Disco 97 sudden death. battery OK - Land Rovers Only

dosh · 09-16-2006, 09:05 AM

Hello forum!
I am a newbe here and heard a lot from others about this site. I have a 97 Disco and it suddenly died on me without warning. It does not start at all. Not even a sound from the engine compartment. The battery is Ok as the AAA towing guy confirmed. The cables are connected to the solonoid. He mentioned something about a ECU that one can disconnect and connect again to reset it. I am not sure if that is something that should or could be done. I wanted to seek the expert opinion/s of the forum members what the problem could be and whether I should locate the ECU and disconnect and connect to reset the alarm system.
Is there anything else I need to check that is/are symptomtic of this sudden death syndrom for the Disco.
Thanks Forum and look forward to your expert advise.
Dosh

Adam in NYC USA · 09-16-2006, 09:27 AM

Okay, it is very hard to diagnose something without you telling us exactly what it is doing right now when you start the vehicle. When you have two seconds, order the Haynes book on the Land Rover. It is the cheapest and it has a lot of information you will be needing now and in the future.

If it does not crank, then the starter or starter relay is one problem. Do you have clean battery terminals?

A lot of times, I forgot the gearbox was in gear. Make sure it is in park. Is it cranking now?

Unpluging the ECU will NOT reset the problem. The ECU is located on the right side of the engine compartment when you face forward. It is covered in a vynl covering next to the hood hinge.

The old D1 had a immobiliser function which it talks to another computer. If the answer is not one it likes, it will crank but not start. Then you have to go to a Good repair shop with a Testbook and have the ECU reset. Yep, Land Rover copy protection.

Talk to us.

Adam in NYC

dosh · 09-16-2006, 10:20 AM

Thanks Adam!
The battery terminals are clean and the vehicle is in Park. I checked for rust on the fuse box terminals, these are clean. I looked for ECU on the right side but none there but foundone on the left (passanger Side) with TRW make and letters "EMCUR 17 48T RTV" label. it is totally sealed. Not sure if it is worthwhile to open this.
I need to check the starter relay, where might that be? As I wait for answwers to this thread I will go check the starter motor connections.
Check back soon! Much thanks for help!
Dosh.

Badger1 · 09-16-2006, 10:37 AM

Do any lights on the dash work? Headlights? Do you hear the fuel pump humming when you turn the key? Do you have power at all? That is what I am getting at I guess.

dosh · 09-16-2006, 10:44 AM

Adam,
All lights work. Dash board, headlights etc. Just plugged back the ECU and hooked up the battery again. Try starting it ..not even a sound. Looked at all the fuses. All a OK! Not sure where the starter relay is.. any clues?
More and more it looks to be either the security component/s or the starter.. do you think I am on the right path?
Thanks
Dosh

Badger1 · 09-17-2006, 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dosh

Adam,
All lights work. Dash board, headlights etc. Just plugged back the ECU and hooked up the battery again. Try starting it ..not even a sound. Looked at all the fuses. All a OK! Not sure where the starter relay is.. any clues?
More and more it looks to be either the security component/s or the starter.. do you think I am on the right path?
Thanks
Dosh

Have you tested to see if the starter is getting power?

09-16-2006, 09:05 AM	#1 (permalink)
dosh Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 3 Gallery: 0	Disco 97 sudden death. battery OK Hello forum! I am a newbe here and heard a lot from others about this site. I have a 97 Disco and it suddenly died on me without warning. It does not start at all. Not even a sound from the engine compartment. The battery is Ok as the AAA towing guy confirmed. The cables are connected to the solonoid. He mentioned something about a ECU that one can disconnect and connect again to reset it. I am not sure if that is something that should or could be done. I wanted to seek the expert opinion/s of the forum members what the problem could be and whether I should locate the ECU and disconnect and connect to reset the alarm system. Is there anything else I need to check that is/are symptomtic of this sudden death syndrom for the Disco. Thanks Forum and look forward to your expert advise. Dosh

09-16-2006, 09:27 AM	#2 (permalink)
Adam in NYC USA The Urban Motorist Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: New York City Posts: 975 Gallery: 0	Welcome to the family. Okay, it is very hard to diagnose something without you telling us exactly what it is doing right now when you start the vehicle. When you have two seconds, order the Haynes book on the Land Rover. It is the cheapest and it has a lot of information you will be needing now and in the future. If it does not crank, then the starter or starter relay is one problem. Do you have clean battery terminals? A lot of times, I forgot the gearbox was in gear. Make sure it is in park. Is it cranking now? Unpluging the ECU will NOT reset the problem. The ECU is located on the right side of the engine compartment when you face forward. It is covered in a vynl covering next to the hood hinge. The old D1 had a immobiliser function which it talks to another computer. If the answer is not one it likes, it will crank but not start. Then you have to go to a Good repair shop with a Testbook and have the ECU reset. Yep, Land Rover copy protection. Talk to us. Adam in NYC __________________ -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Owner of a 1996 Land Rover Discovery 1 in Beluga Black or the Dirt of the Day. Where we are going,we don't need roads. Nothing in education is so astonishing as the amount of ignorance it accumulates in the form of inert facts. ‘The Education of Henry Adams’ (1907) ch. 25

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09-16-2006, 10:20 AM	#3 (permalink)
dosh Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 3 Gallery: 0	Thanks Adam! The battery terminals are clean and the vehicle is in Park. I checked for rust on the fuse box terminals, these are clean. I looked for ECU on the right side but none there but foundone on the left (passanger Side) with TRW make and letters "EMCUR 17 48T RTV" label. it is totally sealed. Not sure if it is worthwhile to open this. I need to check the starter relay, where might that be? As I wait for answwers to this thread I will go check the starter motor connections. Check back soon! Much thanks for help! Dosh.

09-16-2006, 10:37 AM	#4 (permalink)
Badger1 Forward! Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Loo-eee-ville, KY Posts: 2,154 Gallery: 1	Do any lights on the dash work? Headlights? Do you hear the fuel pump humming when you turn the key? Do you have power at all? That is what I am getting at I guess.

09-16-2006, 10:44 AM	#5 (permalink)
dosh Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 3 Gallery: 0	Adam, All lights work. Dash board, headlights etc. Just plugged back the ECU and hooked up the battery again. Try starting it ..not even a sound. Looked at all the fuses. All a OK! Not sure where the starter relay is.. any clues? More and more it looks to be either the security component/s or the starter.. do you think I am on the right path? Thanks Dosh

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