Right guys, I am so annoyed its untrue. Long story short my P38 is for sale and someone is coming to view her tomorrow.

I've not used it for a couple of weeks as I've been so busy so I thought id take her for a little (potential) farewell run tonight.

But oh no, P38 curse strikes.

Basically she won't unlock from either fob (which up to now have worked perfectly). LED flashing normally (slowly) on the dash. When I unlock with the key ONLY the drivers door unlocks. I open the door there is no alarm or flashing indicators. Only when I introduce a key to the ignition do the hazards come on, but no alarm sound? The ignition cycles OK, only when trying to start it comes up with engine disabled press remote or enter key code.

I have tried entering the EKA into the lock but I don't think its "hearing" the eka code, suspect microswitch. I also don't think its hearing the key either for some reason.

So this chap is coming tomorrow at midday, I really dont want to cancel on him but I havnt got a machine I can sell at the moment.

My thoughts are, door card of, contact cleaner into latch to see if the switches wake up? Also check RF receiver to see if its somehow become disconnected or the connector to it is wet (somehow?). Its almost like the receiver is disconnected or the keys have both become unsynced at the same time which I cant believe.

As mentioned, I cannot believe its done this for the first time ever in my ownership the night before someone wants to buy it!

Can anyone give me any more advice or confirm I'm on the right track?

My first thought is charge the battery now, then see where you are tomorrow morning.
The drivers door is the only one with a mechanical connection to the key so it will always open on the key, BUT if there's not enough juice to open the other locks, there's probably not enough juice to switch the alarm off, receive an EKA or do anything else.
P38s hate flat batteries.
If you haven't used it for a few weeks there's a chance the battery has gone a bit flat. It's been pretty cold lately.

"You can check out any time you like, but you can never leave"
Eagles, Hotel P38

All sorted, I am an idiot, key had lost synch I just wasnt doing the synching process properly.
As soon as I got the key to behave she locked, unlocked and fired straight up after being stood, plenty of juice in the battery and she doesn't seem to have any drain, never has to be fair!
Need to look at the other key tomorrow though, its not been used since I had it fixed a year ago so its probably not synched either.

Fergie46 said:

"You can check out any time you like, but you can never leave"
Eagles, Hotel P38

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This is the worst bit, I'm not even leaving just going to (probably) a more of a pain in the bum version with a dirty great supercharger under the bonnet!

it's getting you back for the thought of even trying to sell it, they have feelings you know.

These cars can NOT be left for 2 weeks..................use them every second day or lose your sense of life ))
My Rangy you have to re-sink the key once a month when it has a sell me mood
In airport park at top of parking with solar charger on second battery not connected........thats how I do it

quavey said:

This is the worst bit, I'm not even leaving just going to (probably) a more of a pain in the bum version with a dirty great supercharger under the bonnet!

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That sounds interesting (and expensive!). Cannot wait to see photos of that.

keep the P38 as backup!

Mine sits for weeks /months at a time in Czech. I just disconnect the battery and leave a trickle charger on it and it's fine.
At home it's good for about 2 weeks before there's not enough charge left to start it, in Czech it seems to last about 4 days. It's parked in a nice warm garage in Czech but it's got 6 flats above it so I suspect a lot of rf interference.

She's never normally a bother, and in this case again it was lack of key synch rather than low battery or anything daft like that.

These guys came today, drove 3 hours, spent 2 hours looking at, bid me in the balls so they drove home and thats that!. Wish I'd not bothered getting it all ready for them now but that's like!

Grrrrrr said:

That sounds interesting (and expensive!). Cannot wait to see photos of that.

keep the P38 as backup!

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Oh I will get some pictures up, selling my 650i and the P38 to buy a nice L322. I'll still have my work navara for when the inevitable green oval curse strikes!