Help ...key fob won't unlock immobiliser.

[p.k]

Key fob is sending a signal but receiver( on car) not picking it up . So wonÂ’t unlock engine imobilizer. Any ideas... cars parked at the r.s.l
auto electrician trying to help ..
Can the imobilizer and alarm be turned off in the software and just open doors and start motor by turning the key?
is the receiver back left hand side of the car?? In near the sub woofer ?
new battery in car and key fob .
could it be dead locked .... if so what do you do?
P38 1999 4.6 Thor motor (1999-2002)
thanks Paul

[prelude]

Turners Garage - P38 BeCM Unlocking (https://www.turners-garage.com/range-rover/p38-becm/p38-becm-unlocking.html)

I know of at least one company who can do that but you would need to remove the unit to do so and if the car is superlocked, that could be a problem...
The receiver should be in the back, yes and some models have been known to go bad.

Other than resyncing the key, maybe it went out of pace after too many tries? I am not sure at this point.

Cheers,
-P

[PeterH]

As Prelude said, try re synching the key before you do anything else.
Are you are seeing the red light on the remote when you push the button?
If not, you might need to clean the battery contacts inside the remote, or a new battery.

If the red light comes on, put the key in the drivers door lock, push the unlock button, let go, and then turn the key and see if that works.

Try to avoid pushing the lock button multiple times, as that might put it into a superlocked state.

If that does not work, try again and see if any error messages appear on the message centre.
That might give you a clue as to whats going on.

I have had issues where if I'm parked near a mobile phone tower or other electrical fields, the remote struggles to unlock the car.
To get around that, I put the remote close to the petrol filler opening, or around the rear and other side in the same area which usually unlocks the doors.

Let us know how that goes.
Pete.

[p.k]

Turners Garage - P38 BeCM Unlocking (https://www.turners-garage.com/range-rover/p38-becm/p38-becm-unlocking.html)

I know of at least one company who can do that but you would need to remove the unit to do so and if the car is superlocked, that could be a problem...
The receiver should be in the back, yes and some models have been known to go bad.

Other than resyncing the key, maybe it went out of pace after too many tries? I am not sure at this point.

Cheers,
-P


thankyou .... pls let me know the name of the company that can do that work.
cheers Paul

[p.k]

As Prelude said, try re synching the key before you do anything else.
Are you are seeing the red light on the remote when you push the button?
If not, you might need to clean the battery contacts inside the remote, or a new battery.

If the red light comes on, put the key in the drivers door lock, push the unlock button, let go, and then turn the key and see if that works.

Try to avoid pushing the lock button multiple times, as that might put it into a superlocked state.

If that does not work, try again and see if any error messages appear on the message centre.
That might give you a clue as to whats going on.

I have had issues where if I'm parked near a mobile phone tower or other electrical fields, the remote struggles to unlock the car.
To get around that, I put the remote close to the petrol filler opening, or around the rear and other side in the same area which usually unlocks the doors.

thanx Pete .tried your idea with putting the key in the door and pressing the unlock button and Walah it worked !! Drove home , and same thing didn’t work next 3 times , then worked twice . Next 2 times fob opened doors and turned off the demobiliser.
maybe I change the receiver?? Wonder where I would get one .?
like a lot of p38’s doors unlock and lock randomly .... maybe I need to replace all 4 door modules also??
appreciate your time . Thanx
paul

Let us know how that goes.
Pete.

thanx Pete ,

[prelude]

What I wrote included a link: Turners Garage - P38 BeCM Unlocking (https://www.turners-garage.com/range-rover/p38-becm/p38-becm-unlocking.html) it is the website of a company who does this kind of work. There also seems to be one down under! BECM Programming (https://www.labtronx.com.au/labtronx-products/becm-programming) I suggest you give them a call after all other alternatives have been exhausted of course since this is kind of a big step to take and if the cause of the problem is not fixed, it will return no doubt.

Cheers,
-P

[FANTOM P38]

If you can find someone with nano com you can get into Becm options and switch off alarm & disable EKA this will allow you to lock unlock doors by key & start engine
This works on aus delivered & configured vehicles as I did this with mine!

[Mr W]

Had this happen to my car (2000 model) last week though the problem had probably been building for a couple of years (locks activating on/off whilst driving etc) This time the key fob wouldn't work and immobiliser wouldn't disengage either: broke down less than 20metres from my driveway entrance.. I managed to deactivate/reset the immobiliser by turning the key to the unlock position 2x and then pressing the unlock button to resync the key etc: it worked. Alas, once reparked in the driveway the immobilisation problem returned. At the local breakers I was advised 'they all do this in time, Sir' and told to replace the door lock actuator on the drivers side. Was a fiddly job but manageable and the issue seems to be resolved. In the process I have also discovered how badly worn the door handle mechanisms are and so have ordered kits to refurbish them. If you plan to replace the actuator (not cheap but a fairly essential task from what you've described) then it may be as well to have the kits available to refurbish the door handles, i.e. a camlock kit and probably the main part of the handle too (really poor design; plastic on plastic..)

HTH

AndyW

[PeterH]

That's great Paul, I'm so glad that got you out of trouble!
It's a nice feeling to hear the doors unlock after having dramas like that.

My door locks used to lock and unlock randomly, (also known as chattering), which is not ideal when your Rangie unlocks itself in a car park.
It's annoying when you are driving, specially with passengers asking whats going on with the doors!

I replaced the drivers door latch mechanism and all has been great since then.
Not a hard job to do, just a bit fiddly in the confined space, but quite doable yourself, no special tools required.
It could also be the cause of your troubles, I would definitely do that first before trying anything else.
The micro switches in the latch wear out and start playing up.
There are you tube videos explaining the repair, personally I wouldn't bother trying to repair it, I just put a new one in and have not had any problems since.

If you still have issues after replacing the drivers door latch mechanism, I would suspect the key fob first before the receiver, if you think about it, the keys get dropped and knocked around, it's amazing they hold up as well as they do.
Do you have a second key fob?
If not please get one asap, don't rely on one key, that is asking for trouble.
Lee at LAB electronics is the man to contact, he is a genius with that stuff, he can repair your key fob and supply another working fob programmed to your vehicle.
Keep us updated on your findings,
Hope that helps, Pete.

[Keithy P38]

G’day mate,

I’ve not read all of the responses thoroughly as yet, but I can’t see anyone directly answering your question either.

To answer your question -

Can you disable the immobiliser on the doors and just use a key?

YES!
This is done by disabling via a Nanocom or the like. I have done this when my key batteries died, in order to prevent issues with the immobiliser until I could replace the battery. It will allow you to drive the car still until it’s all fixed.

If the immobiliser is disabled can the superlock still be used?
YES!
This is done by turning the key back (anti-clockwise) a second time when locking the doors. Note: You will need to turn the key twice clockwise to remove the superlock.

The tailgate operates off the lock command to the drivers door, so if it’s locking and unlocking by itself, the tailgate lock is doing the exact same thing. That’s a trap for young players 😝

In the event that the drivers door locks itself, look over at the passenger door, it’s likely that it will not be locked, should you be experiencing the door lock chatter. This will allow you to enter the cab if you’ve left the keys inside.

Cheers
Keithy

[p.k]

G’day mate,

I’ve not read all of the responses thoroughly as yet, but I can’t see anyone directly answering your question either.

To answer your question -

Can you disable the immobiliser on the doors and just use a key?

YES!
This is done by disabling via a Nanocom or the like. I have done this when my key batteries died, in order to prevent issues with the immobiliser until I could replace the battery. It will allow you to drive the car still until it’s all fixed.

thanks Keithy ….. anyone in the Sydney region with a nano com? Happy to pay !! Car worked for a wee
If the immobiliser is disabled can the superlock still be used?
YES!
This is done by turning the key back (anti-clockwise) a second time when locking the doors. Note: You will need to turn the key twice clockwise to remove the superlock.

The tailgate operates off the lock command to the drivers door, so if it’s locking and unlocking by itself, the tailgate lock is doing the exact same thing. That’s a trap for young players 😝

In the event that the drivers door locks itself, look over at the passenger door, it’s likely that it will not be locked, should you be experiencing the door lock chatter. This will allow you to enter the cab if you’ve left the keys inside.

Cheers
Keithy

thanks Keithy ….. anyone in the Sydney region with a nano com? Happy to pay !! Car worked for a week then key not unlocking engine imobilizer. Replaced batteries in remote … no good …. Eventually having success by opening the bonnet which set off the alarm , inserted key into the ignition to turn off the alarm and walah I could also start the car!!
Nano com to turn off the imobilizer sounds the go , as is replacing the door latch . Thankyou guys . Tried for weeks now to get the car into roving mechanical ( usually good) to remove becm to send away)won’t even return calls.
Again will pay handsomely for nano com help! Thanx Paul 0413631299

[Keithy P38]

How did you go mate? Did you end up getting a nanocom and sort things out?

Cheers
Keithy

[Tins]

Again will pay handsomely for nano com help! Thanx Paul 0413631299

Can't help with your P38 issues, but i will say that a Nanocom is to me a must have for the cars that can use one. There are so many things it can do, once you come to terms with the interface......

[p.k]

Can't help with your P38 issues, but i will say that a Nanocom is to me a must have for the cars that can use one. There are so many things it can do, once you come to terms with the interface......


Hmmm bought nano com but not successful . I turned off the alarm ( worked a treat) and engine imobilizer.Saved the settings . Says it worked but put the key in and turn and says engine imobilized. Unlock the doors with the remote and it starts.
Drivers Door lock definitely definitely playing up . Button not going up . But this should not have prevented the imobilizer from being removed.
****kkkk!!!

[PeterH]

Have you replaced the drivers door latch mechanism yet?
Sounds like the actuator might be playing up too, if the button isn't popping up, but I would do the latch first.
This is likely the cause of your problems, or at least part of the problem.