Engine part recognition

In recent days we've been having trouble starting our LR, and the battery light has been on.

Battery is new (ish) replaced with MOT last Nov.

Electrics all seem to work fine, but today she would not tick over at all; not a glimmer, nothing. Electrics still working though.

Took a look under the bonnet and saw this damage, melted plastic arround the circuit board . Haynes manual explosive diagram does not identify this engine part, any advise?

Thanks (very green novice)

I cannot comment as to what that is, under the many LR bonnets I have been I have never seen anything like it. Can you follow the wires and see where they go? It could be some sort of aftermarket immobiliser which is a joke on a 2.5. The wires going from the plug don't look overly heavy duty so suspect it is some sort of control or alarm etc...

Are you getting white when cranking? For now I am going to assume electrical based on the nature of your question.

Turn on the ignition, then go to the back of the injection pump and pull off the wire that goes to the little spade connection, do you hear a click? Touch the connection on and off with the wire and make sure the shutoff is clicking away OK, if not get a piece of wire, and take a live feed to the little spade connection on the back of the injection pump, it may now click, leave it in place and try and start the engine.

Thanks; it does have some aftermarket alarm/immobaliser type thing fitted - glue on light on dash and stickers all over the windows; never worked in all the years we have had the thing and TBH I never gave it a second thought.

I guess it could be that this thing has been draining battery juice? Certainly the burning / burnt plastic is new.

I would remove it.

Chances are that thing has fried, and now won't switch fuel on to the engine.

Not sure about the battery light though, that shouldn't be tied into it.

Cheers, will give it a go!