Thread: Need some advice

Got a mate with an 02 TD5 Defender. It was running fine but has been in the shop for some major gearbox and TC work and when they finished - they couldn't get it started.

Firstly the battery was so low it wouldn't crank the engine so they hooked up a booster battery and .....Crank's fine - but no running engine.
1. They swapped the original crank position sensor back on to the car rather than use the CPS that came with the gearbox and TC and still nothing.
2. Hooked up their diagnostic gear (Not a Nanocom) and over 20 faults presented. They couldn't read the fault codes so in desperation, my mate called for some help so I took my Nanocom and manual down to the shop.

The 20+ faults are a quite bizarre ranging from "Auto transmission errors" (It obviously doesn't have an auto) through to "driver speed error" etc etc.

It took my 4 attempts but finally I managed to clear half of the errors but there are still quite a few "Logged" errors....and the engine still won't start. The shop have run out of options and are scratching their heads (They are a reputable 4WD repair business)

I'm suspected a corrupt ECU due to the under-voltage attempts to start it and the erroneous error codes??????

I don't suspect the immobiliser due to point below regarding key-fob.

History -

Car has a 2 plug ECU and is not, repeat not an electronic fob-key. Key into door lock opens all doors and simply unlock steering lock through the ignition key and away you go! Key turns everything on, will crank the engine but no go Joe.....

It was running fine went it went in but mysteriously now won't start. Only has 120K and is in good condition.

Anyone got an idea how to get it to burn some diesel????

Well....like I was taught as a young apprentice - always go back to the basics and eliminate all of the potentials, and probables as you fault find.

So we back-tracked all of the wiring - shop mechanic on the drivers side and me on the passenger side.

I found a blown fuse among the spaghetti junction of wiring in the battery box under the passenger seat and a power wire that had pulled out of a crimp fitting - fixed/replaced.

Mechanic found a small on/off switch used for a clock/timer that had the power and earth wires loose so they were touching occasionally - re-soldered.

He aslo found that that 1 of the 2 main plugs into the ECU was not fully home - so he pushed it into it's ECU slot with a satisfying "Click" and................. EUREKA - Its alive!!!!

Have now cleared all of the faults and it runs like a gem! Time to go for a long drive and charge the batteries - my mate is pleased and the worried frown has left his face