P38A [Failing to] syncing the key using lock ...

300bhp/ton said:

Could be the case. So last time I had an issue I was away on holiday. Parked up in the evening at the hotel and key worked fine. Next morning it didn’t work! Fortunately had the 2nd key with me. A number of weeks later when it was nice and dry out. I entered the EKA with the non working key and hey presto it worked again. But there car wasn’t disabled or anything. The other key would have worked perfectly with it.

I know there is micro switch issue in the door, hence unable to enter the EKa with a key if cold and damp out. But you also don’t press any remote fob keys entering the EKA. So I assume the syncing is down to the key rather than the door.

Btw after entering the EkA I always immediately start the vehicle with the key. That might also help. However if I’d unlocked the car with the working fob and then started it with the non working key it still wouldn’t have synced. On my p38 it always comes back to the EKa.

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Datatek said:

I don't know what year your car is, but if it has the passive coil around the ignition barrel, I think what is happening is that you have a dodgy micro switch in the door lock, turning the key in the lock primes the BECM to resync the FOB which, if the passive coil is present will happen automatically when the key is put in the ignition. Multiple turns of the key maybe enough to operate the dodgy switch.

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300bhp/ton said:

Its a 1999 on a T plate. Log book says HSE, but it has the Thor engine (4.6) and 4 wheel traction control. I've got a letter from Land Rover explaining how it was upgraded by the Special Vehicles team to Vogue SE spec and badging. On this basis, I guess it is right at the cross over point for some of the changes.

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300bhp/ton said:

Its a 1999 on a T plate. Log book says HSE, but it has the Thor engine (4.6) and 4 wheel traction control. I've got a letter from Land Rover explaining how it was upgraded by the Special Vehicles team to Vogue SE spec and badging. On this basis, I guess it is right at the cross over point for some of the changes.

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MrGorsky said:

MY99 you should be well inside passive sync as standard. Passive coil function is mentioned in the 1996 (5th Ed) electrical troubleshooting manual onwards.... although of course with LR anything is possible! Mines a MY98, and I'm pretty sure my pasive coil has stopped working. I used to get a lot of requests to press button remote when I tried to start her. In the short term I just switched the immobiliser off and it's sorted it.... for now?

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marjon said:

Our 96 responded to key in lock, lock/unlock push the same button when no CDL (fob sync)
Or with "engine disabled" message. key in ignition push unlock , away we go. (it does have a replacement BECM if that makes a diff) Oh and all petrol GEMS cars, as diesel is diffenrent
Only had to enter EKA on a 95 V8, but then we didnt know the quirks then so maybe not relavant.

I would say its probably a door lock microswitch problem, if all other methods have been ruled out.

J

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marjon said:

Or with "engine disabled" message. key in ignition push unlock , away we go. (it does have a replacement BECM if that makes a diff)

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Datatek said:

The only difference I can find between GEMS and diesel relates to the immobliser code, rolling for GEMS, fixed for diesel.

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marjon said:

And fixed for Thor, I belive.
But thats for the starting, not entry? which I think is the original problem. Which of course can lead to engine immobiliser issues.

Key sync seems to be the issue. Which leads to door latch, for me.

J

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Datatek said:

I'm unsure about Thor.

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Datatek said:

I agree about the door latch.
I'm unsure about Thor. I assumed it was a rolling code from the information I have but it makes no difference to the basic operation of mobilisation.

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