Disco 2 TD5 (2004) - Dashboard Warning Lights, but NOT the classic Three Amigos! (TC/ABS/Red !)

Hello to all

I've got an occasional recurring problem, that it similar too, but different from the age-old and more typical Three Amigos problems.

We get three lights come up, on occasion, but it is only the:

Yellow - Traction Control
Yellow - ABS
Red - Warning/Handbrake Light

(I've uploaded a pic).

This happens, on occasion, during braking. When it happens, it happens after the car has been running for a good while (I would say at least an hour), and actually during braking. Typically, it occurs during a braking event where you've started to brake normally (gently) to pull up smoothly, but have then had to brake harder than you previously expected, pushed down on the brake pedal a bit harder to pull up a bit sooner - and just prior to the car actually stopping, these three lights will come on with the three audible alarm bongs.

The lights will remain on for the duration of the journey, and will not come back on at the next restart. Occasionally, at the next restart, the yellow ABS light will stay for 10-15 seconds after start-up and pullaway, and then go out.

The last time this happened in town, I took the car up to my local LR independent specialist, and he kindly popped his fault code reader on it. I probably made the error of stopping the engine when I arrived, as when he turned the ignition on and starting scanning for codes, he showed me that there were no current or stored codes at all! He's a former Main Stealer trained mechanic, and he'd never seen this particular set of lights on a D2 dash before, but obviously knew all about the three amigos very well indeed.

Therefore, am at a bit of a loss as to what these lights represent, and why there are no fault codes showing on the mechanic scanner?!?! Anyone else seen this before and know what they mean?

Many thanks for any replies.

Have you checked the handbrake switch and brake fluid level switch?

Peter

Had exactly the same thing, sometimes lights and sometimes not. It was a sticking front brake caliper. Not the piston just the sliders. Had it for about 6 months exactly the same symptoms. Garage picked it up at service due to excessively worn pads on one side, stripped and greased it and touch wood no more problems in nearly a year. The rubber gaiters were missing off the slide pins which probably caused it and they fitted new ones. I had often noticed after braking there was a squeak coming from the front brakes but didn't really think much of it.

listerdiesel said:

Have you checked the handbrake switch and brake fluid level switch?

Peter

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Hello Lister

Thank you for this post - I neglected to mention, that our mechanic did check the brake fluid reservoir after checking the codes. The reservoir was a little low, but above the min line, but he topped it up a little in case the action of braking was causing the fluid to swish around and dip below the min. It made no difference as I had the same problem with the same lights on the journey home from seeing him!

I haven't checked the handbrake switch - how does one check this?

Many thanks

Yorkie57 said:

Had exactly the same thing, sometimes lights and sometimes not. It was a sticking front brake caliper. Not the piston just the sliders. Had it for about 6 months exactly the same symptoms. Garage picked it up at service due to excessively worn pads on one side, stripped and greased it and touch wood no more problems in nearly a year. The rubber gaiters were missing off the slide pins which probably caused it and they fitted new ones. I had often noticed after braking there was a squeak coming from the front brakes but didn't really think much of it.

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Hello Yorkie

Thank you very much for this post - I am now quietly optimistic that we've got the exact same issue that you had. I'll see if I can find somewhere to check this out. Really hope that it's as relatively straightforward to resolve as yours seems to have been [whilst also touching lots of wood on our mutual behalf!]

I'll go and check the discs and pads now, to see if I can see anything obvious or unevenly worn.

RD

Hi, can you see the HDC amber warning working on ignitionn self test? even though if the ABS lights stays on untill the vehicle exceeds 10mph there must be a sensor related fault stored or if it isnt it might be an ECU missbehaviour

sierrafery said:

Hi, can you see the HDC amber warning working on ignitionn self test? even though if the ABS lights stays on untill the vehicle exceeds 10mph there must be a sensor related fault stored or if it isnt it might be an ECU missbehaviour

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Hi Siera

Yes - just gone out and double-checked. Both green (top left) and amber (bottom row) HDC warning lights come on fine during the ignition test - no issues with the bulb/s.

There's defo nothing being recorded at all, no stored or current fault codes, at all - have already checked! The mechanic thought it was unusual too...

Checked your calipers yet, I had no faults stored either.

Yorkie57 said:

Checked your calipers yet, I had no faults stored either.

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Hi Yorkie

No, not yet. I'm still trying to work exactly what I need to do, so as not to have to pop it down to a local mechanic to do it for me... I don't know how to check them to be honest with you! I've never really worked on brakes before.

Handy with spanners though.