P38 - strange immobiliser problem

[chrisst2]

Hi

I have had 3 occasions recently where the engine power suddenly dies out and the immobiliser light shows on the dash, on all 3 occasions I have been when on the M27 east bound approx 1 mile before the Rownhams services , it cuts out for about 15 seconds then runs ok . All 3 times have been at approx the same place, and with differnet durations and distances and speed of driving before hitting that spot , I never get the problem anywhere else .

Does anyone know if the immobiliser can be affected by radio signals , magnetic fields or something like that ?

Can I do anything to stop it (other than avoid that part of the M27 !!) as it is pretty dangerous going in the outside lane and then having to try and cut into the hard shoulder.

many thanks for any insight

Chris

[thermidorthelobster]

Yes, it can be affected by a few different things.  There was an ECU software upgrade available to fix some of these problems, you might want to check if yours has had it.

Andy Cunningham's website is a mine of information on this sort of thing.

Mine used to be zapped by the radar at Heathrow, and I used to have to go through the safe-cracking routine with the key to get it playing ball again.  Andy's took offence to a wireless weather station.

[thermidorthelobster]

Ah, here's the page I was looking for:
http://www.landywiki.co.uk/index.php?title=P38A_Keys_and_Security#RF_Receiver_Interference

And also
http://www.landywiki.co.uk/index.php?title=BeCM

The BeCM and immobiliser ECUs are closely linked, and IIRC problems can be traced back to either of them.