P38 flat battery

[Mean Green]

My Brother in law has just bought a 1995 P38 2.5 DT. In general it is in decent condition but someone seems to have butchered the electrics.

At the moment the biggest problem seems to be the battery drains in only a couple of days. He fitted a new battery and the same thing happened.

He said that the interior light was constantly on, so he removed the bulb, but the battery is still draining.

I do not know much about P38's and black magic electronics. Where should I start?

Any advise appreciated....

[Reg]

Hi Greg, your problem is probably being caused by Radio interference from remote door bells and other car remotes unless you live in the back of beyond.

The computer is woken up every time it senses an RF signal, it discards it as not for it and waits for a set time before going to sleep. Over and over again, this will flatten the battery as the computer uses a lot more power when not sleeping. Result dead battery in days.

Alarm receiver is in RH load space area, you could remove it's aerial lead so it isnt so sensitive, it will still work from very close up.

See http://www.rangerovers.net/newremedies.htm#remedies

Second possibility is central locking fault, usually a sticking switch particularly the tailgate when salty water can get in during the winter. This makes the computer go into relock mode, it will unlock the doors and relock until it is successful, sometimes repeating ad infinitum. Result dead battery.

If the interior light stays on it may indicate a door switch or its wiring is duff check each in turn with the bulb in, simple stuff but it creates problems with the ECU.

MY P38 has suffered both problems, WD 40 on the tailgate push cured relocking issue. You can miss the clicking if you arm the alarm whilst walking away.

[Reg]

Hi Greg, your problem is probably being caused by Radio interference from remote door bells and other car remotes unless you live in the back of beyond.

The computer is woken up every time it senses an RF signal, it discards it as not for it and waits for a set time before going to sleep. Over and over again, this will flatten the battery as the computer uses a lot more power when not sleeping. Result dead battery in days.

Alarm receiver is in RH load space area, you could remove it's aerial lead so it isnt so sensitive, it will still work from very close up.

See http://www.rangerovers.net/newremedies.htm#remedies

Second possibility is central locking fault, usually a sticking switch particularly the tailgate when salty water can get in during the winter. This makes the computer go into relock mode, it will unlock the doors and relock until it is successful, sometimes repeating ad infinitum. Result dead battery.

If the interior light stays on it may indicate a door switch or its wiring is duff check each in turn with the bulb in, simple stuff but it creates problems with the ECU.

MY P38 has suffered both problems, WD 40 on the tailgate push cured relocking issue. You can miss the clicking if you arm the alarm whilst walking away.