Disco 1 key fob and elctrical interferance.....

[ian101]

No its not the title of the next Harry Potter film....

Had a spot of trouble on my way into work this morning, stopped at the shell service station (Hapsford) on the M56, when I came to start the engine, the immobiliser symbol lit up and because of this the engine wouldn't start, please bear in mind that this was at 06:15 with a blanket of fog, not that this affects the immobiliser, it just adds to my general level of misery.

 After about half an hour of messing around I had to call the breakdown people, as I was on the phone and still trying the remote fob the indicators flashed and when I got in the engine started........thanks very much I said but i'm offski.

On my way home, I swung by the service station and noticed a line of electric pylons about 400ish metres away, I have heard that these can interfere with disco's immobilisers ans am wondering if this is what knocked out my electrics at that god awful time of the day?

The other option may be that at work I have to put my bag through an X ray machine each day, this is located next to a walk through portal, an mx5 driver had probs with her key fob and was told by mazda that doing this can upset the workings of the fob, can anybody confirm or deny that this may have affected it, if so then I would have to discuss this with the security dept.

I personally think ts the former, but would be keen to know what people think...

Phew, what an essay!

Ian :confused10:

[chris9119]

Don't know about the x-ray stuff....., but sounds as if you need a new battery  :idea: :idea:

[ian101]

Its not the battery in the fob, changed it only 3 days ago, no other problems with the fob since changing it. Did put an uprated battery in the car less than 2 years ago, so shouldn't be that either, :-.

[chris9119]

Call remote key, he'll have the answer/s......

[Wanderer]

The earlier Disco1 alarms were around (if my memory serves me right) 418 Mhz. The later ones were 433Mhz. This frequency is in the Amateur Radio bands and also used the military. They can be jammed if something locally is transmitting on the same frequency.

Ed

[ian101]

Something like electricity pylons???

[Wanderer]

Not usually electricity pylons although cracked insulators on the lines can cause RF interference but it tends to be at a much lower frequency.
Are there any radio masts around?
Have a look on Remotekey's site for the correct frequency of your remote and then get hold of a radio scanner and listen on the frequency.

Ed

[SteveGoodz]

Ian,

Not sure if this helps, or even what the answer is, but my current 300Tdi recently developed a problem where if you leave the car unlocked for about 5 minutes with the engine off then you have to lock and unlock the doors (using the fob) before it will start again. It doesn't matter if the keys are in the ignition, or not, it just doesn't even try to start until the central locking (and immobiliser) have been cycled.

I'm sure it didn't used to do this and that it started happening after I'd been in some fairly deep water with it. For sure my previous Discoveries weren't like this.

[chris9119]

On late 200tdi and some 300tdi's, the alarm system automatically sets the immobiliser after a preset time. This can be altered but only by someone with the programme (remote key).

[Wireless]

It's possible someone was using the numerous local 70cms Amateur Repeaters near Manchester & Liverpool; GB3MA, GB3ST, GB3CR, GB3LI, GB3WP, GB3MY, GB3MR.  I think this would be the most obvious reason, since many Amateurs commute and use the Repeaters to keep in touch whilst mobile.

The other alternative could have been someone accessing a satellite, but these passes are only around 10 minutes at most.

Then again, someone with a sense of humour may have been in sight of you every time you used the Key Fob, not that I've done this of course 

OK, maybe once when it was raining heavily, and someone was using a disabled space they shouldn't, I was tempted a bit.

[ian101]

Hmm, curious, what are the 70cms amateur repeater and the codes you list?

[Wireless]

The seven 'codes' that you see are the Repeater Call Signs of the seven separate 70cms Amateur Voice Repeaters in the surrounding area, all would likely have a signal of various strengths on that stretch of the M56.

You can look them up, including the coverage of each from looking at the maps tab of this website

http://www.ukrepeater.net/

As there are seven, I suggest this is the most likely cause of your experienced 'fault'.

[HHP]

I have just drowned my 300 TDI playing and now when I put the key in and turn on the ignition the immobilizer lamp flashes and nothing happens, both foot wells were full of water right up to the top of the pedal bracket so I guess the system is very wet, does anyone know where the immobilizer ECU is, also the central locking packed up as well so is this lot all linked.

I would appreciate any help, I am having to use my sons lowered tuned up with what looks like a 4 inch drain pipe sticking out back Renault Cleo, the boot is just one big speaker how does that work :?