Special programs off

[Lotz-A-Landies]

Occassionally when starting the MY12 D4, I get the error message "Special Programs Off" and a row of icons representing the particular functions.

Not knowing if there is a problem, I switch off and re-start the engine. The fault has never reappeared on the second start.

It doesn't happen every start or in fact on the majority of starts but enough to wonder about it.

Does anyone else have this event?

Is it something to worry about?

[Graeme]

Is it just telling you that the special program that was in use when the engine was stopped has been cancelled? Sand mode is the only one that is allowed to persist into a new ignition cycle if it is set to do so in the CCF, which I think is the standard setting.

[ADMIRAL]

Is the vehicle starting easily ? Check the charge on the battery as a first step.

[Lotz-A-Landies]

It usually starts without problem, but there has been 2 events in the last month when it wouldn't start/turn over at all.

What happens (and happened when I came home from work tonight) is the row of white symbols displays near the top of the screen, with the red and orange triangles on the row above which all go out and a text message "Special Programs Off" displays as the engine starts, and then the message disappears.

The special programs were not on before I switched off last time the vehicle moved.

[Robocop]

I had the centre console out of my D4 today & had to unplug the harness to the gear selector & terrain etc, mine displayed the same message when unplugged. Could yours be a bad connection?

[pohm66]

Do you only get the message when the motor is cold Lotz-a??

If so I agree with Admiral as a good place to start, had the same issue where I'd get the message only at cold starts and even though the vehicle started just fine.

Was informed that some circuits are very sensitive to voltage drops at startup hence the message.

Got the battery load tested and it was down, replaced with the larger RR battery, no more problem.