P38 ..Non-Starter!!

[Fozzy]

Hi all..
You are gonna have to bear with me on this but i am a complete novice when it comes to Range Rovers!.But i am falling in love with these vehicles!...arent they just brilliant?.LMAO!
I recently purchased a P38A Vogue 4.6 V8? (< i place a question mark here cos i'm not too sure if thats its real spec!..) from a friend.
I remember him at the time he bought this vehicle (four years ago) he stated that it was a stolen recovery!.. so DVLA had put a Q plate on it!..now i must take what he says as the truth cos i know no different..right now!..aparently the car was part of a big haul,police had seized from a ringing outfit!..anyway there were no original markings on it ..i.e V.I.N plate ...etc.. so thats why its on a Q - plate..
But this isnt the reason why i am posting on this forum!..LMAO!..stay with me guys!..lol..
2 months ago i had the rear suspension replaced..and all is well with that!..then a week and a half ago. i was buying stock in Machester i came out from my suppliers and pressed the keyfob to unlock the car ..and nothing happened!...absoloutley nothing ..i used the key in the door ..and all the car did was bleep everytime i opened and closed it!..i popped the bonnet and the damn alarm went off!..i stuck the key in the ignition and all i got was "please press remote or enter code" displayed on the green screen below the speedometer!.. all i could do was get myself recovered from Manchester to Leeds!..(courtesy of Green Flag!..LOL)..I was told by the recovery guy that there was nothing that could be done by him!..and that the car needed to be looked at by a garage!...so i recovered the car to a local garage ..who'm i use alot for my other vehicles!..the car has been there for nearly two weeks!..without any sort of progress!..i have spoken to a mate who works there and they have been using a chap who has Land Rover experience and has the diagnostic equipment!...but he cant seem to read the vehicles software!...so!..where do i go from here?..if i must i will take it to a main LR dealer!..but i thought i would post on your excellent forums (which i discovered today).. and is in my favourites ..Now!.. and see what you guys think to how i should approach this situation

[02RhinoRange]

It sounds like your engine has immobilized. There is a lock code that has to be entered using the key in the actual door lock. If it's a NAS spec Range, then I believe the code is 1515, or 5151, I have it at home but wouldn't be able to repost with the code until tomorrow. Anyways if the code is 1515 I believe if the truck is unlocked you: lock it once (1), unlock it (5) times, lock it once (1), then unlock it (5) times. And visa versa if the truck was locked.
Like I said if no one helps you sooner I can repost tomorrow with the correct code, or atleast the web link where I got the info. There's a different code for European spec models.

And if you can't wait, or if this little trick doesn't work then I hate to say it but I'd take it/flatbed it to the dealership. Just remember it can't be standard towed with a front or rear set of wheels on the ground, it will tear something up. You'd have to remove a front/rear prop shaft accordingly.

[Fozzy]

Hey thanks Rhino m8!..never realized that about the Towing...thats why they recovered me on a flatbed then! ..gonna remember that!.. as for the codes thanks fella if you could check on that it would be much appreciated! ..are these codes very specific for a certian year?..cos on ma log book the approx date of manufacture is 1999/2000.. but i am sure its a tad older than that!...is there any way that you can tell exactly how old the vehicle is?(if normal I.D. tags are missing!..i am sure that someone who has bin in the RR business for years can just look at a RR and say its a ...so un so!.or is this just wishful thinking on my behalf!..LOL!.. sorry bout all the questions but i am trying to avoid a main dealer if i can..LMAO!!

[02RhinoRange]

No problem on the questions, that's what this message board if for anyways. Plus most people are way more than glad to try to help out a fellow Landy owner. And by the way I'm fairly new to the whole Rover thing also. I've been on these forums for over a year but just picked up my Range 3 weeks ago.

I'll research the information for you tonight, and should have a post for you in the morning.

Can you tell me the first letters in your VIN# I can also verify build year with that. Oh and so where are you? This is a North American Spec/Standard model (NAS) correct? Or are you in Europe?

[Fozzy]

Thanks m8..I am in the UK... i will get over to the garage on friday 5th Aug ..and make a note of the chassis number!...you aint gonna believe it but the number is stamped on a rectangular peice of aluminium!..lol.. ..lol

[shiftech]

if you give me the chassis number then ill give you all the info, model,engine size,makers year etc.The access code or EKA is unique to each vehicle.
When you press the key fob button does the led flash,if not try new batteries then sincronise the key.
Im in the uk also.

If you look at any plastic bits on the car,there will be a date stamp on the back.This will will give you a rough estimate of the cars age,usually within about 12 months

[02RhinoRange]

Stick with Shiftech, he should be able to help you out more. In the U.S. spec Range Rovers the Emergency Key Access (EKA) is disabled or something. Basically, in the U.S. everyone including dealers use a generic "1515" code, lock once, unlock 5 times, lock once, unlock 5 times.

Not to take away from this website because I love it too, but haveing a Range Rover, you should definately check out RangeRovers.net

There's lots links to parts suppliers, information on problems/maintenance, and another forum like this one specific only to Range Rovers.

That's where I got the EKA information:
http://www.rangerovers.net/repairdet...ecm/alarm.html

Good luck. Please report results I'm sure everyone would like to know how things come out.

[Fozzy]

WoW!...thank you very much chaps you have bin so helpfull!...shiftech m8!..i have spoken to the garage (my mate) and he says he is past the code stage now!...its coming up summert else when the lad with the diagnostic stuff ..plugs in ..but apparently thats as far as he can go!..so he's consulting some he knows at Land Rover!..as soon as i get chance i will look at some of the plastic parts to confirm its age!..I dont think for one second that there is anything dodgy about the car!...and i love it soooo!..much!..i dont wanna let her go!..even if at the end of all this,it has to go to Land Rover..The wife thinks i am mad and says i should sell it !...HA!..what the hell do they know?...its a bloke thing innit?..anyway i will speak to you as sson as i know anything..i will get the chassis No as well m8...thanks for all ya help once again! ..if you guys dont mind i would love to put a picture of ma green machine as soon as i get it back!...lol...sad i know!..I'm sure you understand!

[Fozzy]

Hey guys!..its me ..Agian!...the guy with the big green problem!.Well!..this just gets better!... I have been speaking to my mate at the garage today.. he has asked me for a chssis no...but...and its a big BUT!..apparently the number i gave him is not a chassis no.. on my log book where it says VIN/Chassis/frame no. i have the number - SABTVR03819013415 and that is all i have on my log book.. i assume that this is the reason why DVLA gave the vehicle a "Q" plate cos they could not I.D. it!...please correct me if ai am wrong guys!..Phew!.... and it gets better!.. he now says he cant go any further and that the Land Rover dealership wont be able to do anything much more than he has, apart from a complete ECU and Keys replacement!..estimated cost £2000.00!!. .... Well!.. as you can imagine i was gutted!.. and now i am wondering what now?.. if you guys have any advise B4 i shell out £2k please let me know!...I feel i only got a few options left!..
Do you guys think i should be spending £2k on this repair?
Can i get the job done for a cheaper price elsewhere?
or
should i call it a day and save for an S3..(i dont think i could bring myself to letting her go..i love ma S2)

All i can do now is take my wife out to a resturant tonight ply her with wine ...and do what a husband has to do (once a month..LOL!) and beg for a £2k handout!...LMAO!!.. even when she's very merry ..i dont think she's gonna go with this!... ..

[KARamsay]

Lots of information on that here...

http://www.rangerovers.net/repairdet...ecm/alarm.html

I had the same problem when the key battery died.

[Fozzy]

Thanks fella!..i'll take a look!..

[shiftech]

Hi M8,I'll see what I can dig up.Don't know if the Landrover test book can read the ECU,But I'm sure 1 of the rovacom modules can.stick with me a day or 2.

[shiftech]

Ok M8 you need to contact these people,They were warning people that the p38 remotes bought off places like ebay would not work on any other car without the ECU that the key was coded to.They have been working on the p38 fobs for at least 2 years that I know about,They appear to be a reputable company.
If any one can help you then it will be these guys,and it won't be at dealers prices.Try phoning them and explain your predicement.Bet they soon have you on your way

REMOTE KEY LTD

MG - ROVER - LAND ROVER ALARM & IMMOBILISER SPECIALISTS

0121 580 9090 mobile 07930 178 422

mail@remotekey.co.uk

7 Kesterton Road Sutton Coldfield West Midlands B74 4JP

[Fozzy]

Thanks Shift m8!..i will give these boys a go!....i am getting a bit stalled now! ..its bin going on too long ..i miss my rangy too much!..lol..
Much appreciated for all your help fella!..

[Rick]

I bought my 98RR three years ago and that sounds like the same problem I had. After spending AUD $4,000 on a new ECU (which didn't fix the problem) I eventually discovered that if I parked my car too close to mobile/cellular phone towers my immobiliser would render my car useless. The remedy was (and still is) to tow the vehicle a few metres away from the scene of the problem. This problem is not unique to me by the way, its quite common here in Australia.

Of course, the best remedy is prevention - learn about those little hotspots (airports can be a problem) out there and avoid parking your car in those areas. I'm amazed (and so is the RAC) at this niggling issue. Seems ridiculous that anyone in this day and age would have to put up with something like this.

Cheers
Rick.