Serious Electrical Gremlins

[Landy_Lover]

Hello All,

I apologise in advance for the long story. My car is a 2012 Defender Puma 2.2

Backstory
A few months ago whilst on the freeway for a split second I seemed to lose all power. All the dash lights came on and everything died, then immediately came back. This has happened a few times since, though very intermittently, usually not long after start up when under load or if I flick headlights on etc. I have noticed this seems to be occurring more often lately. It happens once in a journey and then it's fine.
Occasionally on start up the glow plug light and fuel pump will stutter, as if there is a bad connection/earth somewhere.
Another thing I recognised a few weeks back is that my immobiliser light will be on solid red when I get in the car and start driving (I rarely lock it) and I need to lock and unlock with the fob before restarting and then the light is gone.

This Week

I got home from work this week and when I tried to lock the car with the fob, nothing happened. I stopped twice on the way home at shops and it was fine both times. I figured it was the fob battery, changed it and still no worky. Also, the car wouldn't start. I figured this is because I can't deactivate the immobiliser because the fob is buggered. Tried my spare fob and still nothing.
When in the car I can press the fob buttons and see the immobiliser light blinking in time, so the fob is talking to the car. I can not lock it, no indicator flash, no alarm goes off after key locking and entering the vehicle, central locking only works occasionally.
The only way I can start the car is to turn key to position 2, disconnect the battery, reconnect and then it may start. This can take anywhere from 2 to 20 attempts.

What have I done?
- Read every forum post I can find across the internet and tried all suggestions.
- Changed car battery.
- Changed fob battery.
- Checked all fuses and relays.
- Unplugged immobiliser unit overnight.
- Obtained and entered the EKA code.
- Tried to resync the fob.
- Checked earths.

Today
This is where it gets weird.
After buggering around for hours trying different things I have noticed that when the glow plug light/fuel pump stutters at key position 2 it will start.
If I turn the key to position 2 and see no or a very brief flash of glow plug light it won't start. This is the only common occurrence I can find between not starting and starting. Otherwise it's a raffle.

If anyone has any clue I am forever grateful. I am at my wits end.

Cheers
John

[skidrov]

Not 100% sure but a relatively quick, simple & cheap thing to try would be replacing the ignition switch (the one at the end of the key barrel). Known to fail & cause odd starting results.

Then try checking/reseating the ignition/starter relays - I think they are the ones under the seat.

If no joy it may be the dreaded immobilizer issues... Which I understand are very difficult to resolve (sorry, I realise I'm not helping with that statement...)

Hope you get a result, good luck!

[Landy_Lover]

Thanks mate,

I'll see what I can see.

Cheers

[Landy_Lover]

In case this sheds any more light.
Sometimes after I get it started the left indicator will stay on constantly, solid light.
The bulb that lights up the fan speed lever has started working. This has never worked since I have owned it (4 years), I didn't even know it had a light in it.

[JDNSW]

Beginning to sound like a bad earth to everything in the dash?

[Landy_Lover]

Thank you JDNSW, sounds that way indeed.
This will be the next point of investigation.

Cheers

[sashadidi]

Clean and refresh all earth connections

[Landy_Lover]

Thank you sashadidi I'll be doing this over the weekend.

Last night I removed the instrument cluster and checked all connections. All look good.
Also, tried to clutch start it as a matter of interest. It did not start.

Cheers

[DiscoMick]

Does it make any difference to lock/unlock it with the key, not the fob? Using the key should mean the immobiliser is off.
But checking earths certainly sounds a good idea.

[Landy_Lover]

Thanks Disco.

I can lock and unlock the car with the key and see no difference. Sometimes the central lock will work, other times not and I have to remove/replace the negative battery lead until I can central lock it. The fob does not unlock/lock the car, but I can see it communicating as when I press the fob buttons the immobiliser light reacts.
I f I use the key to unlock there is no alarm.

I have a few days off, so I'll be giving the earths a good going over.

Cheers for all the help.