HDC Amber Light and Revving Juddering engine

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SamanthaK

New Member
Posts
8
Please help - Something awful has happened to my Freelander 1.8 (T reg). I was driving it and then all of a sudden the engine started revving madly on its own, the break pedal wouldnt press down and the car wouldnt break properly, it juddered, stalled, bounced, jerked!!!! The HDC light came on in amber with an exclamtion mark!!!!! The HDC switch on the gear stick in in normal position but i cant turn the HDC light off. If i switch off the engine and leave for a minute before switching on again, the light does not go on straight away but as soon as i drive it kicks in and goes mad! Also on top of this, there is a burning smell now coming from the exhaust!!!! Please tell me this is something not as awful as its sounds!!!!!
 
Just checked after the car has been off for an hour. When i start the ignition, the amber HDC light comes on straight away now and the exhuast sounds terrible and the revs are very uneven. I didnt attempt to drive it!!! Ive has people look at this post but no advice yet - does anyone have any ideas????? Dont make me beg ;-)
 
pm clutchdust - he mite be able to help yu.

the hdc light is a common problem, with lots of causes. the throttle is not cable controlled - it is electronic - so yu mite have probs there - also the abs, hdc and throttle are all linked by control units - so if one of those has gone down it might explain yo problems. I am sure yu will get more knowledgable advice - but pm CD - he mite be yo best quick option.
 
You really are MAD in that hat man ! 1.8 k series in a F/L has a throttle cable,unlikely its sticking,more likely the Throttle position sensor is not giving a low enough output with the throttle released to let the ecu think it should be under idle control.Off idle the idle stepper motor stays well open so it can close down steadily to give good emissions and prevent stalling.
This is a common fault on F/L 1.8's,the replacement throttle body is now cast ally rather than plastic.
The reason for the HDC lamp is that if the ABS ecu does not see a closed throttle,(according to TPS sensor output to the engine ecu) when you put your foot on the brake it will not be able to fulfill its requirements IF the HDC were switched on,doesnt matter if you want to use it or not.Drive along with your foot on the throttle and brake at the same time and you will find out - Dont do this unless you can get a free reset on Testbook,cos you'll need it to get rid of the warning lights.
Ocassionally you can repair the plastic throttle bodies,but the ally ones work much better.Doubt there is much else wrong with it.
 
thanks 8 - i dont know the 1.8 very well but woz tryin to be helpful - i assumed !!! that the tps was an electronic feed to the ecu. mistaken agin.... Oh well nevva too old to learn. At least it prompted a knowledgeable reply - worth getting flamed for :D
 
sounds like sticking throttle, some throttle bodies on the 1.8 were prone to sticking, the light comes on because the tpi is sending a signal to the ecu that the throttle is open but the pedal isn't being pressed (there is a switch on the pedal too)

Also if the throttle cable is over adjusted it will put the HDC warning light on because the throttle opens before the pedal switch detects movement of the pedal (its a hall effect switch)

1.8 and V6 share the same system
 
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