I've been having an intermittent starting issue with my '96 Disco. To make a long story short, I let the battery run down from not using the truck. After charging it, it would often not crank, though it did start up a couple times over a few days. I ruled out the battery, starter, and Spider alarm (it is not fitted with one). The solonoid wire was NOT getting power when I tested it.

Through trial and error I discovered that the truck will start as long as the sensor button to the rear door is not pushed in. So, only with the rear door open. Once the truck is running, if you push the button in, or shut the door, it still runs. But the RPMs drop and the idle gets a bit uneven.

I'm guessing that button is somehow connected to the alarm system, and there's some kind of short affecting the ignition. That doesn't explain why the button affects the idle, though. (Does it?) But I am stumped as to how to go about fixing it as the wires seem to be okay (no shorts that I can find.) I traded the button from the rear door with one from another door and the same thing happens. This is the strangest problem I have ever come across in owning a Rover. Any ideas?

 

Do you have a fob for the alarm, or are you just working with the key?

 

Yes, I have the fob.

 

Any fix for this!? I know that the thread has been dead for a while, but who knows!