A Land Rover colleague of mine took delivery of a 2008 model Defender 130 late last year and headed straight off to his Pilbara hometown.

Since new, having unlocked/de-alarmed and de-immobilising with the key tab and starting the engine, he finds that 30 seconds later the engine shuts down. To get it started again he apparently has to lock and unlock the doors again (sitting inside) and start the engine immediately the 'fast flashing' on the immobiliser red light ends.

The dealer is saying there is a 'synchronisation problem' with the key tab and faxed him a complicated little procedure which involves removing the key tab battery and then pressing the unlock and lock buttons in a rapid numerical sequence and then replacing the battery - having first checked that it is holding at least 2.7 volts.

Has anyone struck this one or have any thoughts on the problem??