have been through the haynes manual, user handbook and the workshop manual, with no joy, any help appreciated.

Click to expand...

I have a 1997 defender 300tdi ex utilities with a 2 button l/rover alarm system. The alarm/immobiliser will not self arm unless I do it manually with the key fob. I beleive this is due to working from out of the back of the vehicle without the alarm sounding every 30 seconds.
When I do choose to arm it by pressing the button I get the 2 quick blasts of the horn and a red light comes on on my dash (no symbol on it). The alarm is now set. When I dissarm the alarm there is no noise but the indicators illuminate for about 2 secs and the red light goes out.

At a guess the automatic alarm setting timer is kicking in on your defender and is setting the immobiliser after 30 seconds as it is meant to (and does on most other rover models). By the fact that no alarm sounds when you enter the vehicle I would say you have an immobiliser only or if there is an alarm it is not working. Do you have a plip (key fob remote) to try arming and dissarming manually by hitting the rough button to arm and the smooth button to dissarm? If yes then try pressing the smooth button before you attempt to start it?

ratty said:

I have a 1997 defender 300tdi ex utilities with a 2 button l/rover alarm system. The alarm/immobiliser will not self arm unless I do it manually with the key fob. I beleive this is due to working from out of the back of the vehicle without the alarm sounding every 30 seconds.
When I do choose to arm it by pressing the button I get the 2 quick blasts of the horn and a red light comes on on my dash (no symbol on it). The alarm is now set. When I dissarm the alarm there is no noise but the indicators illuminate for about 2 secs and the red light goes out.

At a guess the automatic alarm setting timer is kicking in on your defender and is setting the immobiliser after 30 seconds as it is meant to (and does on most other rover models). By the fact that no alarm sounds when you enter the vehicle I would say you have an immobiliser only or if there is an alarm it is not working. Do you have a plip (key fob remote) to try arming and dissarming manually by hitting the rough button to arm and the smooth button to dissarm? If yes then try pressing the smooth button before you attempt to start it?

Click to expand...

Cheers Ratty, i think you mighjt have hit the nail on the head. Cheers mate.