Hi Everyone. Please can someone shed some light on an issue I am having with my 2007 Freelander. An intermittent problem is becoming more frequent. The problem (when it occurs) is that when I insert the fob in the dock it goes in very slowly, rather than the usual buzz, and when I press the start button it bleeps at me and shows engine fault on the dash and won’t start. I press the fob to eject and it does it slowly again without the usual “buzz”. I faffed about sticking my finger in the fob slot and can make it buzz and then when re trying the fob it will start the car, albeit showing HDC inactive on the dash. Normally does it in the morning. When back to it this evening and it was fine. Of the two fobs I have one seems to work better in the slot than the other one. I know all this sounds a bit random but any help would be appreciated. Could it be the docking station at fault or dirty inside? Has the batteries in the fob itself have an effect on this? I’m an agricultural engineer by trade so I’m not daft when it comes to fixing things but this is proving a problem. What’s wrong with a good old fashioned key?

Looking forward to some sensible suggestions

Thank you

Basics first - how old is the car's battery & what is the resting voltage in the morning before starting? The slow dock / HDC error could be a sign of a weak main battery. Also, the fact the problem is more prevalent in the mornings (cold, after overnight discharge from the alarm system) compared to the evenings could further point to a weak or failing battery.

Thanks, some things to check. The battery is only about 12 months old and voltage seems good. When it doesn’t start I leave it all day and try in the evening and it may work sometimes, so no extra charge has gone in the battery. If I prod the fob dock a few times with my finger it sometimes starts. It’s a very intermittent fault. Always occurs at the most inconvenient times. On one occasion it started and then switched itself off again after about 20 seconds, showing HDC fault again. I’m baffled. I read somewhere about adding an extra earth cable. Could this help?

OK, so the battery should be good as it is fairly new. [Just be aware that Freelanders eat batteries] The HDC error is known for appearing on cars suffering from electrical issues - which is why I thought the battery was worth checking. Adding a second cable is worth doing, particularly on an older car.

So the problem is intermittent - getting worse. Have you got access to a DTC reader - it would be interesting to know what is happening when you try to start it, but it fails to start. Particularly what voltage the ECU thinks it is getting during starting..

As to the key fobs / dock module being the cause of the problem, I'm not convinced just yet. I think it is more likely to be electrical and what you're seeing are symptoms rather than the source of the problem. You mentioned that the 2 fobs behave slightly differently - are they both originals? [Both of my car's key fobs have been replaced with aftermarket fobs at some point in its past - both fobs enter the dock at different speeds - one is noticeably slower than the other...]

I hear what you are saying of it being a symptom rather than the cause. I shall try the earth lead trick. The fobs are original and quite worn looking, the little slot for a key ring long since broken away. I gather the battery inside is charged while in the dock, is this right? I have recently acquired a SnapOn diagnostic tool, still working out how to use it. I’m away for a week so will report further when I get back.

Check the rubber on the fobs isn't swollen. Also hanging house keys, keyrings etc from the fob.This can cause poor docking. But as for the none start, may be as simple as needing a new fob battery.

Thank you. I will look in to this when I get back in a week.