Engine System Fault (Critical) caused by known software issue

[ozranga]

MY2010 Disco 4 SDV6 SE with 50k on the clock.

Driving in 43 degree heat up to Barmera from McLaren Vale through Monarto, Sedan etc. Had my 79 YO mother in the car too. Anyway, the engine suddenly lost a lot of power and the message "Engine System Fault" appeared on the dash with the red warning indicator. I rang LR Assist and she said the car was in limp mode and I should go to the nearest LR Service centre which was behind me. She did say I would probably be fine to complete the drive to Barmera and return after Christmas as the warning light was amber... and luckily when I corrected her to say the light was red the phone reception dropped out. I say luckily because I got to Barmera with no problems albeit without a lot of engine power. It was ok on the flat where I could go at 110 but any slight incline and the car began to slow. Thank goodness I was not towing a van/boat or even worse be in the middle of a national park in sand!

Anyway, on reaching Barmera I rang LR assist to make sure it was ok to drive back to Adelaide in a few days and the girl said she would send a flatbed truck up and bring the car back, and also give me a hire car for 5 days. All wonderful service!

But here is the rub... when I spoke to the service guy and he said the problem was fixed and was just a firmware update to fix a known software issue I thought what a complete waste of money and time, not to mention just plain dangerous. Why has there not been some kind of recall to fix this? If anyone is going away for their holidays and especially towing something I would contact LR to find out more about this bug, why/when it occurs etc. Also, one would hope as cars come in for regular servicing that these firmware updates are being made.... but who would know? I really would have expected something in the mail.

[SBD4]

Thanks for the info mate, do you have any details on the update? A decription on the invoice or something - It would help when querying the dealer.

[scarry]

Also, one would hope as cars come in for regular servicing that these firmware updates are being made.... but who would know? I really would have expected something in the mail.

X2

This would save heaps of customer pain,also this kind of thing,when it happens gives LR a bad name.

I was over 1000k's from the nearest dealer when mine first started coming up with 'smart key not found',vehicle would not start.Luckily it seemed to sort itself out for the rest of the trip.The dealer sorted it out at a later date,another 'known fault'.

Many people with these vehicles travel to remote areas,the last thing anyone wants is a breakdown due to some stupid software problem.

Just my 2c worth

[AnD3rew]

LRA has a history of not doing recalls when they should.

My Disco 1 300TDI threw a timing belt three weeks out of warranty and Land Rover tried to dodge it until I discovered through a Land Rover spy friend of mine that it was a known issue with that, batch of vehicles.

I eventually got them to pay up, but when I said why wasn't it a recall they said it wasn't a safety issue, this nearly made me go postal as when the belt let go it locked all four wheels and brought the car to a screaming halt with oil and bits of engine running down the road. This was a day after completing a trip from Melbourne to Brisbane with my family in the car, can you imagine what would have happened if the belt had let go while overtaking a B Double?

[101RRS]

I doubt the OP issue would warrant a 'Recall" - more of a software update to do at the next service.

Garry

[Barryp]

Hi Scarry,
The 'smart key not found' issue is covered in the handbook. I believe it happens if you try to start it with the smartkey out of range of the receiver.
Read the handbook and it tells you to hold the smart key in the recess under the steering column and press start. I had it happen to mine but remembered reading about the fix in the handbook. I think that it is part of the theft prevention arrangements. (Just think if you leave the door open in a servo and somebody could jump in and drive off if it wasn't programmed this way.)
Regards
Barryp

[scarry]

Hi Scarry,
The 'smart key not found' issue is covered in the handbook. I believe it happens if you try to start it with the smartkey out of range of the receiver.
Read the handbook and it tells you to hold the smart key in the recess under the steering column and press start. I had it happen to mine but remembered reading about the fix in the handbook. I think that it is part of the theft prevention arrangements. (Just think if you leave the door open in a servo and somebody could jump in and drive off if it wasn't programmed this way.)
Regards
Barryp

Read that hand book a number of times when that 'smart key not found' came up,as you would in a remote area.It would not start with the fob thing held under the steering column or anywhere else in the car

After 20 minutes or so it would eventually start.Sometimes it would start immediately,it played up intermittently.

As said,the vehicle had a fault,needed a software upgrade,the dealer new of the issue as soon as i rang them.

The same message does appear when the key is out of range,as said.

Dunno what the smart key is all about,a normal key would do me.

[Barryp]

H Scarry,
I agree, give me a standard key anyday.
Its a pain in the neck if I get out of the car with the engine running and it throws a tizzy fit the next time you go to start it.
Same designer as the electronic oil quantity system, technology for technologies sake with no real world benefit and a few minuses!
Unfortunately most cars are going this way.
Regards
Barryp

[scarry]

technology for technologies sake with no real world benefit and a few minuses!
Unfortunately most cars are going this way.
Regards
Barryp

Exactly,this is a real PITA.

And the other issue is that you cannot get a base spec vehicle with out all this stuff.The manufacturers want it the easy way,you get this and this,that is it.

As i have said before,the D4 has moved way out of it's class of a family wagon.

The more complicated it is,the more chance there are of things going wrong.

Moving ahead they seem to call it

But don't get me wrong,the vehicle is fantastic and in a class of its own.

[ozranga]

Invoice comment says:
"Checked DTC's & found injector fault caused by software corruption. Updated PCM. Road tested & no faults found."

Just some further info - I had noticed in recent times that it had not been starting the first time. i.e. foot on brake, push start button and the message "System check in progress..." appeared but the engine did not start. I would release start button and then press again and started ok. Since the firmware update the engine is back to starting first time. So maybe the two are related...