Disabled engine on P38

Redrum · May 20, 2019

Hi Guys

I have a 1998 P38, 4.6 Litre petrol, with LPG conversion and am having a little problem, which I'd like some help with please.

A couple of years ago my remote locking kept randomly locking the car when I was out and about, then when I tried to open the doors it would not open. I should add that the barrel in the lock for the driver's door was broken and the key just turns around without opening the lock.

I took it to the Rover garage and they said that there was a known problem with this model from interference with wifi signals, so I got them to disable the remote locking and alarm. It therefore has not been possible to lock the doors since.

This week I popped out for a takeaway, returned to the car and the alarm went off surprisingly. When I went to start the car the engine disabled error showed on the dash and prompted me to open with the remote. This didn't work, even after putting new batteries in. The car battery is brand new and fully charged also.

After a 5 hour wait he AA towed my on a flatbed truck to the Rover garage. They looked it over this morning and informed me that all they could do was put in a complete new lock system in the driver's door to allow resynching of the remote. Also that it would cost so much that it would be more than the car is worth, so don't bother basically.

Managed to get it back home after a hairy drive with no power steering. And there it sits, in my drive awaiting a masterful stroke to get it going again. Help please!!!

Red Rover

marjon · May 20, 2019

So it sounds like your Range Rover garage didn’t actually know what they where doing.

Sounds to me like you need @martyuk if he’s home and around.

Oh and take off the door card and you will probably find a rod hanging around and not connected.

J

Grrrrrr · May 20, 2019

Sounds like the lock actuator might have been playing up, or possibly the earth wire for it. You need Marty's lock tests. They're on here somewhere.

For RF interference @martyuk does a filter or you can use the @brianp38dse 2 fob trick for a cheap solution.

You need that RF receiver box plugged in to sync the key if it an early model and the EKA code if there is a message on the dash.

Mozz Smith is the master on getting these things going without diag but you need everything working first.

brianp38dse · May 20, 2019

here is martyuk`s lock test sheet
and my second fob mod.

https://www.landyzone.co.uk/land-rover/rf-reciever-work-round.258096/

Redrum · May 21, 2019

Thank for the early responses guys. I'll get onto it and report back.

wammers · May 21, 2019

Redrum said:
Hi Guys

I have a 1998 P38, 4.6 Litre petrol, with LPG conversion and am having a little problem, which I'd like some help with please.

A couple of years ago my remote locking kept randomly locking the car when I was out and about, then when I tried to open the doors it would not open. I should add that the barrel in the lock for the driver's door was broken and the key just turns around without opening the lock.

I took it to the Rover garage and they said that there was a known problem with this model from interference with wifi signals, so I got them to disable the remote locking and alarm. It therefore has not been possible to lock the doors since.

This week I popped out for a takeaway, returned to the car and the alarm went off surprisingly. When I went to start the car the engine disabled error showed on the dash and prompted me to open with the remote. This didn't work, even after putting new batteries in. The car battery is brand new and fully charged also.

After a 5 hour wait he AA towed my on a flatbed truck to the Rover garage. They looked it over this morning and informed me that all they could do was put in a complete new lock system in the driver's door to allow resynching of the remote. Also that it would cost so much that it would be more than the car is worth, so don't bother basically.

Managed to get it back home after a hairy drive with no power steering. And there it sits, in my drive awaiting a masterful stroke to get it going again. Help please!!!

Red Rover

Replace the link from lock to latch. If engine is disabled it needs EKA code if link is detached you cannot enter it. If EKA code is not entered and accepted you cannot sync fob simple as that.

martyuk · May 22, 2019

If the key is just spinning in the lock - as in completely 360 degrees spinning, then chances are someone heavy-handed has previously broken the tab off the lock barrel and it's now not connected to anything. If it will just turn to lock/unlock but nothing happens, then as others have said - rod fallen off, or again the tab is broken off.

I've repaired a couple of the locking tabs - and a couple of times removed the whole key barrel and transplanted the innards to another one with a locking tab still on it, so that it can be used without having to buy a whole replacement lockset.

Random locking/unlocking of the vehicle is a sure sign that there is an issue with one of the front door latches.

As already mentioned - get the latch and the door handle/lock barrel sorted - and then you'll be in a good place to sort the other bits out and get it started and running again.

Redrum · Jun 16, 2019

Hi
Well this took a lot longer needed in the end to fix, but it is fixed now.
The driver's door lock was seized and the key was not turning (different from my previous report). I stripped the lock down to its basic parts, which took a long time. And the shims in the lock were not in the right order, so reordered them according to the numbering. They still did not align enough to enable the key to turn, so had to file some down. Voila! the key and lock worked.

I was still pretty dubious about whether the key would enable me to reset the fob using the key code in the BECM, it could have been the wrong key. But what do you know, it reset it first time, good as gold and took off the immobilisation of the engine.

Thanks for your help and sod the Landy dealer who told me to write the car off.

Cheers

Red Rum

marjon · Jun 16, 2019

Glad you are back up and running.

And thanks for sharing the fix.

J

DanClarke · Jun 16, 2019

Pleased that you got such a great result. The P38's are well worth the effort!

brianp38dse · Jun 16, 2019

Well done for not giving up and taking the dealers advise

Disabled engine on P38

Redrum

New Member

marjon

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Grrrrrr

Technician, Bodgit & Scarper Ltd

brianp38dse

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Redrum

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wammers

No longer with us, RIP

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Redrum

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DanClarke

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brianp38dse

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