spryguyuk

New Member
Hi all, i am a new member and i need help.

A few weeks ago i purchased a 2001 Freelander 1.8 3 door k series. purchased it blind and without mot. it was delivered the next day and put it straight into an mot. it failed, Dismally, but i was expecting it to. but any-who....
on the failure sheet there was an alarming number of lights that should come on during bulb check that did not light up at all. it did not take me long to realize that there was abs issues and srs issues. and the reason for no lights was someone had been into to the instrument panel and smashed the bulbs off. SO... i ordered a replacement dash and fired up the car, and sure enough it was lit up like a Christmas tree, including the 3 amigos. so i purchased a decent obd system that reads every system and set to doing scans, there was 3 ABS sensors that was showing permanent codes. i have just today fitted new sensors on all 3 wheels, and using the obd reader i cleared the codes and re scanned to see if anything else popped up, and no new codes, when i backed out the menu all the lights went out and for a short while i breathed a sigh of relief. but as soon as i removed the obd the ABS light came back on its own. so fired up the obd again and re scanned, still no codes, i live charted all 4 sensors for 10 mins, stationary on the drive and it was ready all 4 sensors without any spikes but oddly at a consistent, 0.7 mph even though it was parked.

My obd system also has the option to diagnose the instrument panel, so i headed into that menu and scanned. i got a DTC08 code saying, "Missing the CAN message from the abs - Intermittent", (i dont know what that means), i cleared the codes thinking that with the abs sensors now working that it might clear the problem, and the light went out, but as soon as i backed out that menu the abs came back on. only the abs. all other lights extinguish as they should, does anyone have a suggested action, or did i miss something?
 
You sound like you're pretty proficient with the diagnostics kit. Probably to a level higher than most of us on here - but there are notable exceptions who may be able to offer some decent advice.

My only thoughts are that maybe there is a poor connection somewhere. You've been through the connectors to the instrument pack, maybe its the connectors to the ABS ECU (which on yours is bolted to the Teves modulator I believe (on my Wabco setup its under the drivers seat). Maybe a poor earth to the ABS or instrument pack wiring, or possibly to do with the wiring to the ODB port.

There is a Rave workshop manual that you can download. It has full electrical diagrams in and also photos of all the connectors (and earth points I believe) showing their location. There's info on downloading it here..

https://www.landyzone.co.uk/land-rover/rave-disk-maintenance-manual.260227/

Good luck.
 
You sound like you're pretty proficient with the diagnostics kit. Probably to a level higher than most of us on here - but there are notable exceptions who may be able to offer some decent advice.

My only thoughts are that maybe there is a poor connection somewhere. You've been through the connectors to the instrument pack, maybe its the connectors to the ABS ECU (which on yours is bolted to the Teves modulator I believe (on my Wabco setup its under the drivers seat). Maybe a poor earth to the ABS or instrument pack wiring, or possibly to do with the wiring to the ODB port.

There is a Rave workshop manual that you can download. It has full electrical diagrams in and also photos of all the connectors (and earth points I believe) showing their location. There's info on downloading it here..

https://www.landyzone.co.uk/land-rover/rave-disk-maintenance-manual.260227/

Good luck.
Many thanks indeed. I will check out the rave. I have managed now to get hold of the original workshop manual for this model. It says that if the light extinguishes and comes back on then it indicates a correctly working abs system. It should go out again when driven above 7mph. So that will be my next step. But the wiring diagrams will be help in rave. As I have srs issues that appear to be related to the removal of the factory radio. Spotted yellow/black (airbag related apparently) striped wires in the wiring harness for the radio. Srs is not showing codes though.
 
Stupid question regarding that ABS light: have you driven the car over 4 mph? Once the error codes are cleared, the 3-amigos come on with the ignition, extinguish and then the ABS light comes on and stays on until the road speed exceeds 4mph.

I don't know why the system is configured like this?

If you've done all that and the ABS light stays on, then ignore my blithering musings! ;)

A stationary "velocity" of 0.7mph is not unusual - and I presume within the calibration error for the sensors. It generally doesn't worry the ECU terribly much :)
 
THanks rob. Not gone as far as driving it yet as had to go to work. But fingers crossed. The instrument panel error codes have cleared without issue and they are now functioning correctly. So fingers crossed on a test drive tomorrow morning
 
UPDATE. 1 Freelander ready for MOT. Abs extinguished correctly at 7mph and stayed out. I even got to the bottom of the srs light. In the end it was simply a case of putting in an original radio. There are a pair of black/yellow striped wires in the head unit harness. After speaking to a landrover parts specialist last night. The rotory coupler is earthed through head unit wiring harness along with the horn. Making the original head unit a relay for the airbag system. Installed an original unit. Cleared the codes and so far. Its working. Mot monday morning. Update to follow
 
Fantastic! :D

Strange regarding SRS: the MGF system is a completely separate loom. But it isn’t CAN BUS. I suspect it must be the earths?

BTW my 2001 3dr 1.8 has an aftermarket head unit, but no problems?

Good it’s sorted!!! :D
 
I am pleased to announce that another landy destined for scrap is now road legal. Mot passed

Congratulations ! It must be a good feeling to rescue a scrapper and bring her back to life.
Don't they except black tape over the bulbs anymore ? Lol
 

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