Disco S1 Alarm Problems

[RanOver]

Hi All
I have had a 1996 Discovery Tdi for the last 6 months.
There was no hand held central locking activator supplied with the vehicle.
When locking with the key, the alarm goes off most of the time. I have now disconnected the alarm horn, but the lights still constantly flash. I need to unlock then re-lock for sometimes 15 minutes until it finally locks correctly.
Over the last few weeks it now also will not allow me to turn the key to start the engine. It seems as though the alarm has it locked. If I re-lock the central locking, from outside the vehicle, then unlock it some times fixes the problem, but sometimes it takes about 20 minutes of this to work, like this morning.
Has anyone replaced the alarm or removed it altogether, as I have been told by an auto electrictrician that the Land Rover alarm is at best average?
Thanks
Steve

[ladas]

Have a read through this, it may help

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/stage1v8/TechnicalSpider.htm

[Utemad]

Has anyone replaced the alarm or removed it altogether, as I have been told by an auto electrictrician that the Land Rover alarm is at best average?

I'd say all factory alarms are average. Especially ones in older cars. As every 1996 D1 with factory alarm for example has the same alarm. So once a car thief figured out how to disable it he has nothing to worry about for any D1.
I know on some vehicles all you have to do is swap ECUs with one you have the transmitter for.

At least an aftermarket alarm keeps them guessing.

[Diff]

We had a new 'spider installed three years ago by the dealed and it has began to play up again in the same way as yours. Check with a non dealer expert in your area and you should be able to get a new key fob done for about $200. I don't know haow much the spider cost but will have to find out soon enough myself.

[waynep]

If you have an alarm, there will also be an alarm ECU box ( green colour ) mounted behind the passenger kick panel. i'm not sure how this works with the "spider" mentioned but i am pretty sure the geen box is the electronics for the alarm, and the receiver for the key fob. ( it has a little antenna wire hanging out of it )

I had to have my alarm ECU replaced a couple of years ago, as it was causing a fualt with the interior lights ( they would not go off ). The servicer at first replaced another box, called the "multi function unit" which is mounted behind the fuse box on the drivers side, but this did not fix it. It turned out to be the alarm ECU. Yes on a Disco 1 everything is cross connected. I managed to get a second hand alarm ECU and had the key fobs reprogrammed to it.

A faulty alarm ECU may also cause the symptoms you have so it may pay to have that checked too. N

You can remove the green alarm ECU altogether. But if you just unplug it your key won't start the engine. you need to jumper a couple of pins together on the connector. There is an old thread on here somewhere that describes which ones.

These are all Lucas boxes so that does not bode well for reliability

[BigJon]

Hi All
.
Over the last few weeks it now also will not allow me to turn the key to start the engine. It seems as though the alarm has it locked. Steve

It sounds to me like the ignition barrel is failing. Fairly normal sort of thing to happen. A decent locksmith should be able to dismantle it and give the insides a tickle up, which will keep it going for a while. The only other option is replacement.

[landrovermick]

It sounds to me like the ignition barrel is failing. Fairly normal sort of thing to happen. A decent locksmith should be able to dismantle it and give the insides a tickle up, which will keep it going for a while. The only other option is replacement.

yeah i was thinking this - i have had a similar problem posed on reconetly


mick

[Quiggers]

get rid of it and go for a hidden dead switch - your neighbours will be happy and you'll totally screw the minds of those who have a penchant for nicking Land Rovers, just remember where you put it.......

mine 'unoperates' the fuel pump but you'll have to find the switch.......... or byo juice.....:D


no fuel - no go:twisted:


GQ

[BigJon]

get rid of it and go for a hidden dead switch - your neighbours will be happy and you'll totally screw the minds of those who have a penchant for nicking Land Rovers, just remember where you put it.......

mine 'unoperates' the fuel pump but you'll have to find the switch.......... or byo juice.....:D


no fuel - no go:twisted:


GQ

On my previous Kingswood ute (EFI 308 plus extras) the kill switch dropped all power to the ECU. No fuel, no spark. The alarm system had an inbuilt kill as well, which cut cranking. The ute never got stolen...

[Quiggers]

padlock on the door - like mr beans mini:p :p :p

good doggie in the back - or a snake -

reminds me of something i saw at Pottsville a while ago - an old Statesman with all the windows down and the keys in the ignition - amazing!

then I saw the rottweiler snoozing on the back seat

outta there!

GQ

[Outlaw]

i've had that problem as of this morning... would start 3 times.. nothing at all

ended up pulling the 2 alarm fuses out from under the steering wheel and fine now but central locking also seems out now

[chazza]

You can remove the green alarm ECU altogether. But if you just unplug it your key won't start the engine. you need to jumper a couple of pins together on the connector. There is an old thread on here somewhere that describes which ones.


My '96 Disco decided to immobilise itself permanently yesterday; I suspect the immobiliser, because the remote has been playing up for ages, but the key in the door still worked. Yesterday the indicators didn't flash three times like they should when the door was locked. Repeated attempts to get the engine cranking yielded nothing.

I've searched all through this forum and can't find any info on jumping the pins. Can anyone help with more info? I will also look to bypass the spider, although down near the fuse box is a black-wired bypass which looks just like the part in the link Ladas posted.

Any help appreciated,
cheers Chazza

[langy]

The previous's year's alarm was an option and there was a plug to use when an alarm was not fitted. ( MA series Lucas 17VT). As far as I can see, the 96 model,(Lucas 10AS - green box) had the alarm as standard, and there wasn't provision to operate the vehicle without it. Find a RAVE disc - the circuit is shown in the electric troubleshooting section. Depending on where you are, try finding somebody with a similar vehicle - borrowing their alarm and remote will indicate if yours is malfunctioning. There is a company in the UK that repairs alarms and fobs, but they are not cheap. If you have a Diesel without EDC you can remove the alarm and only have to bypass two sets of wires, but with a V8 and EDC it gets a little complicated

[waynep]

Some LR specialists may have second hand alarm ECU's and the key fobs. Try Range Rove, Coopers etc. I got a second hand "green" one from Range Rove in Melbourne for a couple of hundred bucks. But your problem may not be the alarm ECU I am sure other things can also cause the problem you are experiencing.

[waynep]

Theis is the post you'd be looking for - mentions the pins that can be jumpered to bypass the alarm ECU, to at least get the engine started.
not much detail though.
http://www.aulro.com/afvb/showthread.php't=31691&highlight=alarm&page=2

Langy seems to know a bit about this.

[chazza]

Thanks for the info chaps. Yesterday, morning it started of course, but I am too scared to take it anywhere. I think I will try and bypass the spider as the first step.

Does anyone know where I can get the Rave CD from?
cheers Chazza

[Outlaw]

tried pulling the fuses? you'll lose central locking as well but at least can drive it

[JohnE]

Sounds like an awful lot of bother for something that is as simple as buying a key fob remote and having it progammed.

Pulling out ECU's spiders, etc, I believe may lead to some other problem.



john

[chazza]

Just an update for anyone who is interested.

1. I took the dash centre panel out and as I suspected the spider had already been bypassed with the Land Rover part:( The good news is that I could replace all of the missing screws that the last bloke left out and repair some of the damage he had done to the plastic clip-lock fasteners. This was the cheapest option done first.
2. Pulling the alarm fuses out made no difference.
3. The Emergency Key Access process, as described in the handbook, doesn't work on Australian vehicles:( Perhaps it can be programmed into the ECU by Rovacom or Testbook - anyone know?
4. Remote Key (the business in the UK) can repair the key fob and the Alarm ECU - this might have to be my next move.
5. As far as I am aware, new key fobs for Disco 1's are not available anywhere. Can anyone suggest otherwise? I only have one and would like a spare.
6. Before I ring England, I will try Kevin Falconbridge, and Brit Parts in Perth for any suggestions.

The good news is that my son has lent me his Crummydore idefinitely, so I am not stranded:D

Thanks everyone for your advice:D

[Utemad]

Just thought I would add this.
Found it as part of a link someone posted in another thread.

http://forums.lr4x4.com/index.php'showtopic=86

[JohnE]

Chazza
i didn't think you would have to send off to the Uk, for the bits, i got my new fobs from the local dealer in casino, they were a bit exxy even the $40 they charged to program them, but it was easy quick and took under an hour to do,


john

[chazza]

Cool news John!

Just to confirm yours is a Disco 1, not a 2, or 3?

If so, I will give Land Rover a ring,

Cheers Chazza

[4bee]

http://www.landroveraddict.com/smf/index.php'topic=263670.0

Have a look at this Spider Repair composed by LR Mechanic, Stephen in the Falkland Islands.