Air suspension, Cape York Trip, Key replacement.

[Journeytower]

Hi Knowledgeable people,
At the end of May we are doing a trip to Cape York, across to Karumba and back down through Cloncurry etc to home in Urunga, near Coffs Harbour. As far as possible the obvious service items have been checked & serviced with another service and replacement of front lower control arms coming up early May. HPFP and suspension compressor have recently been replaced.

The main thing I would like some opinions on is the air struts themselves. The vehicle is a 2006 D3 2.7 Diesel with 260,000 km on it. The rubber of the air bags seems surprisingly still very supple and the ride seems ok, although I don't know any better having bought the car with 160,000 km on it. The actual damping mechanism of the struts is very difficult to assess as I'm sure most of you would know. If it were a conventional system I would say the shock absorbers/dampers were well and truly had it. I could use one word there but I'm being polite.

What are some thoughts on replacement at this time ?


A question on a replacement key. A locksmith has told me they can supply and cut a key to suit and operate the ignition switch and program a separate fob to activate the door locking system and alarm arming system.
All for $99.00. Seems good to me.
Is he, or I, missing something here or would this be quite a satisfactory and economical compromise for a spare key ?

As usual, Thanks for any constructive input, Cheers, Wayne

[Ferret]

...If it were a conventional system I would say the shock absorbers/dampers were well and truly had it. I could use one word there but I'm being polite.

What are some thoughts on replacement at this time ?

At 260k the word your thinking of is correct, replace them.

The drive via Artemis Rd (turnoff just south of Musgrave) to Karumba is a beauty, if that is what you are thinking of. Great camp site on the southern bank of the Mitchell River. Ensure you can get across the river before setting off though, it's a long drive across the Mitchell River cause way.

[roverrescue]

After the wet the west cape has had this year I’d be amazed if the Artemis Rd was passable in June

August September probably more likely

Steve

[101RRS]

So you are intending to hold this "fob" up to the steering column when you start it with just a basic key - the genuine fob has two functions - the remote control function for the doors etc but it also has a chip (similar to a dog microchip) that a sensor in the steering column reads and disables the immobilizer and allows the car to start when the key is turned.

So in the option you are proposing where will this chip be - if in the key handle should be OK to start but if in the separate fob a bit awkward to hold it up to steering column while trying to start - just get an all in one key, fob and chip like the original.

[Journeytower]

At 260k the word your thinking of is correct, replace them.

The drive via Artemis Rd (turnoff just south of Musgrave) to Karumba is a beauty, if that is what you are thinking of. Great camp site on the southern bank of the Mitchell River. Ensure you can get across the river before setting off though, it's a long drive across the Mitchell River cause way.

Thanks for the input Ferret. I'll be going back to Cairns to see my son on the way through as it may be a few more years until I see him again, so the Artemis Road is out, Again Thanks.

[Journeytower]

So you are intending to hold this "fob" up to the steering column when you start it with just a basic key - the genuine fob has two functions - the remote control function for the doors etc but it also has a chip (similar to a dog microchip) that a sensor in the steering column reads and disables the immobilizer and allows the car to start when the key is turned.

So in the option you are proposing where will this chip be - if in the key handle should be OK to start but if in the separate fob a bit awkward to hold it up to steering column while trying to start - just get an all in one key, fob and chip like the original.


Well I wasn't actually proposing that the chip go in a separate fob. The method of accomplishing the task was offered by a locksmith. Moot point.

However it appears that you have answered the question I was actually wondering about and thank you very much for that. I had a feeling that it wouldn't be quite as simple, or economical, as the locksmith suggested, and I also suspected there was coding in the fob as you have explained.

Thank You, Wayne.

[RANDLOVER]

Well I wasn't actually proposing that the chip go in a separate fob. The method of accomplishing the task was offered by a locksmith. Moot point.

However it appears that you have answered the question I was actually wondering about and thank you very much for that. I had a feeling that it wouldn't be quite as simple, or economical, as the locksmith suggested, and I also suspected there was coding in the fob as you have explained.

Thank You, Wayne.

In an emergency you don't actually need the door/alarm remote, as once you unlock the front passenger door with key the alarm starts bleating, but as soon as you start the car it shuts up. I had a locksmith cut me a key with the transponder, which works as he couldn't copy the unlock/disarm signal, but that was years ago, technology may have improved.

[Journeytower]

In an emergency you don't actually need the door/alarm remote, as once you unlock the front passenger door with key the alarm starts bleating, but as soon as you start the car it shuts up. I had a locksmith cut me a key with the transponder, which works as he couldn't copy the unlock/disarm signal, but that was years ago, technology may have improved.

Thanks very much for that bit of information Randlover, I'll run this by the locksmiths a bit more and at $100 ( including GST ) :) it may well be worth a try.

It's nice on this forum how some people offer constructive suggestions that may be helpful, such as you have done here, then there are a few others who don't read the questions fully.

Cheers, Wayne

[Airmech953]

I have just bought a replacement 3 button key off ebay - complete with land rover logo. Had a local locksmith cut the blade of the key and then programmed it with my Gap tool. Cost was $88 all up and it works the same as an original unit.

[Journeytower]

I have just bought a replacement 3 button key off ebay - complete with land rover logo. Had a local locksmith cut the blade of the key and then programmed it with my Gap tool. Cost was $88 all up and it works the same as an original unit.

Thanks for that Airmech953. I was somewhat wary of going the ebay route as quite a few people on here spoke of these type of fobs being suspect, that is arriving with no internals or just not working correctly. It's good to hear first hand experience with a success.
If you don't want to list it on here perhaps you could PM me the exact ebay site, my only problem then is that I don't have a GAP tool, the tool I have simply reads and clears fault codes, which is pretty handy but not up to a lot of tasks.
Perhaps I could find someone in the Coffs Harbour area that has a diagnostic tool that could do it.

Thanks again, Wayne

[Eric SDV6SE]

I have just bought a replacement 3 button key off ebay - complete with land rover logo. Had a local locksmith cut the blade of the key and then programmed it with my Gap tool. Cost was $88 all up and it works the same as an original unit.

Glad to read youve had a positive experience, shows that by doing a bit of research and astute purchasing you can get what you want.

On past occasions I've had the fob casings replaced by the local LR dealership as part of a std service. note this was only for the fob outer as the rubber had delaminated from the casing. From memory it was only about $20. My current fobs are doing the same again, seems they last about 2.5 years, so i will check with them again and report back.

[DiscoJeffster]

Glad to read youve had a positive experience, shows that by doing a bit of research and astute purchasing you can get what you want.

On past occasions I've had the fob casings replaced by the local LR dealership as part of a std service. note this was only for the fob outer as the rubber had delaminated from the casing. From memory it was only about $20. My current fobs are doing the same again, seems they last about 2.5 years, so i will check with them again and report back.

So true. I literally order a new case with each set of filters each year.