95 RR classic keyless entry

[doboy]

On my 95 RR Classic County LWB, the keyless entry doesn't work very well at all. Even if the batteries are replaced, the range sucks. You have to almost be standing next to the car for the transmitter to be able to lock/unlock the car. Even the dealership says that it's a common thing, and I wanted to set out to fix this. Could I maybe use one of the newer transmitters (like from a newer discovery) and program it to work with my car?

This is what mine is now (looks like): http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/WOW-...ewItemQQcategoryZ33723QQitemZ8036901242QQrdZ1

Here's the one I was thinking about using: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1-La...ewItemQQcategoryZ33723QQitemZ8036700460QQrdZ1

My dad had a 98 Disco and that transmitter worked well, so I was wondering if anyone knew about using newer transmitters with older vehicles.

thanks

 

[joey]

Try taking the transmitter apart and cleaning with rubbing Alcohol and also check all the soilder points. You may find you need to resoilder some connections.

 

[heiff]

As far as I know, the Land Rover immobilizer/alarm units are the same series that was used by the rest of Rover Group - the single-button fobs are used with the Lucas 3AS immobilizer, and the two-button type is used with the Lucas 5AS and 10AS.

Before you buy anything, bear in mind that these fobs aren't interchangable with one another - in other words, if your original fob is a single button, the two button type will not work, period.

The Lucas 3AS does have a lot of problems (like bad reception) associated with it, and to my knowledge, the reception issue lies mostly with the unit itself (rather than the fob)...but the fobs have their own set of troubles. It's not just a coincidence that Rover completely ditched the 3AS after 1995!

The 3AS has a little coax antenna (looks like a short piece of white wire) that plugs into it - it would be interesting to see if there was a way of exploiting this to get some improved reception.

 

[heiff]

Edit to above: in your case, you have a Lucas 17VT, but from what I can see on the parts diagram, it does indeed have a little antennae, so I think if you check that out, and also follow Joey's advice above to clean the fob itself (by all means do that first, it's easier!), you will get much better results. I was having trouble with mine (poor range, button not consistently working) as well. I took apart the fob and sprayed down the innards with some silicone lubricant. I can now lock/unlock from inside my house!