Hey guys. So I have a 2000 Land Rover Discovery Series 2 that's having some problems. For a month or so, my car has been shutting off randomly. It can shut off sitting still at a light, or parked, or it can shut off while driving. Sometimes if it shuts off while driving, it will kick back on and continue, while most times it just rolls to a stop. In this case, my steering wheel locks, braking becomes stiff, and my lights don't work. Sounds dangerous, right?
In either case, all the three aforementioned things happen plus my dash lights won't come on. Once at a dead stop, I'll try to turn my key to start it but it won't do anything. Battery doesn't click (as if it were dead), engine doesn't try to roll over, and anything electrical doesn't work (lights, radio, heat). There's only been 2 times where I can even turn my key to get it out. Also If i put it in park, I am not able to get it out. If it keep it in neutral, I'm able to switch gears.
Last Saturday, I was driving around noon in town when my car shut off again. Luckily I was able to get it into a Burger King parking lot. Not within parking lines, literally just off the road, still blocking traffic. I ended up calling a towing service. They tried jumping it but couldn't get it started, or even the battery to click. Nonetheless, I ended up having to get it towed to a local mechanic.
Having my car for 5 days now, the mechanic is seeming to have it narrowed down to the ignition switch. He said he put in a fresh battery, it started right up, but after an hour of it running, it shut off again. This time, he couldn't get it started and was having the same problems as I experienced. Today I called him and he said he's checked most things, battery, starter, alternator, fusebox, and ignition switch. With all the tests he ran, he kept saying he was coming back to the Ignition switch.
Now here's the problem, he said he can replace the ignition switch but because of my security system, he would have to "program" the ignition switch. That, he isn't able to do. He gave me another person's number whom he thought would be able to. Once I called his recommendation, he said he might not even be able to do it. He said he would research it and see if he could. I have to call him back tomorrow.
If he isn't able to program it, I'll have to take it to a dealership. the closest one is roughly 120 miles away. I'd also have to tow it there. So my question is, what would you guys recommend me to do if in my position?
The car was just paid off. Currently it has 153,000 miles on it. And within the past 6 months, the three amigo lights came on, the two front windows don't work (regulators are broken), and the a/c compressor is out. Truthfully, the car is on its last leg, probably crawling now. Realistically, its not worth a darn thing. I have no problems admitting it. However, the amigo lights (to my knowledge) don't really hinder the cars performance, its winter so I don't need a/c, and I don't really need the windows to work either. The back and both sunroofs still work. These are all things I can fix in time. However, I do need my car to start.
Knowing all this, what would you guys do? Should I set fire to it? Should I choke up the money and get it fixed by the dealer? If so, how much is that roughly going to set me back? Is it a major undertaking on this car or is it pretty easy? Also whats the whole programming the ignition switch thing? And how does my security system effect that?

 

crank position sensor?

 

X22222222222222. It will go anyway and they are fun to replace, especially in Vermont in December, ask me how I know........

 

I'll bite, how do YOU know!? I'm in VT and it IS December

Not sure where the original poster is from though.

 

Sorry, thought the original poster was from VT. I used to live in Barre/Montpelier. And was working as a mechanic.

 

Crank position maybe. I'll bring it up with the mechanic. And I hear ya on cruddy weather. I'm in Missouri, so we've been dealing with tons of snow as well. So much for counting on my D2 to get thru it lol.

 

In this case, my steering wheel locks, braking becomes stiff, and my lights don't work. Sounds dangerous, right?
I have never heard this one before but if your wheel is indeed locking, it must have to do with the ignition switch or the ignition lock.