Thread: D4 Push button start issue

Originally Posted by Ghost-Who-Walks

Hi

I've had the same issue (and continue to have intermittent experiences of this). Mine is a MY10 ('09) 3.0 TDV6 SE...

There is one other thread on this forum that relates to this issue, but I haven't got it handy... Similar comments to those already posted in this one.

I had one dealer look at the issue (Bundaberg LR), and they replaced the brake switch, as this can be a cause of the fault.
But... you guessed it... it came back... So it wasn't the brake switch (this time at least)...

I asked another dealer about it when it was getting serviced (Austral LR in Brisbane). The mechanic there was very helpful, and explained the start process that the car goes through. I can't remember it all now, but the guts of it is:
1. brake pedal has to be depressed (brake switch on)
2. ABS sensor has to see some sort of switch - I think this is a pressure switch, which should actuate when the brake pedal is pressed
3. some other checks, that I can't recall (steering lock etc)

Hence, why repairers will replace brake switches...

The mechanic said that in my case, the ABS sensor wasn't seeing the pressure (or whatever it is), so the startup sequence was being 'aborted'. He said to make sure you're 'standing' on the brake pedal.

I find when this occurs (and it still does it sometimes), it's often when the car is hot/warm. When I get in the car, the brake pedal can sometimes be 'soft', and it will travel a fair way to the floor. It's these times when the car won't start.
If I lift my foot off the brake, and then depress again, it is a lot 'harder', and will only get a smaller amount of travel. Generally, the car will start next go...

So that's my fix - lift foot off brake, depress again, make sure you're pressing hard, and she's good to go...

I agree - a little frustrating...

Interesting. I do exactly the same as you do but some times it refuses to start. It's happens so infrequently that it's hard to do any analysis of what conditions exist as by the time the next event happens I've relaxed to the point I forget to take note of what the car is doing.

My daughter recons she has noticed the Land Rover logo does not show on the display when it happens. She mentioned that the last time it happened so I have not been able to verify that.

Originally Posted by Hatchy

This might be dumb. But all these cars seem about '09 or '10 vintage. Maybe the battery is getting old and needs replacing? So many electrics to run and if the battery is near end of life other parts/sensors show up 'issues', as they just don't get the 'charge/energy they require. Just thought I would put it out there.

Unfortunately it's not the battery, mine has done it twice since having a new battery put in 4 months ago. It's done it 3 times this year.

Originally Posted by JonW

Also does this mean the steering then never locks?

Seems like the answer but more of a cure than fixing the root cause.

I disabled the lock because I didn't want to be exposed to the s/w deciding to lock it whilst driving. It was a bonus that the starting issue was 100% avoided by doing so, suggesting that the steering lock module is a major player in the starting failures. The steering locked message that sometimes occurred adds weight to the theory.

How did you disable the SW lock?

Mine had a new battery this year so its not the battery. It's also had software updates. Mostly it is fine, it's just that occasionally it doesn't start and we have to turn it off and then restart.


Bob

Since it was serviced last week, I've been finding the same - prior to that, rarely an issue.
I'm not sure if I'm just releasing it a little too soon or if something's changed.
(MY11, battery tested ok)

Originally Posted by Nicky

How did you disable the SW lock?

The steering lock was disabled using a Faultmate Extreme diagnostic tool to change the CCF setting to steering-lock-not-fitted. The lock now never operates.

Did a fair bit of running around today, found the brake pedal quite soft so gave it 2 pumps until firm and the car starts straight away at all times except once where the pedal was still quite soft. A third push got the pedal hard and the car started without issue.