Range Rover L322 - 2004, won't start

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shadow_scoob

Member
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22
I have no idea what caused this problem. The vehicle was parked and then the next time it was started, it didn't!

On the dash it displays Sport Mode, which it cannot be in because the gear stick moves through the PRND areas without problem. If I move the gearstick to the Sport Mode position the message changes to Manual Mode. It almost seems as though the regular automatic mode has been lost and regulat automatic now has become sport mode and sport mode has become manual. I assume that it is not starting because it thinks it is sport mode?

Nothing happens when the key is turned. The RAC ran diagnostics and there were no gearbox issues recorded. Power was put direct to the starter motor and it turned over as expected.

I wondered if it was the immobiliser in the key and after being recovered back home I tried the other key, with the same results.

Does anybody have any ideas?

Thanks
Steve
 
They may be two separate issues. First suggestion loose engine earth? Try making a good earth. No idea if it'll work but worth a shot. Surprised RAC didn't suggest it as live to starter worked. If you get it started , try driving in normal mode, then push over to manual/sport, to see if there is a difference. I wouldn't know the solution but checking all possibilities will help the clever people.

Oh and check your battery. These vehs hate , hate, hate , a low battery and by low I mean and a couple of volts.
 
I checked the battery which was good. I also tried using my booster/starter and the result was just the same. I checked the earth and that seemed a good connection. The vehicle will turn over but does not start. I don't know if that is because the electrics are part of the immobilisation or because I could not get a good/long enough jump to the starter.

Somebody else has told me of a similar problem they had. It turned out to be a suspension problem. The vehicle thought that the suspension was in a lowered state and therefore made the assumption that it had to be in sport mode. They had to have work done on their rear suspension (they were not clear on what) before the vehicle could raise to the right height and assume it was back to normal and allow regular automatic selection. Does that make sense or sound feasible? It was a lady who told me this about her vehicle and she said right up front that she was not technical and just recalling what she was told.
 
shadow_scoob said:
I checked the battery which was good. I also tried using my booster/starter and the result was just the same. I checked the earth and that seemed a good connection. The vehicle will turn over but does not start. I don't know if that is because the electrics are part of the immobilisation or because I could not get a good/long enough jump to the starter.

Somebody else has told me of a similar problem they had. It turned out to be a suspension problem. The vehicle thought that the suspension was in a lowered state and therefore made the assumption that it had to be in sport mode. They had to have work done on their rear suspension (they were not clear on what) before the vehicle could raise to the right height and assume it was back to normal and allow regular automatic selection. Does that make sense or sound feasible? It was a lady who told me this about her vehicle and she said right up front that she was not technical and just recalling what she was told.
Click to expand...

We've had people on the bump stops still able to start the engine. Personally, I've had the cheese wedge look and managed to start the engine. So not sure how suspension would affect being able to start engine?
Have you tried a search, to see if anyone on here has posted anything similar? What about taking the cover off and seeing if anything is out of place. I take it you've downloaded RAVE?
@Bemble Is the gearbox God . @Saint.V8 Is the incumbent L322 guru and @holidaychicken Has probably had his hands on and in everything L322 diesel and petrol. Others are also very knowledgeable and will appear when the above are called .
 
I would think Range Rover diagnostics would be the first thing if you can get them.

Is it cranking when you turn the key or key turns and you get dash lights but no cranking ?

Is this petrol or diesel?

If the key had a problem the ignition wouldn’t turn and steering wouldn’t unlock.

You could try a battery disconnect and hard reset following correct procedure for both disconnect and reset.

The transmission is obviously confused, check the large multi plug going to the transfer box motor while the battery is disconnected.

You have a shifter cable underneath that can sometimes need adjusting but I wouldn’t play with it without checking what to do first and I can’t remember.

If you don’t have Rave then good idea to download that.

That’s all I got, Saint and Bemble have forgotten more than I know.
 
holidaychicken said:
I would think Range Rover diagnostics would be the first thing if you can get them.

Is it cranking when you turn the key or key turns and you get dash lights but no cranking ? Key turns and I get dashlights but no cranking.

Is this petrol or diesel? 3.0 td6

If the key had a problem the ignition wouldn’t turn and steering wouldn’t unlock. Steering wheel moves towards me, usual lights appear. Message area says Sports Mode. Key turns all the way as expected and the last part of the turn, when you would expect it to crank, nothing.

You could try a battery disconnect and hard reset following correct procedure for both disconnect and reset. I have tried a battery disconnect but I am not familiar with the hard reset procedure. Is there info on it on here?

The transmission is obviously confused, check the large multi plug going to the transfer box motor while the battery is disconnected. I will try to locate this and check.

You have a shifter cable underneath that can sometimes need adjusting but I wouldn’t play with it without checking what to do first and I can’t remember. OK, I will research.

If you don’t have Rave then good idea to download that. I have not got RAVE. Where can I download from?

That’s all I got, Saint and Bemble have forgotten more than I know.
Click to expand...

That puts me way down the knowledge chain! :)

Thank you for all your ideas.

Steve
 
gold rover said:
We've had people on the bump stops still able to start the engine. Personally, I've had the cheese wedge look and managed to start the engine. So not sure how suspension would affect being able to start engine?
Have you tried a search, to see if anyone on here has posted anything similar? What about taking the cover off and seeing if anything is out of place. I take it you've downloaded RAVE?
@Bemble Is the gearbox God . @Saint.V8 Is the incumbent L322 guru and @holidaychicken Has probably had his hands on and in everything L322 diesel and petrol. Others are also very knowledgeable and will appear when the above are called .
Click to expand...

That answers my suspension question.
I hadn't searched, don't know why so doing one now.
I will download RAVE, now I know it exists! :)
Thank you for the other user links.
Much appreciated.

Steve
 
holidaychicken said:
Oh, and hello Goldie, sorry that should have been first .:)
Click to expand...

Hiya :) I knew you'd remember me eventually ;) I knew if I called , someone with proper knowledge would appear ........
...............
......................
..........................
Still waiting :D


kissing-lips-gif-5.gif
 
Guess what problem solved.

I went through all of the fuses that are located behind the glove box on the passenger side and found a broken 7.5 amp fuse that is for diagnostics, fuse no.5. Replaced the fuse and the sport mode message did not appear and vehicle started. So happy.

Thanks to everyone for their advice, as they say a problem shared is a problem halved.

Steve
 
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