Land Rover Repair: 2000 Disco 2 alarm going off on inginition, air fuel mixture, cold climates

Question
Hello, I have a 2000 Discovery and lately I tried to turn it on and when I turn the ignition, the car does not start and the alarm goes off. I live in a cold climate (michigan) so I dont know if that has to do with it too. Can you tell me what could possibly be wrong with it? Thanks

Answer
Hi Alfonso,

no, I don't think the cold climate is the cause of this.  I live in Québec, Canada and I can speak with confidence about that.

This could be an ignition wiring related problem.  It's also possible that the security system is picking up a fault and thus activating the alarm.  

I suggest you address the starting problem first to determine if this is causing the alarm.  Do you trust your starter?  When you say you have starting problems, do you mean that you have no starter motor?  IF this is the case, it could be the solenoid that may be faulty.  You could by-pass the ignition to see if the starter is working.  

On my series I Disco, I can apply battery power directly to the solenoid to determine if the problem is the starter or the ignition switch sequence.

I think this can also be done on your series II Disco.

IF you mean by not starting - engine turns over but does not ignite - then you may have a fuel delivery problem or the air fuel mixture is incorrect.

Air/fuel problems could be the air filter, the MAF, vacuum related.  Could also be a problems with the fuel filter (there are two found at the base of the fuel pump).  Some less knowledged people believe there is no fuel filters on the series II Disco.  There are two!  Both are found at the base of the fuel pump.  A rough filter for larger paricles and, just above, a fine gauze for smaller particles.

Diesel engines are a diffent matter - especially for cold climates.  Wax can form and clog the fuel delivery process. The sedimenter filter could be fouled, glow plugs can be faulty.

So...you have to be more specific in describing your starting problems and thus I can offer more specific suggestions.

Unless - you are talking about a random problem when starting the car - it refuses to start (randomly) and triggers the alarm.  Then I would guess you have a security problem between ignition and the security ECU -  a LR service call.

Best of luck,

JohnMc