My local independent British car garage tried and failed to program my key into my keyless entry system, and I now know why the locksmith and he had trouble. The ODB connector is not communicating with the body control module. The body control module happily opens and closes windows and sunroofs, so it is working, but none of the scopes or diagnostic computers or security programmers can talk to it.

The technician saw my ACE light glowing amber, so we pulled the codes on that. It reported (as well as I can remember, since I didn't think to take a picture of the display) low system pressure, intermittent connectivity to the pressure sensor, and low fluid flow. He said that all those errors might actually be from corroded connectors on the ACE pump body. The inability to communicate with the body control module may be the same issue, corroded connectors. This being my seventh or eighth British car, that rang a bell with me, since I don't think I've owned a British car yet that didn't need its connectors cleaned at one point or another.

So, I've got something to work on this weekend....

Scott

 

Do you know what tool they use to communicate with the car? Autologic(the most common professional euro scan tool) has patched out support for D2 BCM communication. We have a rover in the shop right now that we can't communicate with. They are working on a software fix

I would call and ask them what they use and tell them to call Autologic if thats the case

 

That's fascinating! Yes, tech at Sports Car Shop was using an Autologic tablet. I'll tell him about that upcoming patch, assuming they're working on it and not just saying, "Yes, we're aware of that and they're working on a fix." (That was our SOP decades ago when I worked for Symantec.) The locksmith was using two other programmers, and they didn't have names that I recognized. Both were kept in the office safe. One was described as the newer, more capable one, but the other was described as being the old reliable one for "older cars like yours." Neither one would communicate, and neither one would present the dialog needed to enter the key's codes. C'est la vie....

Thanks for that nugget.

Scott

 

I drove my Disco to work today, but it wouldn't start after filling it with gas. So, I got towed home, and right after it came off the flatbed, I twisted the key and it started right up. Grrr.... So, I drove it back to work, and to lunch, and back to the office without any problems. Then my wife called to say that her car died on the highway, so I went to go meet her. It seemed like she just ran it out of gas, so I headed home to get the lawn mower's gas can and a funnel, but the Disco wouldn't start in the driveway. Grrr....

While driving the Subi to take the gas can to my wife, it dawned on me that this was the exact same symptoms I had on my old 2000 Disco II five years ago. That was fixed with a new starter. So tonight after dinner I checked the battery just to rule out the simplest possible cause, but that battery was fully charged and hella strong on the battery tester. So, time to change a starter. At least it's easy to get to, and I can have my son help me, and learn a little wrench twiddling.

Oh, and a gallon of gas got my wife to the gas station. No idea why she let the tank get so low....

Also, we had a little drizzle this morning, and I found a little leak down the driver's side scuttle below the windshield pillar, so I get to isolate a windshield leak or a misrouted sunroof drain or some other problem. I'll add that to my list.

Scott

 

Time for another update:

1a. Evacuate the front AC, fix leaks, and refill with new refrigerant.
1b. Repair the passenger side heat valve.
3. <<Update>> Fix an aromatic coolant leak.—I confirmed today that the throttle heat plate is leaking slightly, if only because there is a crust of dried coolant on the bottom of it. I need to pull it apart, make a new gasket, and reassemble it, but that didn't happen today.
4c. <<Update>> Revive the remote that came with the new ignition lock, and get it programmed to my Disco.—A new battery got it working. The new key is key is ordered, but I've got to wait to solve the communication problem with the body control module before I can attempt to program it into this Disco.
4d. Get new lock cylinder made to the original key design so I can use one key again.
4f. Program the new remote and program it into the keyless entry system.
5. <<Update>> Diagnose the sloppiness of the steering, which has about 3" of free play... way too much.—I identified that the tie rod end in the link between the steering box and the right-side bearing carrier is absolutely worn out, with 1/8" up-and-down play and a noticeable play from side to side. I need to order a new one of those. The other tie rod ends appear to still be tight.
6. <<Update>> Diagnose the cause of the amber ACE light (but the system is still working, so maybe just a clogged filter and old, dirty fluid?).--The pipe joins on the other side of the frame rail from the starter are all leaking slightly. I think that someone who may not have been terribly thorough or used to working on hydraulic systems may have opened those connections. If that's true, the system may need to be bled. I still need to check if the electrical connectors are corroded, though, since the ACE system errors seemed to indicate intermittent signal to the ACE controller, but that will have to happen some other day.
7. Fix the stuck tailgate electric lock motor, or replace it.--I have yet to order the new lock motor.
8. Diagnose the "three amigos" error on cool mornings only. There's no problem when the Disco starts up warm, or starts up cold in warm weather.
9. <<Update>> Replace the starter motor.—Done. The rig starts reliably again. My son helped with the R&R and it went very quickly and smoothly.
10. Fix a water leak down the driver's side scuttle, perhaps because of a leaking windshield seal, door seal, or misrouted or broken sunroof drain hose.

Time to order some new parts....

Scott

 

I replaced the steering tie rod end last night. The original just spun in its hole and was made without the hex socket in the end of it, so I ground the thing off. My boy and his friend were delighted by the shower of sparks, and then they helped me spin the old one off the shaft and spin the new one on. The new one is a different shaft length, so I've got to realign the steering wheel to the straight-ahead position Saturday morning.

So, here's the list now:

1a. Evacuate the front AC, fix leaks, and refill with new refrigerant.
1b. Repair the passenger side heat valve.
3. Fix an aromatic coolant leak.
4c. Revive the remote that came with the new ignition lock, and get it programmed to my Disco.
4d. Get new lock cylinder made to the original key design so I can use one key again.
4f. Program the new remote and program it into the keyless entry system.
5a. <<Update>> Diagnose the sloppiness of the steering, which has about 3" of free play... way too much.--Fixed.
5b. Re-align the steering wheel to the straight-ahead position.
6. Diagnose the cause of the amber ACE light (but the system is still working, so maybe just a clogged filter and old, dirty fluid?).
7. Fix the stuck tailgate electric lock motor, or replace it.--I have yet to order the new lock motor.
8. Diagnose the "three amigos" error on cool mornings only. There's no problem when the Disco starts up warm, or starts up cold in warm weather.
10. Fix a water leak down the driver's side scuttle, perhaps because of a leaking windshield seal, door seal, or misrouted or broken sunroof drain hose.
11. <<New>> Investigate a headlight relay problem that results in the right-hand low beam coming on about 30 seconds after turning on the headlights.

Scott

 

Sunday's update:

1a. Evacuate the front AC, fix leaks, and refill with new refrigerant.
1b. Repair the passenger side heat valve.
3. Fix an aromatic coolant leak.
4c. Revive the remote that came with the new ignition lock, and get it programmed to my Disco.
4d. Get new lock cylinder made to the original key design so I can use one key again.
4f. Program the new remote and program it into the keyless entry system.
5b. <<Update>> Re-align the steering wheel to the straight-ahead position.--FIXED. It took all of 10 minutes.
6. Diagnose the cause of the amber ACE light (but the system is still working, so maybe just a clogged filter and old, dirty fluid?).
7. Fix the stuck tailgate electric lock motor, or replace it.--I have yet to order the new lock motor.
8. Diagnose the "three amigos" error on cool mornings only. There's no problem when the Disco starts up warm, or starts up cold in warm weather.
10. Fix a water leak down the driver's side scuttle, perhaps because of a leaking windshield seal, door seal, or misrouted or broken sunroof drain hose.
11. Investigate a headlight relay problem that results in the right-hand low beam coming on about 30 seconds after turning on the headlights.

I wish I had more time to fix something else this weekend, but it just didn't play out that way.

Scott