TD5 Immobiliser "spider" problem?

I have a 1999 Discovery Td5 Series II and a few days ago the immobiliser (or at least I'm guessing that is the cause) seems to have developed an "issue", i.e. the doors open via the remote fob (2 button version) as normal, the immibiliser light on dash stops flashing, all ignition lights as normal come on, yet engine does not turn when key is turned to start?.....going through the motions 2 or 3 times and then suddenly it starts without any problems?

Woried as this is also used as mom's taxi to get kids to and from school, etc. and I wouldn't want her to be immobilised somewhere with a landy full of young ones.

I'v read some of the older threads on the topic of dry soldering/ burnt-out "spider" immobiliser and was wondering if the experts agree that it is the same problem (i.e. before I spend 3 hours getting to the immobiliser unit which sounds like a bit of a pain).

Any thoughts?!

No "spider" on Td5's, alarm/immobiliser is controlled by the BCU or body control unit which is fitted behind the glovebox.

I've seen this a few times on disco ll but not sure of the cause, make sure the battery is properly charged, charge it over night and try it the following day.
When starting, turn the ignition on and wait a second or two before starting, see if that makes any difference, it may be that the ecu's are not waking up fast enough.

clutchdust said:

No "spider" on Td5's, alarm/immobiliser is controlled by the BCU or body control unit which is fitted behind the glovebox.

I've seen this a few times on disco ll but not sure of the cause, make sure the battery is properly charged, charge it over night and try it the following day.
When starting, turn the ignition on and wait a second or two before starting, see if that makes any difference, it may be that the ecu's are not waking up fast enough.

Click to expand...

Ere Clutchdust - have you seen any with similar problems that turn out to be water in the IDM in the back of the pass fusebox ?

I had the same problem last summer, suspected the immobiliser at first but found the fault to be intermittent within the starter motor, a new motor sorted the problem.

I connected up a test light within the car, powered directly from the wire feeding the starter motor solenoid, this was to ensure the motor was the problem, the theory being that if power was getting through when the problem occured, the immobiliser must be functioning correctly.

Looking at the year of this, I was just wondering if you ever got this problem sorted out, as guess what, yes I have a troublesome 1999 TD5 too.
What did you eventually do to resolve this problem please?? thanks