Well, not the button itself - more the firmware (always with the firmware!).
I have no problems with putting fob in dock, press start. Engine always starts.
But... if i stop the engine and don't eject the fob, wait for 5 minutes (eg. picking someone up at the station) then pressing start turns on the ignition but no cranking?? Last night (at the station) it actually cranked after the 3rd press. Previously, I've ejected/reloaded the fob to solve it. Happens with both my fobs. Dealer was able to repeat the fault and reloaded some firmware but it's no better.
It's a bit annoying since I like to use it as a manual start/stop in standing traffic.
Anyone else have this?

Don't you have to put your foot on the brake pedal when you press the button to start - or is this only with automatics ?

It's the clutch on a manual - which I am doing of course. The fault behaviour is similar to pressing start without pressing the clutch so I might experiment with repeated presses of the clutch??

AndyT wrote:

It's the clutch on a manual - which I am doing of course. The fault behaviour is similar to pressing start without pressing the clutch so I might experiment with repeated presses of the clutch??

Can you flood a diesel engine? I thought that if the engine wasn't cranking then the pressure pump wouldn't run.

I tried to replicate the fault yesterday while in standing traffic but it behaved impeccably
It is intermittent, but at least the dealer has witnessed it so they know I'm not going mad. Doesn't mean they'll get to the bottom of it though

AndyT wrote:

Can you flood a diesel engine? I thought that if the engine wasn't cranking then the pressure pump wouldn't run.

I tried to replicate the fault yesterday while in standing traffic but it behaved impeccably
It is intermittent, but at least the dealer has witnessed it so they know I'm not going mad. Doesn't mean they'll get to the bottom of it though

Um, how would pressing the clutch flood the engine? 09MY FL2 Td4 XS, Style Pack, Privacy Glass, Martinique Blue.. oh so very blue..

Is a service action for this issue. PM whit last six from VIN and I check if your vehicle its in list. BR.

I saw this posting the day it was put on but had not expereinced the same problem until now. I just put my fob in the dock as usual and for some reason the electronic steering lock did not dissengage. I pushed the starter and the ingnition turn on, but the engine did not crank at all. The electronic fuel pump started. I repeated this several times, but still the same problem. I was on the verge of calling LRA, but after taking the fob in and out three times, it started and has been okay since. Weird. Not the same problem as this posting, but still related, if anyone else has experienced the same??  Gone - TD4 XS Auto, Sumatra Black, Mud flaps and side strips, clear indicators, private plate, privacy glass

somebody on here once warned us that the steering wheel can jam against the steering lock preventing it from releasing, in which case the car wont start, simply turn the wheel slightly to remove the pressure from the lock. Or did you already try that? At work
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Similar problems with mine, I have had one fob replaced and still having problems with other one.
Been told that these are over £120 to buy.

chicken george wrote:

somebody on here once warned us that the steering wheel can jam against the steering lock preventing it from releasing, in which case the car wont start, simply turn the wheel slightly to remove the pressure from the lock. Or did you already try that?

That could well have been the problem. Yeah I did turn the wheel as a matter of course. Thanks for the reply CG  Gone - TD4 XS Auto, Sumatra Black, Mud flaps and side strips, clear indicators, private plate, privacy glass

techauthorbob wrote:

Similar problems with mine, I have had one fob replaced and still having problems with other one.
Been told that these are over £120 to buy.

The fobs are over £120.00 to buy? I was told they are £300.00!! Does yours have this problem regularly??  Gone - TD4 XS Auto, Sumatra Black, Mud flaps and side strips, clear indicators, private plate, privacy glass

I would urge anyone having similar issues not to go buying fobs. I'm fairly convinced it's firmware on the car, possibly related to system checks not completing as expected or maybe a sensor not responding. Lots of things sit on the CANBUS and, although it's a robust data connection method, it's not perfect.
I have had this issue fairly infrequently but have had it with both fobs.

I've notived that this can happen if I already have the clutch pressed when I go to start. It seems that the system has to detect you actaully pressing the clutch after you put the fob in before it allows the engine to crank Gone... 2013 XS TD4 Manual Firenze Red
Gone... 2008 (09MY) XS Td4 Manual Stornaway Grey
Prior... 2003 G4 Discovery 2, 1998 Disco 1 and 1997 Disco 1 Company car before that
Also gone in Nov'13, after 7.5 yrs, to new owners with time for more TLC - 1980 Series III 88
Current 2015 Discovery Sport HSE 2.0