P38 4.0 V8 Installed in a defender, BECM immo problem

[doordie]

Hi Everyone,
I have this project, I installed a 4.0 V8 p38 engine in a land rover 90 body complete with wiring, 2 keys, ignition switch, BECM+Engine ECU, and I even have the EKA codes (I can not use the EKA codes as the door in a land rover 90 is different and I can not set it up to work). After wiring is complete when we tried to start the car the display shows "key code lockout", I think this is the immobilizer being active? Is there anyone who can help me bypass this immobilizer? or other method to get it work. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

[ascouser]

Check this out immo off engine ecu, no need for BECM, http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Immo-Off-Lucas-GEMS-8-Range-Rover-Defender-Disco-P38-ECU-Free-Run/282014905356?hash=item41a965f40c:g:~gcAAOSwYudXG6i 3

[doordie]

thank you, unfortunately this will not allow me to use the instrument cluster, there is no bypass for the immobilizer in the BECM?

[Ahmy501]

Following......

[lightguy8]

KEY CODE LOCKOUT means that it is expecting the EKA code, yes. EKA can only be entered after KEY CODE LOCKOUT message has disappeared from the dash.

If you have a BECM with a software version of 36 or later (will say on the sticker on the top of the fuse box on BECM) then you can 'disarm' the BECM lockout using diagnostics, via the OBD port, rather than having to use the key in the door (which isn't present).

I personally would be running with the option of bypassing the immobiliser in the GEMS ECU so it doesn't need a code to be transmitted - as the BECM side is bad enough on P38's half the time (I specialise in P38 electronics in my spare time) yet alone running it in another vehicle.

I can kind of understand wanting to use the P38 instrument cluster - but the only drawback to this is that as it's interfaced by the BECM, you are going to end up with a LOT of other spurious warnings all the time (Windows not set, sensor faults, EAS faults etc) as the BECM has no communication to the other ECU's that it would normally be connected to in a P38.

The only information the engine ECU sends to the BECM which is actually important for the instrument cluster is the engine speed for the rev counter. The fuel level comes externally to the BECM, as does the engine temperature for the temp gauge (the P38 uses a separate sensor for the cluster than the engine ECU). The road speed comes from the ABS ECU in a P38, so I'm not sure how you would get that working in your defender situation..

What is the main reason for wanting to use the P38 instrument cluster?

[doordie]

personally I think the cluster looks much better than the stock ones, this project is getting more complicated, I don't mind the other warning lights, but if there is no good solution with this, what would you suggest for the cluster as I have an original puma dash and the cluster fits perfectly, any helpful suggestions are welcome, is there a way the cluster can be wired without the need of the BECM or another ECU?, Like how the stock instrument cluster is wired??

And how do I make the engine ECU work without the BECM, I don't need it as much, I just want the car to start and work

[lightguy8]

The link that was posted above will help get the engine running without the BECM.

Regarding the other things with the cluster. The BECM talks to the cluster over a serial link for most of the warning lights/messages etc. There are some things which have a direct connection - but most all goes across the serial link.

What cluster was in the vehicle to start with?

[doordie]

The link that was posted above will help get the engine running without the BECM.

Regarding the other things with the cluster. The BECM talks to the cluster over a serial link for most of the warning lights/messages etc. There are some things which have a direct connection - but most all goes across the serial link.

What cluster was in the vehicle to start with?
the car did not have a cluster, it did not even have a dash as it was used for rally standard land rover 90 gauges were used, it was running a holley carburator before installing the 4.0 injection system from a p38
now I want to make rebuild it complete with AC so I can use it on like sundays just to have fun driving around, buying a standalone ECU from those guys is expensive and by the time it gets here it would have costed me more than twice because of tax in my country

[lightguy8]

I'm not quite sure what I can suggest then - most people who have P38's are constantly trying to find ways around the various 'problems' they throw up (a lot of which in my mind comes to lack of understanding and willingness to learn/do basic fault finding! - but that's another story!!)... But as far as trying to take the bits that are designed to be integral to a P38 and make them work in another vehicle is always going to be an uphill battle.

I have a feeling there is another outfit - possibly in Australia - which did a plug in unit for the GEMS ECU which effectively made it learn a new security code, and then gave it the code from this device - so it would run standalone. The good thing being that you didn't have to replace the ECU, or send your ECU off anywhere for programming. If I can find the link, then I'll post it up.

Cluster - again, not sure the best way around that - but the P38 cluster is designed to work with the BECM and be controlled by it. Trying to run it from something else is going to be a nightmare, unless you ditched the circuit board, and then just drove the gauges from a circuit board from another vehicle which had more analogue inputs etc. The gauges with the needles on the P38 are standard gauges, so I'm sure could be driven from a different board, which isn't so tied into a dedicated ECU. In fact, especially for fuel gauge and temp gauge, I'm sure it would be easy enough to make your own circuitry to take the input from a the sensor (as they are basically just variable resistors) and then output to the gauge. Speedo and Tacho might be a bit more challenging, but still easier than trying to spoof all the inputs to the BECM to keep it happy!

[doordie]

thank you for the suggestion, at this point I don't need the BECM or the cluster, all I want is to get the car to start witthe GEMS ECU thats all, if there is a way around it someone please share, thanks again