Advice please folk (bit long winded but you'll need the history)

Got in the car yesterday morning and the radio didn't come on. This isn't unusual as it's got a mind of its own, re-started the car and the radio head came on but all the graphics had changed?? Drove to Manchester parked up and returned to car 4 hours later to find a strange buzzing coming from the dashboard and the faintest air bag light on, Inserted key, nothing!

Ignition module and steering lock wouldn't engage and I had a dead L322 (still buzzing away!). Called RAC out and the technician was of the opinion that it was an earth fault somewhere. He connected the volt meter and it had dropped to 11.6v. He also tried putting some juice in and that made no difference. As an added extra my L322 has an electrical isolator fitted, we shut everything down and turned it back on but this made no difference. Cars now been taken on low loader to garage awaiting investigation on Monday

Any clues from our resident experts please as to whether you believe he''s right and has anyone come across this issue before??

PS. New ignition module was fitted a few months ago Was looking forward to a stress free retirement, then I went and bought a FFRR, and that they say is that!

i'd start with a brand new fully charged battery... ... - .- -.




Y. O. L. O.
.

Lot of earth terminals, I would start as Stan says at the battery end of the car. Fully charged battery wth the terminals checked for tightness. With a good connection there and plenty power, if that hasn't sorted it then it will make fining he problem a whole lot easier.


Buzzing from dash could be something heating related which is causing the drain? Possibly FSR, as this can be the source of battery drain if it has failed. There is nothing that can't be fixed with a hammer😜😜
FFRR 4.4 SDV8 Autobiography Santorini Black.
Fiat 500x 1.4 multiair Lounge 2015
2010 LR D4 Commercial 2.7 TDV6

I agree with Stan, new fully charged battery should get the car started. I doubt you have an earth fault as such but would suggest checking the radio, satnav ans dsp units for a problem causing current drain. Check for water damage to these bits which could cause current drain. When you get the car going you could try removing fuse 49 and see if things improve.

Thanks for the advice I'll start with a full battery in the morning Was looking forward to a stress free retirement, then I went and bought a FFRR, and that they say is that!

The graphics changing could be the sat nav going down. The radio seems to have a very basic screen so it will keep working if there is a dead nav in the system. The screen looks very 80's though!

Found this out trying to get my new mk4 nav to boot properly, thankfully fixed now!

Yep that's the one!

We've come to the conclusion that it's the ignition ecu not getting the signal to the steering lock ecu. It's working very intermittently but we have got it started Was looking forward to a stress free retirement, then I went and bought a FFRR, and that they say is that!

A thought for you. I had a similar experience which was caused by dropping the key onto a hard surface. It dislodged the interior and the buttons were not making contact every the time.

May not be relevant but easy to check that the buttons are working correctly. It also dislodged the transponder (the small black piece inside they key) at the same time. John
2008 Stornoway Grey 3.6 Tdv8 Vogue
2005 TD6 Java Black Vogue - Written off!!
GAP iiD BT
2003 Discovery TD5 Auto, Nanocom Evolution - gone to a new home!
MasseyFerguson 152 - No electronics!! - Sold

Thanks, we tried the spare key but had the same fault mate Was looking forward to a stress free retirement, then I went and bought a FFRR, and that they say is that!

Update, it was taken to a LR specialist today and they thought they fixed it, got in and nothing then after several attempts we had lift off, still puzzled I took the key out of the ignition to find the brake lights on. Put key back in and they went off, i'm now thinking that the LCM is at fault - back to the LR 'specialists' in the morning, that's if it starts!

Any ideas guys??????  Was looking forward to a stress free retirement, then I went and bought a FFRR, and that they say is that!

the lcm behind the bonnet pull lever sometimes gets wet or fails causing the brake light on problem.. ... - .- -.




Y. O. L. O.
.

Thanks Stan, its going to be the first port of call in the morning  Was looking forward to a stress free retirement, then I went and bought a FFRR, and that they say is that!

Would the lcm failing cause issues with the ignition????? Was looking forward to a stress free retirement, then I went and bought a FFRR, and that they say is that!

Any ecu / module going down on the canbus can cause havoc through out the car.... I had a drowned DSP amp, effected the central locking, display, and a whole load of other things

FYI "Earth fault" is technical recovery talk for I haven't got a clue, but I don't want the office / punter to know  Yesterday I couldn't spell Engineer... Today I are one!
Inventor of the 'Guide-o-Matic automatic wheel alignment tool'
Former long term L322 owner, Up/Down graded to a Classic Tractor!

yep that was the top and bottom of it. It's back with the experts now let's see what they come up with 🙈 Was looking forward to a stress free retirement, then I went and bought a FFRR, and that they say is that!