I swapped an 04 shifter into my 01 and took it to the local indie Rover shop for reprogramming. Somehow, we gained the CDL function without any lights coming on, but we lost the ability to start the truck without first hitting the unlock button on the fob or manually (foblessly) unlocking the doors. After several reprogramming attempts, we cannot restore proper vehicle starting. He even reprogrammed everything with an original T4 with no joy. He's a pretty capable Rover head. Anyone heard of anything like this? I even swapped my old SLABS in with no change.

 

What were you trying to have reprogrammed after simply installing a shifter? Installing the shifter from the '04 doesn't require reprogramming anything.

If you were trying to reprogram a SLABS from a different truck that perhaps had air springs and your truck has coils, that has absolutely nothing to do with starting the engine. Whatever the mechanic did screwed it up, and it has nothing to do with installing the shifter. Let the mechanic figure it out.

 

Yes we did swap in an 04 SLABS, not sure what that rig was running but mine is on 2" Terra Firma lift. Anyhoo, I've heard the security system on these can be quite problematic, so wondering if anyone had any input on this.

 

Try programming it back to stock

 

The problem you report is similar to a problem I had with my truck that was resolved a few weeks ago. The difference is that in the case of my truck, it remained immobilized after unlocking the doors with the key only. As in your case, I had to press the keyless entry handset (fob) UNLOCK button to start the truck. The difference is that you report you can start the truck after unlocking it with the key. My truck would not start if it was unlocked with the key.

The solution in the case of my truck was to disable the emergency key access (EKA) feature. It seemed weird at first, and it is still a little counterintuitive, but it seems the logic is if the key will disable the alarm and immobilization system on its own, there is no need for EKA. And conversely, EKA is needed only if you want the truck to remain immobilized when unlocking the truck with the key in the lock.

So have your mechanic check the EKA setting and confirm it is disabled. Also check the Alarm Disarm settings. My thread on this topic is linked below.

https://landroverforums.com/forum/di...-fault-103215/

 

Thanks to mln01 for sending me in the right direction. A trip to another "European" shop. With all Rover software, not able to get the ignition working properly, and lost the unlock capability to start the truck with the fob, now only starts when unlocked with key from the door. Also lost the defrost function, and in spite of being able to "see" the fog light and windscreen heat functions, not able to effectively turn them on to get them to work. Returned truck to me appropriately humbled, saying things can't be normalized with the land rover software, and "you need a Nanocom to sort this out." Of course, BBS is closed for 2 weeks for Easter, and Brandon318 is out on the Nanocom front. Anyone got one sitting unused for sale, rent or borrow?

 

It sounds like the BCU settings got wiped out or are now totally incorrect. The SLABS unit programming wise = SLS or Coil. BCU is where your key fob info, model options, and alarm/immobilization options are located. You can go to the Nanocom website and run their Emulator to see what I'm talking about. Somehow the shop you took it to in the first place with the T4 somehow totally messed up your BCU settings.

I've installed a lot of 03-04 SLABS Units into D2's and I've never had any no start issues. Sure I've had to either calibrate the SLS, or I've had to go in and change the SLS or Coil setting, but that's it. On the super wild chance the SLABS Unit needed to be paired that would have been a very simple process especially with the T4.

You need to either take it back to where the BCU settings got all messed up and either have them compare your settings to another similar D2 or get someone on it that can go step by step and re-configure your BCU to your trucks config. Then and only then will it start up and act normal.

 

Makes sense, I'm a nuts and bolts kind of guy with no auto computer experience. Being I am in Rover nowhere, I think I'm going to have to try to do that myself with purchase of a Nanocom. The second shop I took it to thought they could get it right with a Nanocom, so I could use them as a back up if I can't figure it out. Questions is can all those BCU settings be changed with a Nanocom by a first time user? I don't mind throwing down for one, I have 2 keys that need reprogramming and this problem to solve, so that pretty much covers the cost right there.

 

Visit the Nanocom website and mess with the emulator. It will get you familiar to using it. Also read all the info on each specific unit like BCU and it will list all the options and the settings you can enable/disable.

I'm really starting to think when they were using the T4 they basically locked out your BCU. Usually all they should have done was go in with the T4 and just verified the Coil/Air setting on the SLABS Unit. The one thing the Nanocom can't do is write the VIN # to the BCU so if for some crazy reason they changed that the Nanocom won't be able to do it. That would either require the T4 or getting a hold of another BCU that isn't locked.

I highly do recommend the Nanocom system though. It can do SO MUCH on a D2 and it will certainly pay for itself very quickly.

 

Awesome thanks I'll keep you posted. The first guy did say he was able to verify the function of all the units, and that the VIN's were all matching. I'd be surprised if the second guy would change the VIN's for any reason, but I suppose I don't know that for sure. I do have a spare BCU from a 2000 that I can give a try on if I fail with the first one. Thanks for your input.

Also, in a surprising development, another Land Rover that I bought and sold had a Black Box Solutions Faultmate MSV-2 nano that I kept! I just found the box. It is the complete kit version, they were set up for single vehicle use. Has all the license activation codes. It appears that I (may) be able to buy a license for another vehicle. Of course, with my luck those guys in Cyprus are on vacation for 2 weeks. Do you have any experience running a MSV-2? Looks like it is all run off of a windows laptop.