2003 Land Rover discoveryII — engine wouldn't turn over. It is a new battery, but the locks were slow to respond when unlocking the car. I took it to our mechanic and they at first thought it might be a bad key so I took them my other key. I guess it wasn't that because they then replaced the crank sensor. It started to fire but then wouldn't stay running. The mechanic spoke with a Service Rep at local dealer and they said it could be the ECM needs to be reprogrammed or reflashed(?) Apparently it has to go to the dealer for this (via towing). Does this sound like a possibility and how much coud it cost?

We've had her for 10 years, but for the last 2 to 3 years she would sit while we were overseas. I would drive her when I returned to visit during the summer, but ...

Any insight would be welcome ...

 

So it starts and then immediately dies? Any codes? Very well could be that the ECM lost it's security sync with the BCU. Not very common, but it does happen. Where are you located? Maybe someone has a nanocom or something that would be able to help you out.

I'd think a dealer would charge you one half to one full hour worth of labor to hook up to the computer.

 

The regular mechanic was out so he didn't have the actual code, but said it was the code for the crank sensor — that's what lead them to replace it. And I got clarification, the engine would turn over but not start even after the sensor was replaced — no spark, no fuel pressure.

I hate taking it to the dealer for the reason you mentioned, but I am not from the area :/

 

I don't buy it, ECU rarely if ever fail. How many miles on the engine, are there any fault code numbers, if so get them and post them so we might help you. What originally happened to the truck and be specific.
I would not send the ECU in till you get a second opinion, just be a waste of money.

 

No spark probably isn't an ECM sync issue. I'd wonder if the crank sensor is installed correctly. Fuel could be an ECM issue.... if the security sync is not there, the engine will start, and then immediately die when the ECM cuts fuel. There would be a special code for the sync issue though.

 

We just had to have the water pump and thermostat replaced and it seemed to be running fine, the battery we had in it was only 3 years old but then all of a sudden it died —*not sure if one of the children left an overhead light on. Had the car jumped and all was well. Then it died again — same story. But it was like it wasn't holding a charge. We took it back to where we got the battery and they replaced it for free — they said the transmission was good but the battery wasn't.

All seemed fine for about a week, maybe more. Then one morning I left to drop my daughter off at a friend's house. I had to turn the key in the ignition twice and it seemed a bit sluggish on startup. I thought perhaps I was rushed and didn't turn it properly the first time. Then I got to the friend's house the car was off for not even three minutes and I went to start it and it did the same sluggish thing, but this time it didn't catch. I sat for a minute and then tried again — sluggish, but it kicked in. When I returned home I let it sit for about 10 minutes and tried again — more sluggish and this time it didn't kick. Even later, worse.

I will reply back when I can get the codes

 

Well I spoke with the actual mechanic and he said that the ONLY code that came up was the theft deterrent code — nothing else. They went the crank sensor route due to the no spark and fuel.

 

Are they sure they put the spacers on the correct side of the crank sensor?

You will get theft deterrent codes when the battery runs low or is disconnected.

 

All of your posts gave me enough reservation to dig further — someone referred another group that will give a second opinion at no charge. Thanks for your input — this last was good to know!

Hopefully I will have more (and better) info tomorrow.

 

Try a hard boot. Take both battery cables and hook them togather, for five minutes unload the system. This will let it reboot, can line maybe down. A control unit is making a phone call and know is answering.