Thread: Stranded... Major breakdown

For the second time, my 2001 Disco 2 has let me down and left me powerless to do anything about it.
The first time was with a caravan in tow down at Narooma in NSW when I inadvertantly parked too close to an AMCAL chemist and fell victim to the dreaded radio signal jamming of the immobiliser, but that was years ago and I am now wise to these little traps.
But on Saturday the wife and I headed off to Oxenford to buy our supply of meat, parked the car in the normal spot, did the shopping, returned, unlocked the car, put the meat in the freezer, got in the car and..... nothing!
Turned the key again, checked the dash for lights etc., checked for signs of dead battery. Lifted the bonnet and connected the Waeco battery to jump start, and still nothing.
Sat in the car for a couple of minutes and contemplated hopping underneath to check the switch on the gearbox, rang a mate who had just had this part replaced (probably why I jumped to the wrong conclusion) then decided against getting dirty and being reminded about the grease on the good shirt from now on until eternity, and rang another mate.
Whilst making this second call, and having a swift look around to see if a new AMCAL had been installed since our last visit, my attention was attracted to the key itself. No red light!!
A new battery cost $3.85 from the newsagent, and this was fitted to the key, and 'voila', instant engine, relief, and feigned smugness, all at once, so off we set over the road to the mobil servo a couple of clicks down the highway to refuel.
Did it start the second time. No bloody way. No red light on the key, no nothing. We pushed the car off the driveway, away from the bowsers (and I might add they don't steer or stop too well without an engine, a bit like the Series 2a WITH an engine) and commenced fiddling with the key again, ever mindful of the 30 second unhooked memory loss (Safety?) feature of this animal.
To cut a long story short my key is now fitted with a piece of cardboard to hold the battery firmly in contact with what I now know to be a broken (or unstressed) positive terminal in the battery compartment of the key.
I hope this sad little tale might help someone one day in a similar situation!
Regards
Glen

well buggar me,,
time to get that seeing eye dog---