1995 Range Rover P38 4.6 HSE - Cool Running

Aye, the P38 was notorious for being affected by RF interference. This mainly took the form of preventing the central locking operating or, if the car was left over a longer period, battery drain as the BECM would keep "waking up" in response to these stray signals. LR brought out, I think, two updated RF receivers for the vehicle that were supposed to overcome this. However, the easiest frig was to unplug the receiver from the side window mounted aerial and just stand closer when opening/locking. My central locking doesn't work at the moment and I have no remote fobs anyway, so not a major issue for me!

However, I've never come across an incident of stray RF affecting the EAS, although I suppose there's a first time for everything with a Range Rover. I've had a good look around the area and whilst there are a few phone masts dotted around, there's nowt looking like it's putting out a strong enough signal nearby to cause a problem. We're miles from the airport as well and not on the flight-path, so no beacons of any sort around.

Funnily, I had to revisit the same mall yesterday, went up the ramp, parked in my usual spot, got out and locked the door and stayed to watch. Obligingly, within 15 seconds or so there was a couple of clicks from the EAS box, and down she went. So I started her up again, up she goes and this time when I switched off and locked up, she stayed put. No fault logged on Nanocom and behaves fine everywhere else.

So either there's a strong signal source I'm missing, or it has something to do with the way the EAS interprets a long left hand climb? The only other thing it could be, but I can't remember the timing of installation, is that they've recently fitted those natty little LED lights over the parking spaces which go red when a vehicle parks. I'd always assumed that they operated by breaking a beam but as there's no reflector on the floor (obviously), perhaps it's a height sensor and therefore sends out a signal, albeit low power, but one which is very close to the car?

Hmmm, definitely a characteristic!

No, it's a fairly old mall and they did no digging, it's all overhead.

I had a nose around the net for these systems and it appears they use all sorts of different sensors, from ultra-sonic to Bluetooth.

You’re right, it would but…

Given what Madam just paid to have the remodelled Tondo house blessed by a man in a frock sprinkling a load of water over everything, then it would be way more cost effective to nip across to the Mr Woman club over the road and pay one of the lady boys to drop a frozen ice margarita all over the ECU. Gotta be cheaper, even if it doesn't get rid of the ghosts.

Anyway I’m going to hava another play with the EAS settings as I think, having done some more research, that whilst the extended and standard heights are now correct, I’ve got the highway and access too close together which may be confusing things so I’ll bring highway up to just an inch below standard and see of that sorts things out.

To medical matters, the crater in the ankle is finally diminishing in size, although still giving a lot of gyp, especially when it’s abused clambering in and out of locomotives, like yesterday. That being the case, I’m rescheduling the much awaited Bataan road-trip for the weekend after next. This is chosen for two reasons. One, the aforementioned healing ankle and two, my little radiator chappy has promised delivery later this week or early next, which gives me chance to get that fitted along with new pipes, stat and some lovely fresh coolant. Possibly.

Dunno what they're telling you but it's just another thunderstorm on the way. We've had one pretty much every night this week and damned spectacular they've been as well. No real hassle though. Just checking the weather, we've no typhoon warnings around and, as you can imagine, they're something we tend look out for.

Looking from my apartment, it's fairly dull and grey over Makati, but then it's pretty much a dull and grey place to live anyway!

What does your crowd do here?

I had a chat with a mate who works for JLR development, he said RF from masts can cause a P38 to do all manner of odd things. He said a 'tea stop' on the road test circuit at a certain garden centre is now used to test cars immunity after the top boss got stranded there with an important client after his cars controls went into meltdown... all because of a radio antenna nearby.

Got a call from Madam's driver today.

"Sir George, I get many message when I start engine, and the car won't move. What's wrong?"

"It's a Toyota, son"

So there we go. In nearly two years of ownership, the most unreliable car on the planet (according to the doom-sayers) and which, according to Madam, 'is very old' has never left me immobile, whereas "The car in front is a Toyota", at just over a fully dealer serviced 12 months, is only in front of the queue behind it whilst sat at the side of the road with the bonnet up.

Karma

Hmm, different.

Having manfully sorted the door latch out, it was time to investigate the vibration I was suddenly getting under both acceleration and the overrun. It felt very much Like prop UJ's but I only changed them a few weeks ago. Thinking horrible thoughts it was time to brave the Pit of Hell. I donned overalls and headed downstairs.

Crawling underneath (EAS makes this easy ) I shone the torch around a bit and thought, "Should that look that way?" One of the spiders in the gearbox end of the front shaft had no bearing cap. My first thought was that I'd not inserted the circlip correctly (how could you do it wrong?). But anyway the few weeks old UJ was knackered.

Fortunately I had a new shaft upstairs, so the easiest answer was to just replace the whole thing, fitting a new joint to the old shaft at leisure. On removal, I found this...





As you'll note, the circlip is still very firmly in place. So where's the bloody bearing cap gone then?

Answers on a postcard to George, Manila, Philippines. Obviously it'll never get here!

New shaft fitted, only slight heat exhaustion, and vibration gone.

Never seen this one before.

Did you get the engine washed though?

Wouldn't make any difference to a Tondo rat Adam, they'll eat owt. Think land-based Great Whites. They are just about at the top of the food chain there (apart from weekends, when my two regain ascendency) and you have to keep counting elderly relatives in case one goes missing.

By contrast, Malate rats seem almost benign in their lifestyle and, generally, don't eat cars. Or old ladies for that matter. Just pets


I can see why they may have doubts!

Gotta say that my complaining aside about working in the Pit of Hell, at least rain and cold never stop play here and despite the heat, I don't miss that!

Today, having changed oil and filter last week, I'll be crawling around underneath checking all the other fluids in gentle preparation for the Great Bataan Roadtrip, whenever this bloody ankle decides to allow it!

Also, having replaced all the silver "Range Rover" badges with gray, I kinda like the stealth look that's going on, so may get the lights tinted along with the perspex license plate covers. Go to the Dark Side. Better be careful about using that phrase here though, it has other connotations, especially in Ermita!