Disco 1, came with plip and keys. Vehicle battery gone flat. keys won't open vehicle!

[Stanleysteamer]

Hi all.
Bought a new to me Disco 1 a while back. it was driven here by the previous owner who gave me three keys, al;l with apparently identical profile, on a ring together with the plip.
I got into the car not long after, opening with the plip. Started it, moved it, parked it, locked it with the plip.
Went out to it today, plip didn't work. Said to myself, battery must be flat, wanted to open door to open bonnet to charge batt. Key would not open door lock. Tried passenger door, same thing. Tried filler cap, opened JUST enough to enable filler flap to open with a "lift".
Conclusion, someone along the ownership line replaced the ignition barrel, put all the keys on the ring together with the plip, and hung onto the original keys.
Of course I have no paperwork with the original key number on it, although I am hopeful I can get this from Land Rover if I produce the V5s and proof of identity. But for the time being I just want to get into the machine to charge the battery. I used to be able to lift the door button with a piece of flexible plastic but I don't think that'll work with a Disco 1, I know it cannot be done with my Disco 2.
Has anyone any ideas as to how I can open the car, or even just the bonnet?
All help gratefully received!!!

[bee utey]

With a bit of luck you should be able to access the battery cable on the starter motor from under the car, attach a wire there to connect up your charger/spare battery.

[mike123]

Definitely sounds like the ignition batrel has been replaced. Give the seller a quick call, it may have been an o ersight on his part and the other keys are sitting in a drawer somewhere.

[Stanleysteamer]

With a bit of luck you should be able to access the battery cable on the starter motor from under the car, attach a wire there to connect up your charger/spare battery.
That sounds great, just hope there is nothing too fancy on the car to be affected by the charger, as the battery will perforce remain connected. It's -2 degrees over here in pomland but if all else fails I'll give it a go.
Thanks for the tip. If it was a 300tdi with no ECM, I'd do it straightaway.

[bee utey]

That sounds great, just hope there is nothing too fancy on the car to be affected by the charger, as the battery will perforce remain connected. It's -2 degrees over here in pomland but if all else fails I'll give it a go.
Thanks for the tip. If it was a 300tdi with no ECM, I'd do it straightaway.

I don't think the 14CUX computer is particularly delicate, they're pretty primitive. If in doubt, connect your extra power supply via a 55W globe to limit inrush currents. As soon as the globe dims, go direct.

[Stanleysteamer]

Definitely sounds like the ignition batrel has been replaced. Give the seller a quick call, it may have been an o ersight on his part and the other keys are sitting in a drawer somewhere.
Hi Mike
I've already emailed previous owner, he only had it a short time and cannot be sure he ever opened a door with the key. There are three keys with it, all with the same profile but one with a curious small head on it, if you see what I mean. I feel the two obvious Land Rover keys were the two that came with either the vehicle or the replacement barrel, and the third is a spare that was cut. I once had to replace a barrel on my other Disco 1 and the replacement came with two keys that were lookalikes for a Land Rover key. I took one off the ring and put it on the original ring with the plip and the original key so that this could not happen. I suspect the previous owner who changed the barrel just put the plip on the ring with the two keys and, as you said, left the original keys in a drawer. But unfortunately it was not the owner previous to me.
Previous owner suggests door locks may be sticky so I'll try lubing them with WD40 and/or silicone spray. It IS cold over here so its faintly possible they are a bit frozen too, so a blast with a hairdryer may help. I'll also get hold of a bit of flexible plastic strap and do the old car-thief trick to see if I can lift the lock button.
If all else fails I'll try a charger attached to the starter motor lead and an earth somewhere.
Thanks for the tips and advice All, I'll keep you posted and enjoy the run up to Christmas on the beach! (Cannot imagine what that is like, we'll be in the Yorkshire Dales enjoying some snow on single track roads in our Disco 2 td5!)

[Stanleysteamer]

I don't think the 14CUX computer is particularly delicate, they're pretty primitive. If in doubt, connect your extra power supply via a 55W globe to limit inrush currents. As soon as the globe dims, go direct.
Bee utey, you are being so much help. I really appreciate it. If I am not being too thick, I think you mean connect an old main beam headlight bulb in series with the positive lead of the charger before attaching it to the positive lead off the starter. I am not great with electrics, although I manage but I am too old to really know about ECMs and I did damage one on a TD5 simply by accidentally dropping it about two feet onto gravel! No wonder the army will not use them!
Please reply to let me know if I have understood you correctly before I try what you suggest. Thanks again ever so much.

[bee utey]

Bee utey, you are being so much help. I really appreciate it. If I am not being too thick, I think you mean connect an old main beam headlight bulb in series with the positive lead of the charger before attaching it to the positive lead off the starter. I am not great with electrics, although I manage but I am too old to really know about ECMs and I did damage one on a TD5 simply by accidentally dropping it about two feet onto gravel! No wonder the army will not use them!
Please reply to let me know if I have understood you correctly before I try what you suggest. Thanks again ever so much.

Pretty much, although it depends a bit on your charger. Modern chargers may not even work with a dead flat battery (i.e. no detected voltage to work with), and older chargers don't have any protection against arcing. Using jumper leads off another vehicle you have the potential for a large arc so there the globe is most beneficial in limiting initial current to around 4 amps.

[mike123]

Hi Stanleysteamer, I did the same as your earlier D1, swapped ignition and had the new key and old key together. It made it simple. I put a small collar of shrink wrap at the top of the new keys to distinguish between old and new key.

Yorkshire's a nice place for the cold. Friends from there were doing up a Defender for Iceland.

Hope you get it resolved quickly.

[Stanleysteamer]

Pretty much, although it depends a bit on your charger. Modern chargers may not even work with a dead flat battery (i.e. no detected voltage to work with), and older chargers don't have any protection against arcing. Using jumper leads off another vehicle you have the potential for a large arc so there the globe is most beneficial in limiting initial current to around 4 amps.
Hi again Bee utey, thanks ever so much for replying so quickly, it is 11.42 over here so still time to get on with this. I tried to see what time it might be over your way. Sooooo many time zones! Never knew!, still, I know it is evening over there!
I have an older charger and a more modern one. The more modern one may not work although it has about 4 modes for me to try. The older one tends to work quite well, so I think I'll try the modern one first, if it doesn't work i'll try the other with the bulb connected.
thanks again! regards #Stan

[Stanleysteamer]

Hi again Bee utey, thanks ever so much for replying so quickly, it is 11.42 over here so still time to get on with this. I tried to see what time it might be over your way. Sooooo many time zones! Never knew!, still, I know it is evening over there!
I have an older charger and a more modern one. The more modern one may not work although it has about 4 modes for me to try. The older one tends to work quite well, so I think I'll try the modern one first, if it doesn't work i'll try the other with the bulb connected.
thanks again! regards #Stan

Thanks to all members who have come up with wise suggestions. The news is that:

A definitely, none of the keys open a door, but all three turn the ignition!

B I got into the car using the old technique used to get into cars back in the 1970s, I hesitate to put the exact method on the forum as who wants to get their Disco 1 entered illegally? Suffice it to say it took a plastic bag. So no damage to the car at all. Not even a scratch.

C Once in, bonnet opened, both battery connections disconnected and trusty old charger connected, still charging as I write.

D Will now use the VIN number and official Land Rover dealer to get the key number, EKAD etc, (radio code not needed as came with aftermarket radio)

As I now have the time I am intrigued as to how difficult it could be to work out how to make a key, using a blank if you have unlimited access to the lock.

May still try and find previous owners but there are a lot of them!

Anyway, all is now on the up and up so I'm chuffed!

Thanks again, mates.

Stan

[Stanleysteamer]

Hi again Bee utey, thanks ever so much for replying so quickly, it is 11.42 over here so still time to get on with this. I tried to see what time it might be over your way. Sooooo many time zones! Never knew!, still, I know it is evening over there!
I have an older charger and a more modern one. The more modern one may not work although it has about 4 modes for me to try. The older one tends to work quite well, so I think I'll try the modern one first, if it doesn't work i'll try the other with the bulb connected.
thanks again! regards #Stan

MemberJoined:Nov 22, 2013Posts:27 (https://www.landyzone.co.uk/search/member?user_id=107273)Likes Received:4




Thanks to all members who have come up with wise suggestions. The news is that:

A definitely, none of the keys open a door, but all three turn the ignition!

B I got into the car using the old technique used to get into cars back in the 1970s, I hesitate to put the exact method on the forum as who wants to get their Disco 1 entered illegally? Suffice it to say it took a plastic bag. So no damage to the car at all. Not even a scratch.

C Once in, bonnet opened, both battery connections disconnected and trusty old charger connected, still charging as I write.

D Will now use the VIN number and official Land Rover dealer to get the key number, EKAD etc, (radio code not needed as came with aftermarket radio)

As I now have the time I am intrigued as to how difficult it could be to work out how to make a key, using a blank if you have unlimited access to the lock.

May still try and find previous owners but there are a lot of them!

Anyway, all is now on the up and up so I'm chuffed!

Thanks again, mates.

[Redfoxie]

Hi Mike
I've already emailed previous owner, he only had it a short time and cannot be sure he ever opened a door with the key. There are three keys with it, all with the same profile but one with a curious small head on it, if you see what I mean. I feel the two obvious Land Rover keys were the two that came with either the vehicle or the replacement barrel, and the third is a spare that was cut. I once had to replace a barrel on my other Disco 1 and the replacement came with two keys that were lookalikes for a Land Rover key. I took one off the ring and put it on the original ring with the plip and the original key so that this could not happen. I suspect the previous owner who changed the barrel just put the plip on the ring with the two keys and, as you said, left the original keys in a drawer. But unfortunately it was not the owner previous to me.
Previous owner suggests door locks may be sticky so I'll try lubing them with WD40 and/or silicone spray. It IS cold over here so its faintly possible they are a bit frozen too, so a blast with a hairdryer may help. I'll also get hold of a bit of flexible plastic strap and do the old car-thief trick to see if I can lift the lock button.
If all else fails I'll try a charger attached to the starter motor lead and an earth somewhere.
Thanks for the tips and advice All, I'll keep you posted and enjoy the run up to Christmas on the beach! (Cannot imagine what that is like, we'll be in the Yorkshire Dales enjoying some snow on single track roads in our Disco 2 td5!)

Perhaps they lost the keys, so had to replace the ignition. since the "plip" ( I assume that's english for remote) opens the doors there was no urgency to re key the other locks... until now!

[jonse]

Member

Joined:Nov 22, 2013Posts:27 (https://www.landyzone.co.uk/search/member?user_id=107273)Likes Received:4




As I now have the time I am intrigued as to how difficult it could be to work out how to make a key, using a blank if you have unlimited access to the lock.



If you can work out how to get the lock barrel out of the door (I guess searching here would be a way to find out how to do that, I don't know never done it on a Disco) the quick and dirty way is to put your existing ignition key in the lock barrel and then file down any tumblers that are sticking out, flush with the surface of the barrel. Theoretically reduces the level of security a bit as there are now more possible key combinations that will open the doors, but unless a would be thief knows that it won't help them.

[Stanleysteamer]

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If you can work out how to get the lock barrel out of the door (I guess searching here would be a way to find out how to do that, I don't know never done it on a Disco) the quick and dirty way is to put your existing ignition key in the lock barrel and then file down any tumblers that are sticking out, flush with the surface of the barrel. Theoretically reduces the level of security a bit as there are now more possible key combinations that will open the doors, but unless a would be thief knows that it won't help them.
Hi. I can get the fuel flap open, just, and looking at it, the lock barrel would seem to come out really easily. Working on the assumption that the pin positions are the same as the door, perhaps I could use that to get the pins or sliders, whatever they are called, to bits and file a blank key to do that business. Then try it on the doors.
What do you think?
John

[edddo]

Have you checked/replaced the battery in the remote?

[Stanleysteamer]

Have you checked/replaced the battery in the remote?
Hi the remote is how the last owner and presumably the one(s) before got into the car. None of the keys work, and even if they did, you would still need the remote to disarm the immobiliser. So I am not worried about it. It worked fine when last used, but you are right in that I have been too busy and the weather has been against me lately so I have yet to reconnect the battery and test the plip, but I am 99.99% confident in it. Even if it didn't work, it would not stop the keys working. But I agree that that was what I thought first, which is why I tried the key!

[Stanleysteamer]

Hi the remote is how the last owner and presumably the one(s) before got into the car. None of the keys work, and even if they did, you would still need the remote to disarm the immobiliser. So I am not worried about it. It worked fine when last used, but you are right in that I have been too busy and the weather has been against me lately so I have yet to reconnect the battery and test the plip, but I am 99.99% confident in it. Even if it didn't work, it would not stop the keys working. But I agree that that was what I thought first, which is why I tried the key!
Yup! Connected the battery, worked the buttons on the plip till it worked, got in started the car. Noticed a tappy tappet that went away after a bit. Looks like an engine oil flush at the the very least is necessary. Also discovered the front passenger window does not quite go right down and comes up at a bit of a funny angle, but at least it closes perfectly.
Looking forward to getting it insured taxed and on the road! Then I'll get some new keys for it hopefully.