mikeateves
New Member
Hi,
Has the RF receiver been updated to the latest revision? If not, I'd recommend changing it. Previous threads have the part no.
mike
Has the RF receiver been updated to the latest revision? If not, I'd recommend changing it. Previous threads have the part no.
mike
mikeateves
New Member
Hi nanndy13,
Good question. I'm sure one of the previous threads on this forum had photos of the different receivers but I can't find it. I'll see if I've still got my old RF receiver and see how it differs from the new one - it might be necessary to open it up to tell.
Good question. I'm sure one of the previous threads on this forum had photos of the different receivers but I can't find it. I'll see if I've still got my old RF receiver and see how it differs from the new one - it might be necessary to open it up to tell.
dunno if this helps?
Mysterious Battery Drain on a 4.0/4.6:
Diagnosis and A Novel Cure
Introduction
Andrew Walne was one of the many owners who has experienced mysterious battery drain on his 1996 4.6HSE. After finding the source of the problem was, as usual, the BECM being "woken up" by spurious radio transmissions, Andy cured the problem by installing a switch so he could turn off the RF receiver at will. He was kind enough to share his story with readers of Rangerovers.net so we can all benefit from his experience.
Photo at right: Andy's multimeter registers over an amp of drain with the BECM awake.
Problem
A brand new battery was unable to turn over the engine after standing for 2 days, any longer and lights, windows etc. did not work, and occasionally there was a completely dead battery. When I used Rangey every day there was no problem. This was caused by the BeCM sleeping for 20 seconds, waking up for 2 minutes, sleeping again for 20 seconds, 24 hours a day, continuously for most of the 3 months she has been in my possession.
Solution
To establish the BeCM activity I used a multi-meter between the battery negative terminal and the negative lead to measure current drain. When the Rangey was shut, locked and alarmed the current drain was about 1.1A initially, then dropped to 0.57A and after 2 minutes went down to 0.02A (see photos above and belpow of the drain with the BECM awake and asl;eep respectively). This is what Rangey should do and she had no traceable fault, as was confirmed by a Landrover main dealer. (It seems that the selected gear position LED glows very faintly as an indicator that the BeCM is awake).
Photo: Andy's multimeter registers .02 amps (20 mA) with the BECM asleep.
However, when Rangey was at home, after a further 20 seconds the BeCM woke up and the cycle started all over again without any physical action on my part, the only time she slept for any length of time was when the RF receiver was disconnected which implied the RF receiver was waking it up. The aerial was disconnected, a new receiver was fitted but still a radio signal was causing the BeCM to stay awake. Using a radio frequency scanner with a strength meter, I found a strong, regular pulse from somewhere near to my home being transmitted every 46 seconds on 433.875Mhz, close to the remote key frequency of 433.92Mhz. I was able to trace this signal to a faulty window sensor for a wireless burglar alarm on a neighbour’s house further up the road. When the alarm sensor batteries were changed the signal ceased and Rangey has slept soundly ever since with no more battery drain problems.
Until I found the problem I fitted a concealed double pole switch to turn off the RF receiver and locked up using the key. According to the handbook the receiver draws current through Fuse 15 but when that was taken out the receiver still worked so it had to be double pole. If Rangey is to be left for more than two days, I can leave her and know that the battery will be OK, albeit without the volumetric alarm armed.
Conclusions
Before you buy a new battery, disconnect the RF receiver’s 3 pin multi-plug and check with a meter if there is no other obvious reason for a flat battery. The multi-meter can be connected without disconnecting the battery. Make a short lead with a crocodile clip at each end, loosen the negative battery terminal, clip the positive from the meter to the negative battery lead, clip one end of your new lead to the meter negative probe and use the probe to touch the bottom of the negative battery post, take the battery lead away and clip the other end of the new lead to the negative battery terminal. Make sure the meter is set correctly before connecting and leave the driver’s door open in case, like me the first time I did this, you break the circuit for too long and Rangey locks up.
Common RF Sources that Wake Up the BeCM
Andy reports that the RF receivers in cars are all built to a price. "I have heard of one in a prestige car which is made for the equivalent of 10 pence, therefore they are susceptible to interference from a wider waveband than it’s key fob transmits. This means that here in the UK there are several things that could cause the BeCM to wake up and drain the battery. Radio Amateurs in the UK can transmit on the same frequency as car key remote controls and the power they are allowed is the same at 250m from the car as a key remote is at 5m. I have heard of numerous car owners on a housing estate who could not use remote keys because a radio amateur had set up a different aerial. I have heard of a garage that could not use remote keys for cars on the forecourt for hours after the postman rang the faulty wireless doorbell switch at a nearby house. I have heard of someone who pressed the remote for his electric garage door before he reached his house and unlocked his neighbour’s car every night. Several everyday items that do not need a radio licence also use 433Mhz in the UK. For example, through trial and error, I have found that in normal use a wireless doorbell can wake Rangey, a wireless weather station transmits a signal every few seconds that can keep her awake all the time at up to 150m, and a radio release for a clay trap will wake her at up to 250m. All of these and more would only wake a BeCM if one was unlucky enough to be within range given the power and distance as well as the frequency being close to that required by the RF receiver".
Alistair Brown of Thirsk, Yorkshire, found his battery drain problem started when his neighbour got a wireless broadband Internet connetion.
Official Fixes:
Note also that Land Rover belatedly recognized this problem and has had two attempts at curing it. A partial official fix from Land Rover became available in 2004 from the UK dealer network whereby the stock RF receiver (Part # AFR1953) was superceded by a new one (YWY500010). Gunnar Arthursson reports that this receiver was less subject to interference, but did not completely cure the interference problem. Accordingly, it has since been superceded by an even newer design, part number YWY500170. Gunnar reportst that Owners with this latest update have not reported any further problem.
Mysterious Battery Drain on a 4.0/4.6:
Diagnosis and A Novel Cure
Introduction
Andrew Walne was one of the many owners who has experienced mysterious battery drain on his 1996 4.6HSE. After finding the source of the problem was, as usual, the BECM being "woken up" by spurious radio transmissions, Andy cured the problem by installing a switch so he could turn off the RF receiver at will. He was kind enough to share his story with readers of Rangerovers.net so we can all benefit from his experience.
Photo at right: Andy's multimeter registers over an amp of drain with the BECM awake.
Problem
A brand new battery was unable to turn over the engine after standing for 2 days, any longer and lights, windows etc. did not work, and occasionally there was a completely dead battery. When I used Rangey every day there was no problem. This was caused by the BeCM sleeping for 20 seconds, waking up for 2 minutes, sleeping again for 20 seconds, 24 hours a day, continuously for most of the 3 months she has been in my possession.
Solution
To establish the BeCM activity I used a multi-meter between the battery negative terminal and the negative lead to measure current drain. When the Rangey was shut, locked and alarmed the current drain was about 1.1A initially, then dropped to 0.57A and after 2 minutes went down to 0.02A (see photos above and belpow of the drain with the BECM awake and asl;eep respectively). This is what Rangey should do and she had no traceable fault, as was confirmed by a Landrover main dealer. (It seems that the selected gear position LED glows very faintly as an indicator that the BeCM is awake).
Photo: Andy's multimeter registers .02 amps (20 mA) with the BECM asleep.
However, when Rangey was at home, after a further 20 seconds the BeCM woke up and the cycle started all over again without any physical action on my part, the only time she slept for any length of time was when the RF receiver was disconnected which implied the RF receiver was waking it up. The aerial was disconnected, a new receiver was fitted but still a radio signal was causing the BeCM to stay awake. Using a radio frequency scanner with a strength meter, I found a strong, regular pulse from somewhere near to my home being transmitted every 46 seconds on 433.875Mhz, close to the remote key frequency of 433.92Mhz. I was able to trace this signal to a faulty window sensor for a wireless burglar alarm on a neighbour’s house further up the road. When the alarm sensor batteries were changed the signal ceased and Rangey has slept soundly ever since with no more battery drain problems.
Until I found the problem I fitted a concealed double pole switch to turn off the RF receiver and locked up using the key. According to the handbook the receiver draws current through Fuse 15 but when that was taken out the receiver still worked so it had to be double pole. If Rangey is to be left for more than two days, I can leave her and know that the battery will be OK, albeit without the volumetric alarm armed.
Conclusions
Before you buy a new battery, disconnect the RF receiver’s 3 pin multi-plug and check with a meter if there is no other obvious reason for a flat battery. The multi-meter can be connected without disconnecting the battery. Make a short lead with a crocodile clip at each end, loosen the negative battery terminal, clip the positive from the meter to the negative battery lead, clip one end of your new lead to the meter negative probe and use the probe to touch the bottom of the negative battery post, take the battery lead away and clip the other end of the new lead to the negative battery terminal. Make sure the meter is set correctly before connecting and leave the driver’s door open in case, like me the first time I did this, you break the circuit for too long and Rangey locks up.
Common RF Sources that Wake Up the BeCM
Andy reports that the RF receivers in cars are all built to a price. "I have heard of one in a prestige car which is made for the equivalent of 10 pence, therefore they are susceptible to interference from a wider waveband than it’s key fob transmits. This means that here in the UK there are several things that could cause the BeCM to wake up and drain the battery. Radio Amateurs in the UK can transmit on the same frequency as car key remote controls and the power they are allowed is the same at 250m from the car as a key remote is at 5m. I have heard of numerous car owners on a housing estate who could not use remote keys because a radio amateur had set up a different aerial. I have heard of a garage that could not use remote keys for cars on the forecourt for hours after the postman rang the faulty wireless doorbell switch at a nearby house. I have heard of someone who pressed the remote for his electric garage door before he reached his house and unlocked his neighbour’s car every night. Several everyday items that do not need a radio licence also use 433Mhz in the UK. For example, through trial and error, I have found that in normal use a wireless doorbell can wake Rangey, a wireless weather station transmits a signal every few seconds that can keep her awake all the time at up to 150m, and a radio release for a clay trap will wake her at up to 250m. All of these and more would only wake a BeCM if one was unlucky enough to be within range given the power and distance as well as the frequency being close to that required by the RF receiver".
Alistair Brown of Thirsk, Yorkshire, found his battery drain problem started when his neighbour got a wireless broadband Internet connetion.
Official Fixes:
Note also that Land Rover belatedly recognized this problem and has had two attempts at curing it. A partial official fix from Land Rover became available in 2004 from the UK dealer network whereby the stock RF receiver (Part # AFR1953) was superceded by a new one (YWY500010). Gunnar Arthursson reports that this receiver was less subject to interference, but did not completely cure the interference problem. Accordingly, it has since been superceded by an even newer design, part number YWY500170. Gunnar reportst that Owners with this latest update have not reported any further problem.
hi since then it has stopped working all together and the alarm fault message is on dash i have changed a receiver did not make a difference bought a new key that has not made a difference had it code read before i did and did not bring anything up any faults i have to use the eka procedure every time to start engine any ideas any one
bwarb
New Member
Did you synchronise the new alarm fob with the car ?
geoffg
Member
I used to get the alarm going off every morning at the same time. Now disconnected the remote from the radio antenna and no longer have the problem. No longer have remote either, though!!
Have "alarm fault" when I put the key in, but that's the interior sensor causing that, so, seeing as it didn't work anyway, that's unplugged too.
Who wants to steal a P38 nowadays especially as the price has dropped so dramatically.
geoff
Have "alarm fault" when I put the key in, but that's the interior sensor causing that, so, seeing as it didn't work anyway, that's unplugged too.
Who wants to steal a P38 nowadays especially as the price has dropped so dramatically.
geoff
bwarb
New Member
I have this happening as well, although the rest of the key fob type stuff (fremote lock/unlock etc.) all seem to work. What is causing the "Alarm Fault" message when you put the key in the ignition and what are the consequences ?
Rgds, Brian
bwarb
New Member
It doesn't seem to have any impact other than the message itself ... wierd ..... what is liable to be "broken" to cause the message in the first place, is this the PATS (passive anti-theft) system triggered by the coil in the fob ?
geoffg
Member
I think the main problem is that a previous owner tried to bodge the alarm system and made a cnut of it! I've come to live with the alarm problems now, and just drive round in high box all the time, which is what most poeple do anyway. I wonder how many P38's are in low box in the world at any given moment. Not a lot, I'd guess.
Regarding value, I was offered £1000 as px against a P reg 90 at a local dealer. Needless to say, I still have the RR an he still has the 90
geoff
Regarding value, I was offered £1000 as px against a P reg 90 at a local dealer. Needless to say, I still have the RR an he still has the 90
geoff
Hi Gents,
Had the same problem with the RF reciever - don't buy a new one - simply disconnect the aerial and replace it with a four inch piece of 1.0 mm wire, don't strip the wire back. Your remote will only work within approx 6ft of the O/S rear window but every thing else works fine.
Had the same problem with the RF reciever - don't buy a new one - simply disconnect the aerial and replace it with a four inch piece of 1.0 mm wire, don't strip the wire back. Your remote will only work within approx 6ft of the O/S rear window but every thing else works fine.
hi yeah alarm fault has gone off with the interior sensors being replaced but new key fob not working alarm or central locking have to keep on using eka code to start up tried another lock mechanism but no different suspect something wrong with receiver, wiring, or codes not matching bcem or have lost sync cant think of out else.
bwarb
New Member
That's how I synched my key-2 which when supplied with the car was apparently broken, so the procedure outlined there does work OK.
Upon investigation my key-2 just needed a battery fitted !
hi been progress found out receiver was knackered and the old key.the key i had was sending wrong signals into bcem and knocking new one out.
when i took battery's out of old key and moved it away from car hey presto after re syncing new key with the old receiver it worked on and off.
i then went to scrap yard and tried another receiver and it has been working good so far how can i tell which receiver this one is where are the part numbers on them and when re syncing it says close doors does that mean you lock them as well or just shut them
when i took battery's out of old key and moved it away from car hey presto after re syncing new key with the old receiver it worked on and off.
i then went to scrap yard and tried another receiver and it has been working good so far how can i tell which receiver this one is where are the part numbers on them and when re syncing it says close doors does that mean you lock them as well or just shut them
kevin roper
New Member
hi i have just joined and hope you can help me my p38 will unlock with remote but will not lock but will lock and unlock with manaul key or buttons
regards kevin
regards kevin
storm99
Spreading Joy & Harmony
Burn it.
