Won't start, please help! - Land Rovers Only

Smalk · 12-20-2004, 12:08 PM

Hi all-

This is my first post! Thank you in advance for your help!

I have a 1999 4.6HSE and I have had some starting problems. I have only owned this RR for about 5 weeks and it's making me crazy!

Went to my garage on Sat AM and I was locked out. Luckily I had an extra key. Started no problem. Came out to the garage Sunday PM and the dome light was on, car started reluctantly (low battery). Charged battery for a few hours. Came out this morning and the engine would crank but it would not start!

By the way, I had this same problem about 3 weeks ago and had to have it towed to the nearest dealer (160 miles and $500)! They replaced the BECM and the starter (also the head gaskets, but that's another story). Within a couple of days of getting my car back home, I started having electrical issues (dome light & lockout). Ended up driving back to dealer and having a 2nd BECM installed (at their expense).

Do any of you hav any ideas for me?????

Thank you!

Scott

CoachDitka · 12-20-2004, 01:05 PM

Well, it SOUNDS like they have ruled out BECM by process of elimination, but the problems you describe would point at the BECM or its connections. I would check all the grounds, and then the harness connections at the BECM. If I had to guess I would say there is some corrosion or a bad connection somewhere that is resulting in the BECM getting bad data.

-Coach

Smalk · 12-20-2004, 01:22 PM

Hi Coach-

Thanks for the reply! Any chance that you can give me specific ground wire locations to check?

I received a call from the dealership and they are sending over a technician tomorrow. He will be bringing over 2 other BECM's, a new fuse box and several different relays. Sounds like the dealership is thinking along the same lines as you!

Thank you again Coach and happiest of holidays to you!

Scott

mathew · 12-20-2004, 01:51 PM

it sounds like a lose connection or an earth some were

OkieRover · 12-22-2004, 07:32 AM

Which model of Rangie was it that had the bad grounds?

I read somewhere that there was a problem and all the ground straps should be replaced, I just can't remember which one.

But it is good and sound advice to replace any of them that look suspect.

Smalk · 12-22-2004, 11:35 AM

Update!

Dealer sent a technician to my home (some 160 miles) and he replaced the BECM (3rd time being replaced)! He also replaced the fuse box and several relays. Car started just fine!!!

The bad news...I came out to the garage this morning and the car had locked itself once again. I had a alarm fault/ignition tamper message on the display. Car started just fine though. Immediately called dealership.

After 6 weeks and $3500 in repairs, I'm thinking about selling.

OkieRover · 12-22-2004, 12:35 PM

We have a lemon law here in Oklahoma.
You got one there?
Maybe this qualifies.

Smalk · 12-22-2004, 12:37 PM

Hey Okie-

Unfortunately I bought this from a private party!

OkieRover · 12-22-2004, 02:31 PM

Drat!
I would look up a 3rd party Rover mechanic then.
They have often have a "real world" outlook on the Rover that the dealership guys probably don't. They have a book and have to follow it for billing. That is if I understand the dealership philosophy.

I would see another mechanic....just for fun.

Smalk · 12-22-2004, 04:21 PM

Unfortunately I live in a small town and, while there are a few local garages that work on Rovers, no one has the Textbook. There a shops like this in the same town as the dealership but I don't have the time to "shop" it when I go there.

Very frustrating!

lonestarrover · 12-22-2004, 04:58 PM

I have heard of problems with cell towers interfering with the alarm systems on the P38 Rovers causing lock outs and not being able to start. The web site below might help you. Good luck.

www.rangerovers.net

KARamsay · 12-23-2004, 06:26 AM

Dumb question because I live in the city and have to lock my doors. Isn't there a toggle that turns on/off an auto lock feature. I know when I got my truck that there were a lot of things that the truck "did" that I did not want (IE, mirrors, headlight delay, etc) After a few days with the owners manual, I had it set like I wanted it.

Sorry to hear your woes... but hopefully it gets better.

Smalk · 12-23-2004, 09:31 AM

Thanks all for the messages!!

There are no cell phone towers around my house.

Went to get something out of the car last night and the dome light did not work!

Looks like the fun may never end!

OkieRover · 12-27-2004, 09:14 AM

I had a lot of trouble with my dome lights too.
But I think it was just a bad series of bulbs. Seemed like they only lasted a month or two before they burned out. I swore I'd only by one more set of the standard kind and the next would be LED conversions.
Seems like they have held up so far after 6 months.

Good thing too, the LED were expensive and I didn't want to spend that kind of money for LEDs.

Smalk · 12-27-2004, 09:35 AM

Came out Christmas morning and the doors were locked. Later that afternoon the dome lights were on (twice). Never drove the car all weekend. One the afternoon of the 26th, tried to start and the battery was dead. Left a charger on for a few hours. This morning the car started fine but I got the Alarm tiggered / Ignition Tamper fault message!

12-20-2004, 12:08 PM	#1 (permalink)
Smalk Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Bend, Oregon USA Posts: 23 Gallery: 0	Won't start, please help! Hi all- This is my first post! Thank you in advance for your help! I have a 1999 4.6HSE and I have had some starting problems. I have only owned this RR for about 5 weeks and it's making me crazy! Went to my garage on Sat AM and I was locked out. Luckily I had an extra key. Started no problem. Came out to the garage Sunday PM and the dome light was on, car started reluctantly (low battery). Charged battery for a few hours. Came out this morning and the engine would crank but it would not start! By the way, I had this same problem about 3 weeks ago and had to have it towed to the nearest dealer (160 miles and $500)! They replaced the BECM and the starter (also the head gaskets, but that's another story). Within a couple of days of getting my car back home, I started having electrical issues (dome light & lockout). Ended up driving back to dealer and having a 2nd BECM installed (at their expense). Do any of you hav any ideas for me????? Thank you! Scott

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12-20-2004, 01:05 PM	#2 (permalink)
CoachDitka Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 79 Gallery: 0	Well, it SOUNDS like they have ruled out BECM by process of elimination, but the problems you describe would point at the BECM or its connections. I would check all the grounds, and then the harness connections at the BECM. If I had to guess I would say there is some corrosion or a bad connection somewhere that is resulting in the BECM getting bad data. -Coach

12-20-2004, 01:22 PM	#3 (permalink)
Smalk Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Bend, Oregon USA Posts: 23 Gallery: 0	Hi Coach- Thanks for the reply! Any chance that you can give me specific ground wire locations to check? I received a call from the dealership and they are sending over a technician tomorrow. He will be bringing over 2 other BECM's, a new fuse box and several different relays. Sounds like the dealership is thinking along the same lines as you! Thank you again Coach and happiest of holidays to you! Scott

12-20-2004, 01:51 PM	#4 (permalink)
mathew Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 45 Gallery: 0	it sounds like a lose connection or an earth some were

12-22-2004, 11:35 AM	#6 (permalink)
Smalk Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Bend, Oregon USA Posts: 23 Gallery: 0	Update! Dealer sent a technician to my home (some 160 miles) and he replaced the BECM (3rd time being replaced)! He also replaced the fuse box and several relays. Car started just fine!!! The bad news...I came out to the garage this morning and the car had locked itself once again. I had a alarm fault/ignition tamper message on the display. Car started just fine though. Immediately called dealership. After 6 weeks and $3500 in repairs, I'm thinking about selling.

12-22-2004, 12:37 PM	#8 (permalink)
Smalk Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Bend, Oregon USA Posts: 23 Gallery: 0	Hey Okie- Unfortunately I bought this from a private party!

12-22-2004, 04:21 PM	#10 (permalink)
Smalk Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Bend, Oregon USA Posts: 23 Gallery: 0	Unfortunately I live in a small town and, while there are a few local garages that work on Rovers, no one has the Textbook. There a shops like this in the same town as the dealership but I don't have the time to "shop" it when I go there. Very frustrating!

12-22-2004, 04:58 PM	#11 (permalink)
lonestarrover Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 57 Gallery: 0	I have heard of problems with cell towers interfering with the alarm systems on the P38 Rovers causing lock outs and not being able to start. The web site below might help you. Good luck. www.rangerovers.net

12-23-2004, 06:26 AM	#12 (permalink)
KARamsay Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 22 Gallery: 0	Dumb question because I live in the city and have to lock my doors. Isn't there a toggle that turns on/off an auto lock feature. I know when I got my truck that there were a lot of things that the truck "did" that I did not want (IE, mirrors, headlight delay, etc) After a few days with the owners manual, I had it set like I wanted it. Sorry to hear your woes... but hopefully it gets better.

12-23-2004, 09:31 AM	#13 (permalink)
Smalk Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Bend, Oregon USA Posts: 23 Gallery: 0	Thanks all for the messages!! There are no cell phone towers around my house. Went to get something out of the car last night and the dome light did not work! Looks like the fun may never end!

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12-27-2004, 09:35 AM	#15 (permalink)
Smalk Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Bend, Oregon USA Posts: 23 Gallery: 0	Came out Christmas morning and the doors were locked. Later that afternoon the dome lights were on (twice). Never drove the car all weekend. One the afternoon of the 26th, tried to start and the battery was dead. Left a charger on for a few hours. This morning the car started fine but I got the Alarm tiggered / Ignition Tamper fault message!