Robmatron

Member
Hi all,
Hoping someone can help me. I've found such a wealth of information on here that I'm not sure what applies to the Disco I'm working on.
Its a Td5 on a 51 plate and only used by the recently widowed farmers wife as a farm vehicle to get about to feed the animals as she cant drive the tractor.
So the symptoms are that it will randomly not start. The dash lights come on but will not turn over. If you get out and lock the car and then unlock it, opening the door sets the alarm off. I've got her going again by showing her how to enter the AEK code. This can last from a day to a week before having to enter it again when it wont start. It has never just cut out.
I think this could have all stemmed from when the window mechanism broke and the window was left down for a while causing the car to flood with rain water. It is still very damp inside.
So my first thought is to do the bypass wiring mod from starter solenoid to ignition and starter solenoid to starter relay. The only problem is I'm not sure if this will work as its related to 300tdi threads.
Next is the spider by pass plug still not sure if this is for disco 1 or 2?
lastly I saw that if last 7 of vin number falls between YA260032 to 1A703319 it will need a new BCU. It is A743924????
Obviously I don't want her to have to spend money on it so a simple bypass would be the best option and wouldn't matter if certain function didn't work.
A point in the right direction would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers Rob
 
The security system on the D2 is vastly different to that on the D1, for a start, there's no "spider" to bypass.
The probable fault is with the radio system for operating the central locking, so the first place to check is the receiver unit. This is located behind the headlining, in the centre of the roof just in front of the rear sunroof, or where the rear sunroof should be. Check that the unit hasn't suffered moisture ingress damage and also that it is connected properly to the earth through the bolt holding it in place. Replacement receivers are relatively cheap at about 30 quid or so.
Check also that the fob on the key is operating, as far as you can, by making sure that the red LED lights up when you press either the lock or unlock buttons. It might be a reasonable idea to replace the battery anyway, it's type CR2032 and cheap enough. Be sure to use a good quality one, Duracell or similar, not a pack of ten for a quid from the local pound shop!
I'm sure that @neilly won't be far away and he might be able to add some more ideas.
 
When you say the car flooded with rain water, how deep was it?
You should also be checking the electronic units behind the passenger side glove box, that's where the BCU (Body Control Unit) is fitted. If these devices have been subjected to water, then damage could have been done there which could well have some bearing on your troubles too.
 
Thanks for the replies. Obviously bypassing the whole system would be beneficial as opposed to having to fix it. The darn thing never even gets locked.
Getting it to the dealers would be problematic to get them to plug her in. Are the nanocom units expensive and is it something I could do? I have experience of using VSDS on VW's if simular.
The funny thing is the first time this happened about about eight months ago I was working away and it was still in MOT so she had it at the local dealers. From what I gather they charged her 250 quid for supposedly charging the battery and entering the AEK. They then for some God unknown reason cleaned it. I bet the sheep **** was fun to clean out the back!

Brian by flooded I might of exaggerated but it was very wet under foot. Not up to dash level but it doesn't mean it didn't get wet. I'll have a look cheers.
 
Is the Nanocom expensive? Well, yes, for just one use it is. The current price for a new unit is £313. They do come up on the second hand market occasionally, but not very often. I don't know if there's anybody close to you who can lend a hand. The problem with trying to use another device is that on the Disco 2 it probably won't work properly, if at all with cheaper units because the diesel Disco didn't become fully compliant until after mid 2004 when LR released the Disco 3 on the unsuspecting public.
The security system is integral to the whole system and consequently it can't be "removed" just like that, but it can be disabled, or rather parts of it can be made to operate as if it isn't there. The main stealer might charge more than the vehicle is worth to do that by the sound of it.
The BCU is fairly low down behind the glove box and could quite conceivably have been damaged by moisture ingress due to the water being soaked up by the carpets and sound deadening material in that area so check that very carefully.
To do anything to the systems, deactivating the parts of the immobiliser or changing the EKA to anything easier to use you will need a Nanocom. I don't know whether the Hawkeye or Lynx will work just as well in these areas of the systems but price wise they're all about the same.
 
Cheers Brian. OK so just speaking to the girl who uses it for the horses and she tells me that the head lining is leaking a lot after rain. Looking at the sun roofs the rear is already sealed up so looks like your first post is the way to go for now. Just had a play with the key fob and the led does light up but it doesn't lock the car. Using the key to lock the car and then unlock sets alarm of and so you have to enter EKA again. Presumably this also points to the receiver also? Looking at a unit with a lot of cables plugged into it under glove compartment presumably the BCU it all looks relatively dry on first inspection.
 
OK so I've taken the head liner down and its like a Turkish bath up there. The receiver unit had about 2mm of water in it and looks completely goosed. I've looked on flee bay and can get a second hand one for about 20 quid. Will it need programing?
 
Hi @Robmatron

Have a shufti at this. The alarm issues attachment, may help , any questions give us a shout.
https://www.landyzone.co.uk/land-rover/handy-buying-alarm-info.311291/

RF receiver is plug and play, but for what you want ,I would try and find someone local who has a nanocom / hawkeye.


Cheers
Thanks for this,
Having read it Ill wait for the replacement receiver unit then see what LED's I get as is mention although I suspect your right in that it is possibly more to it as it starts fine at the moment without the unit fitted.
Interestingly enough it appears the leak is coming from the roof bar not the sun roof.
 
I get as is mention although I suspect your right in that it is possibly more to it as it starts fine at the moment without the unit fitted

The rf receiver not being fitted will not stop the car starting if you have used the EKA code.

The EKA code overrides the alarm and immobiliser.

Cheers
 
As @neilly has already said, in your position, trying to borrow a Nanocom or Hawkeye would be the best option, buying one just for this doesn't sound like a real option. At least replacing the RF receiver in the roof is the next best, or cheapest option. If it works then away to go.
There are also plenty of freds on the forum here about sorting out the ingress of water in the Disco, although funnily enough, an open window was never mentioned as one of the reasons.
 
As @neilly has already said, in your position, trying to borrow a Nanocom or Hawkeye would be the best option, buying one just for this doesn't sound like a real option. At least replacing the RF receiver in the roof is the next best, or cheapest option. If it works then away to go.
There are also plenty of freds on the forum here about sorting out the ingress of water in the Disco, although funnily enough, an open window was never mentioned as one of the reasons.
Yeh don't you just love being that really handy charitable neighbour that will fix other people's stupidly.
 
Out of interest do you have a national "who has a nanocom in your area" thread on this forum? Not sure where to start looking.
 
Out of interest do you have a national "who has a noncom in your area" thread on this forum? Not sure where to start looking.

Hi @Robmatron

If you go to the Landyzone international rescue thread, you will find the LZIR map, on there you may find someone local to you who has a diagnostic unit. If you ask them very nicely and offer to bribe them with cake and if they are not in prison or the mental home, then they might be nice enough to offer help.

CHeers
 

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