Another 97 that won't crank

[Jeff48]

Yet another 97 with cranking problems

My 97 XD is relatively stock. Here's what just happened yesterday without warning. I am at a complete loss.

Battery @ 12.57 VDC
Turn the key.... clicking only

All fuses have been checked
No Brake lights or Turn Signals in any key position
Transmission shifter locked in Park in all key positions
Transfer case shifter locked in high normal in all key positions.
The fan for Heating AC does not work in any key position
All lights except for Brakes and turn signal work
Radio works
Key locks all door actuators and sets anti theft device
Theft protection light flashes fast (1 or more times per second) unless doors are locked from outside
If doors are locked from the outside, antitheft light is slower but still about 1 every 2 or three seconds.

Any assistance would be appreciated.

[Joey]

Battery might show 12.57 volts, but put a set of jumper cables on it with an additional battery to make sure. This sounds like the normal dead battery issues.

Also check you battery ground to make sure it is connected well.

If the battery is older than 4 years or if it has been sitting a while... generally the battery will be the issue.

If not get back to me and I have a couple more thoughts... fuses, lock unlock drivers door with key 4 times in a row.

[Jeff48]

Thanks Joey

Tried to jump it this morning with 13.65V at the battery. No changes.
Ohmmeter shows perfect ground conductivity at both the motor and frame.

I did check a couple of other electrical components that I failed to check previously.
Wipers do not work at any key position.
Electric mirrors do not work at any key position.
Rear window defogger does not light up on the button in any key position. Auxiliary lights (front brush bar mounted OEM fogs and rear facing spot light) all work and their OEM buttons light up.

What is the lock unlock four times thing?

Thanks
Jeff

[Joey]

Locking unlocking the drivers door 4 times with key will reset the security system... You could also have a bad fuse... I would pop the top on the fuse box under the hood and have a look... With all the things not working that you say... it is either a security or a fuse issue. Unless you ECU got wet... If the ECU got wet it depends on your ability to take it apart and clean it up.

[Jeff48]

Thanks Joey, This is all helpful info. With the superfast flashing anti theft led going like crazy, I was concerned that it could be an immobilizer situation but had no idea how to check it.
I will try that lock unlock trick later today.
I have checked all the fuses both inside and outside. Is there a particular under the hood fuse that needs to be triple checked.
The ECU should not have gotten wet as I have never taken the truck through any water deeper than a road puddle. It has been raining like crazy however and there is high humidity. Hopefully the ECU should be water resistant enough to withstand 100 degree 100% humidity situations.

Thanks again for the ideas.

[Joey]

Let me know how it goes... sadly where the ECU is mounted it can get wet. It is behind the batter almost to the firewall. Under a cheap plastic cover. I also would check for corrosion in the front fuse box.

[Jeff48]

bad breaks but nothing less than expected.
No change after trying the lock unlock sequence.
I did however notice that the sidelights did not flash as expected. No flash on lock, sometimes a flash on open.
Every fuse and connection is frighteningly perfect, clean and oxidation free.
The ECU box is clean although I have not opened it yet.
I looked for an EKA code (the RAVE manual talks about it) but I could not find one. I don't know if EKAs were provided with 97s.
Does this sound like a "spider" problem to anyone?
Thanks for the support and ideas.
Jeff

[johnlandrover]

Originally Posted by Jeff48

Yet another 97 with cranking problems

My 97 XD is relatively stock. Here's what just happened yesterday without warning. I am at a complete loss.

Battery @ 12.57 VDC
Turn the key.... clicking only

All fuses have been checked
No Brake lights or Turn Signals in any key position
Transmission shifter locked in Park in all key positions
Transfer case shifter locked in high normal in all key positions.
The fan for Heating AC does not work in any key position
All lights except for Brakes and turn signal work
Radio works
Key locks all door actuators and sets anti theft device
Theft protection light flashes fast (1 or more times per second) unless doors are locked from outside
If doors are locked from the outside, antitheft light is slower but still about 1 every 2 or three seconds.

Any assistance would be appreciated.

take a look closely at the battery cables. even the negative cable. check nut on starter wire. make sure it is tight.

[Jeff48]

Originally Posted by johnlandrover

take a look closely at the battery cables. even the negative cable. check nut on starter wire. make sure it is tight.

Cables are good at Battery, grounds are perfect by I will double check the starter nut tonite. Like I said, I will try anything.......
Thanks

[Jeff48]

OK folks
Here's the followup
After removing everything that's needed to remove so I could get it out of park (It's harder than you think for a 97 and involves removing the ENTIRE center console), my brilliant son in law (who is a luxury car technician in Memphis) rechecked all the fuses, fusible links and relays. All Perfect. While he was under the dash checking the main panel he found a disconnected 8 place connector tucked in under the fusebox. He asked me where it went. I told him I found it hanging loose, could not find anything that looked like it fit into so I thought it was simply a connector to something that was an non installed option. He pushed around a bunch of wires and found a mating connector. Without a second thought he plugs it in and turns the key. Result is one perfectly running 1997 Land Rover Discovery XD and a very grateful father in law. The moral of the story is --- if there is a disconnected connection make sure it is not disconnected by accident. This one must have just not been properly connected by the first owner after some disconnection and has now finally just worked itself loose.

BTW the connector was for the MFU (Multifunction Unit) which, needless to say controls all the electronics that were acting like idiots.

Thanks to all who helped.