3 Amigo brake light switch replacement Guide

This site contains affiliate links for which LandyZone may be compensated if you make a purchase.
hello need help , i have tc/hdc light on dash and no brake lights , i have changed brake switch ( mine is a black square sort ) plz help
 
there are many threads on this subject, a search would be a big help to you;)


one of the possibles is that the wiring for the hdc in the gearstick gaiter is damaged, check that.
 
Interesting posts on the 3 Amigo,s, Im having the same problems myself, I have no lights up for miles and then I touch the brakes and wallah!! up they come. Its so frustrating! Luckily they only stay on a few seconds but its so annoying. Im thinking its brake connected but is it the ABS sensor? brake lights are working fine but is the switch loose or corroded Its so annoying when its intermittent. Any ideas any one to cheer me up!
 
New in this forum. I have a 2005 Freelander V6 and, 3 amigo lights(abs/tc/hdc) all on constantly after bulb check. The symptom showed right after I replcaed the faulty rear right wheel bearing couple days ago. But brake lights are oprating normally. Bought the bearmach OEM bearing from the UK and made sure the magnetic pole side facing inboard while installing the new bearing to HUB. The 3 lights used to flashed a few times couple years ago, but never constantly lit.

Find a few interesting facts:
1. do a full brake fluid bleed and refill, car is on ramp and 4 wheels hanging in the air. During the entire process of changing brake fluid, the 3 amigos did not show while engine running. Once put back on road and drive it for a few meters long, they poped out again...
2. car is still, turn key to ignition, gear at "P", engage HDC button, then "green" HDC indicator flashes on dashboard as expected. (3 amigos remain lit:()
Turn on engine, still hold brake pedal, and then put gear to "1", green HDC constantly lit, showing HDC in operation normally?! (3 amigos remain lit:()
Then slowly pull away in 1st gear, driving up and down and find the HDC working perfectly as if there were nothing wrong with the abs(wheel speed) sensors. After a very short while the 3 amigos vanished for no reason:confused:
Then slow down to the roadside, changing gear to "D", slowly pull away (test again: until speed hits 20km/hr). All the sudden, the 3 amigos visit me again and remain lit for the rest of the test drive until I turn off my car.

Could anyone please kindly let me know whether this could be linked to the brake light switch? Or it's the abs speed sensor? Or re-installing a new bearing all over again?

Any suggestion is appreciated!

Thanks for your patience reading through my story.
 
Last edited:
Sounds like the HDC wiring is ok.
The brake light switch is pretty cheap, so possibly worth changing anyway just to rule it out.
If it's a faulty ABS sensor, a high-end fault reader (like Textbook or Hawkeye) will tell you which one, maybe someone near you has one.
 
bukko said:
Sounds like the HDC wiring is ok.
The brake light switch is pretty cheap, so possibly worth changing anyway just to rule it out.
If it's a faulty ABS sensor, a high-end fault reader (like Textbook or Hawkeye) will tell you which one, maybe someone near you has one.
Click to expand...

Thank you, bukko. Yes, I also checked the HDC wiring underneath the gear gaiter with flashlight, it looks normal to me. And you are right, my own cheap bluetooth OBD can only talk to engine ecu. The ABS ecu was diagnosed at the dealership using T4 testbook: it reads out 4 or 5 historical faults (but they did not print a copy for me:doh:)

The only specific clue of the stored fault codes is that: "rear right speed sensor periodic fault" <-- the very same one I replaced a faulty bearing on. So I'm wondering should I buy a new rear abs sensor or simply re-do the bearing job...:(

As I updated in my original post that I did the 2nd test drive, this time (turn on->still->pull away) as long as I kept my speed under 20km/hr in the parking lot, engage HDC or not, after the 3 amigos went away, they don't show up again for the rest of the driving. Once I accelerate above 20km/hr, the 3 amigos came right back! So really sounds like a faulty abs sensor, doesn't it?:confused:
 
Last edited:
Just to update my solution to my own problem as below in case someone had my misfortune:mad::



The 3-amigos issue is resolved...luckily I purchased two new bearings at first. I went to another local technician, and he used diagnostic computer to test the car for me again, we were sure about the ABS sensor is good (we mesured the continuity of the ABS snesor wiring and its Ohm value, looks fine.), but "periodic signal reading" fault persisted. So the only explanation is the new bearing that I put on couple days ago could have been damaged while the first garage press it into the HUB...or it was a faulty one but somehow passed bearmach's Q.C. for odd reason.




Anyway, we decide to use the spare new bearing and re-do the replacement all over again. Then it works. No more three amber warning lights pop out.


The question is judging from the exterior look, we cannot be sure whether the first bearing was damaged(faulty) BEFORE I put it on or it was damaged by the careless mechanic...so I can't really blame anyone but my own misfortune

Hopefully others can pay attention to bearing (active ABS sensing on 2005 MY V6 type, no reluctor ring on drive shaft, magnetic bearing) job in the future.




Thanks.


PS: bukko, I did not try new sensor first because it won't arrive at me until next week...plus the continuity of wiring does seem fine.

commandostw said:
Thank you, bukko. Yes, I also checked the HDC wiring underneath the gear gaiter with flashlight, it looks normal to me. And you are right, my own cheap bluetooth OBD can only talk to engine ecu. The ABS ecu was diagnosed at the dealership using T4 testbook: it reads out 4 or 5 historical faults (but they did not print a copy for me:doh:)

The only specific clue of the stored fault codes is that: "rear right speed sensor periodic fault" <-- the very same one I replaced a faulty bearing on. So I'm wondering should I buy a new rear abs sensor or simply re-do the bearing job...:(

As I updated in my original post that I did the 2nd test drive, this time (turn on->still->pull away) as long as I kept my speed under 20km/hr in the parking lot, engage HDC or not, after the 3 amigos went away, they don't show up again for the rest of the driving. Once I accelerate above 20km/hr, the 3 amigos came right back! So really sounds like a faulty abs sensor, doesn't it?:confused:
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
Hi guys I have 3 amigos diagnostic says rear abs sensor, just wondering if new sensor is fitted will lights automatically go out or does something have to be done I.e computer type techno stuff :confused:
 
mbrokof said:
Thanks for thread and pics. I think I 've got the same problems but have even with pics no clue where the throttle pot is??? I had a quick look in the engine compartment but couldn't find nothing :(
Click to expand...

Likewise... ! Even with the pic. Where am I looking for this beasty? Is it in the engine compartment or fuse area or behind the centre console or... ? Ta.
 
I have just replaced mine on an 03 Freelander. It is next to the brake pedal high up under the dash. You need the lay on your back and look between the brake pedal and clutch pedal, or on the left hand side of the brake pedal.
Unfortunatley on mine replacing the switch did not cure the problem. The TC and HDC lights stay on. I tested the ABS and it works fine can feel the brake pedal modulating. So now not sure what it is.
 
Update when I plug into the OBD2 socket there is error P0120 this relates to the TPS sensor. The revs are varying on tick over so could this be the cause of the TC HDC fault.
 
Hello

Newbie here. I own a freelander 2001 1.8.

I am having the same issue but I cannot locate the brake switch

I took a photo below the fusebox

could someone tell me where is the switch located?
 

Attachments

  • image.jpg
    image.jpg
    180 KB · Views: 503
Brake switch is behind the brake pedal arm. Up near the top.

take of wires and twist to remove.
switch fixes 2 amigos/no brake lights problem. 3 amigos seems to be abs sensors
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

S
Freelander 2 (LR2) Brake Pedal Cruise Control Switch
Replies
0
Views
348
Stevelander 2
S
S
Hi/low switch
Replies
8
Views
659
Shore968
S
S
wiper park switch: why does it connect to earth
Replies
9
Views
818
ANK84
A
G
brake light switch
Replies
5
Views
1K
Alteredtech
Alteredtech
S
Windscreen Wiper switch question
Replies
4
Views
820
TS2304
TS2304
Back
Top