Just had a new alternator put on my 2001 Rover 25 and now it won't restart.

Some time ago we had the central locking system failure, and had to cancel the external central locking system so that now I can only open the doors by manually opening them with the key. Which was fine until today when as I say, having had the battery disconnected to fit the new alternator, which worked fine and the car started. However, when I went to pick it up from my mates garage it would not start. The central locking immobiliser stops the engine starting although the door opens without setting off the alarm.

We have tried clicking and unclicking the doors but a few times, but nothing changes.
I'm told we need the EKA, but don't have paperwork for that, so any bright ideas please?

Paul

WE might be able to help you in the Rover Coupe Owners Club,

Out of interest, what was done with the alarm system previously?

You can post us the 5AS module, and we can recover the EKA code - but we can also programme in replacement fobs..

https://store.rover-coupe.com/services/ ... plied_fobs

HI thanks for the reply.

Some time ago, the remote control central locking failed, and honestly I couldn't find or necessarily afford to get a new system. So the remote part was bypassed. So no battery in the fob. Indeed, the recent key is not designed for a battery.
But it unlocks the drivers door and boot lock. so for at least 3 years, the car started and worked properly.
Then as I said, the alternator failed and after the replacement yesterday, the car started initially, but then later when I went to start it the key opened the door, but the engine stop red light stayed on, then would not let the motor start.

SO any more bright ideas please.

Paul

Since you have Lucas 5AS system in your car, every time you replace/disconnect car battery or battery in your fob you need to re-sync it with the car. Otherwise you will not be able to start your car as you can see.

Fob is not there just for central locking but for alarm as well. So you need to press unlock button on your fob 4 to 5 times relatively quickly in order for fob to resync with your car. Then you can try to start the car, when red led goes away.

Note that you need to do that with ALL fobs you have. Otherwise other fob/s will not be synced with the car.

Having in mind that you do not use fobs, that means you need to enter EKA code in order not to use fobs. BUT each time you disconnect car battery same thing will happen.

If you do not have EKA code written down, then you will need to extract 5AS from your car and send it to someone to read the EKA, or you will need to get someone come to your car to read the EKA code.

craig9 wrote: ↑Tue Jan 06, 2026 12:27 am HI thanks for the reply.

Some time ago, the remote control central locking failed, and honestly I couldn't find or necessarily afford to get a new system. So the remote part was bypassed. So no battery in the fob. Indeed, the recent key is not designed for a battery.
But it unlocks the drivers door and boot lock. so for at least 3 years, the car started and worked properly.
Then as I said, the alternator failed and after the replacement yesterday, the car started initially, but then later when I went to start it the key opened the door, but the engine stop red light stayed on, then would not let the motor start.

SO any more bright ideas please.

Paul

If system has been somehow bypassed, or modified in someway its difficult to know what to suggest as would need to work out what ever has been done and work back.. All we can really support is standard configurations without looking. as I say, we can recover the EKA code and programme new fobs via RCOC

As Richard says if its been modified hard to say cant you get the guy who modified it back whats your location?

It might be worth checking the fuse for the alarm/immobiliser, which if memory serves me correctly is fuse 8 in the engine compartment fuse box: