Key troubles

Had Green Flag out today - jump started my 97 disco 300tdi. He reckons glow plugs need replaced but I'm not sure - could be fuel pump etc because it starts perfect everytime except first thing in the morning. Anyhow went for a drive to charge battery a bit and came in to buy glow plugs online. Went back out and now the red key light on dash is on and obviously wont start now. How do I recode key on this model? Tried drivers door lock thing but lock is solid and wont turn at all.

Could still be glowplugs at fault. Diesel blocks hold an awful lot of heat (can take up to 24 hours to fully cool, depandant on amibient temp) and once it's been running there could be enough residual heat to mask the failing plugs.

The problem I have now is (at the moment anyway) not the glow plugs. It is that the key needs recoded cos when I put it in ignition everything is normal except red key symbol is lit which I assume is decoded key and engine is immobilised.

if thats the case it'll cost around £25 fer a key resync... unless u can free the door mech up and use the eka but what has happend fer the key to lose sync?

Green Flag jump started it today, let it run 5 mins while we blethered, turned it off while guy was still there and it started no problem. Then I went a run to charge the battery a bit. Came back and switched off, took key out (1st time since jump start)and came inside. Went back out a bit later and red key warning light was on and everything immobilised. Could it be something to do with jump start? Also why are door locks solid? PS I know its cold today but they're not frozen.

summat to do with a fecked battery ?, wot do you mean 'locks solid'?

Not sure about Disco but I'm pretty sure P38 manual says something about connecting jump leads in opposite order to normal to protect electronics.

I had a similar problem with my 97 300TDI, Very occasionally it would not start sometimes red key warning light came on sometimes not. The not starting became more frequent (every other day or so) until I had no confidence to go out in it. I checked all the obvious stuff fuel pump, glow plugs, injectors, key fob etc etc, and then following some good advise from these pages the actual fault was traced to the engine immobaliser, which on my 1997 model is located on the engine stop solonoid, I removed the immobaliser and my disco has never faulted since. Note earlier 300 TDIs have something called a spider located behind the dash which can cause similar non starting problems, there is lots of information on this site about spider problems if yours has one, mine being a late 1997 did not.

Battery seems OK - but not too sure bout that. Even with battery pack from truck Green Flag guy had to use easy start to fire it up. Cant rule out bad battery but I really dunno. As for locks - I can get key in OK but wont turn any way at all. Passenger lock same. As I've only had car under 1 week I've only ever used keyfob (which also does nothing now BTW). So car is unable to be locked and sits immobilised. Spare key also decoded (ie brings up red key light) but it always was since I got car.

Car first reg 08/97 so late 97 I'd say. Would removing immobiliser cure problem? I'd be more than happy to do that if its an easy fix!

Nothing to do with the door key to re-mobilise your engine, the immobiliser is passive therefore automatic to re-mobilise you need the fob to be near the ignition switch.
Are you sure the fob battery is ok, if it is then your central locking should work.
Did the Green Flag 'oppo' disconnect your own battery at all, if so you need to 're-sync' the fob by pressing the lock button at least four times.

As for your key not turning in both door locks it's 'use it or loose it' if the locks have not been used for a long time, which is unstandable as the vehicle is fitted with central locking, the locks may have seized, splash of WD40 may help there.

if you have not owned it for long are you sure that nobody has replaced a knackered ignition switch and the keys are not for your door locks?

Discool - you are a genius - pressed lock button 4 times and hey presto - everything locked and car is running again. So you reckon the recovery guy done what wrong? Leads off in wrong order? Many thanks to all who helped. PS As for keys not being for doors - a very good point - maybe as suggested only for ignition because I think the cowling has been off and put back on not quite right. Now I can deal with the problem I started the day with - cold starting woes and what to do! I can feel another thread coming on! Ta again all.

"So you reckon the recovery guy done what wrong? Leads off in wrong order?"
Nothing to do with the lead order this is only a safty thing something to do with sparks I've never bothered. He must have removed a lead from your battery so re-sync was required for the fob/s it's a D1 thing, something u must always do..