S

Shaz

New Member
Hello there, we have finally got our 1st ever landrover discovery 95 300TDi ES (Lenny) (Is it sad that we have named it?) and obsolutely LOVE it. It has so far exceeded all our expectations and mud has never seemed so attractive! :)

We have had a few issues with it, which we were expecting with the age of it - but generally its in very good condition.

We have had issues with the ABS brakes (quite scarrily we have had the brakes fail on us twice). Thankfully we have been able to find out from a very friendly local landrover chap who has a diagnostic computer that it is the ABS ECU module, so we are hoping to get our hands on one of those through EBAY or similar. Are there any other internet places that anyone would recommend for bits we might need for it? - Also tyres etc.

Bye for now!
 
Shaz said:
Hello there, we have finally got our 1st ever landrover discovery 95 300TDi ES (Lenny) (Is it sad that we have named it?) and obsolutely LOVE it. It has so far exceeded all our expectations and mud has never seemed so attractive! :)

We have had a few issues with it, which we were expecting with the age of it - but generally its in very good condition.

We have had issues with the ABS brakes (quite scarrily we have had the brakes fail on us twice). Thankfully we have been able to find out from a very friendly local landrover chap who has a diagnostic computer that it is the ABS ECU module, so we are hoping to get our hands on one of those through EBAY or similar. Are there any other internet places that anyone would recommend for bits we might need for it? - Also tyres etc.

Bye for now!
Click to expand...



Hi Shaz and welcome to the wonderful world of mud and Land Rovers.

Re your brakes problem, I understand that you believe that your local chap is good and he has given you the answer, but I must tell you that it is extremely rare for the ABS ECU to just "go" and require replacing.

If you're not careful you'll end up buying a new module only to find that the fault remains. I find these diagnosis somewhat suspicious and too easy to trot out to a newby to the land of Land.

The usual problems for ABS malfunctions are: faulty wheel sensor, dirty wheel sensor, poor adjusted wheel sensor. See a pattern there??

If I were you I would want to know exactly where the problem lies before!!! laying out any cash on new bits.

Better diagnosis is what's called for here. What are the brakes doing exactly, can you describe in detail?
 
Hi thebiglad

The brake failure is an intermitant fault. The problem always happens at low speed braking (often under 15mph) the brake pedal has the usual resistance and you get a horrible juddering and noise on the pedal, you can continue to push the pedal as usual, but the brakes just fail to work!, after that 2 mins later they will work fine. We can go days with no probs, and then have it could fail several times in one outing!!

The ABS light is on all the time. We have had the disco up on the ramps in the garage, and all the sensors have been inspected, all seem exactly as they should and are not dirty, loose, damaged and they all look uniform.

We have been advised it is not the servo - as this would cause failure all the time, and it is not the vacuum pump, as the pedal is hard before starting the disco, and goes slightly soft when starting, which is as it should?

We have had the brake fluid replaced and the system bled, the fluid that came out was VERY dirty and full of air.

We can get an ABS ECU from a local LR breakers, who are happy to take it back if it doesnt cure the problem.

What do you recon? - LR's are all new to us!

http://www.landyzone.co.uk/lz/members/thebiglad.html
 
Shaz said:
Hi thebiglad

The brake failure is an intermitant fault. The problem always happens at low speed braking (often under 15mph) the brake pedal has the usual resistance and you get a horrible juddering and noise on the pedal, you can continue to push the pedal as usual, but the brakes just fail to work!, after that 2 mins later they will work fine. We can go days with no probs, and then have it could fail several times in one outing!!

The ABS light is on all the time. We have had the disco up on the ramps in the garage, and all the sensors have been inspected, all seem exactly as they should and are not dirty, loose, damaged and they all look uniform.

We have been advised it is not the servo - as this would cause failure all the time, and it is not the vacuum pump, as the pedal is hard before starting the disco, and goes slightly soft when starting, which is as it should?

We have had the brake fluid replaced and the system bled, the fluid that came out was VERY dirty and full of air.

We can get an ABS ECU from a local LR breakers, who are happy to take it back if it doesnt cure the problem.

What do you recon? - LR's are all new to us!
Click to expand...


Hi Shaz, it sounds to me like you have been very methodical about how you've approached resolving this brake problem.

As I said earlier I'm not in favour of swapping out bits without very good proof they are faulty, but you've tried quite a lot already.

My wife's TDi 300 has, on occasions, a similar sounding problem, so I would be most grateful to find out how you resolve yours.

If the breaker will supply you an ABS ECU on a sale or return basis I can't see how you can fail - if it works great pay the man, if it doesn't you don't pay.

I don't want to upset you in any way but the only other component that could be at fault is the ABS pump itself - and they can be expensive.

Let's just hope that the swapped ECU cures the fault and everyone is happy.
 
thebiglad said:
Hi Shaz, it sounds to me like you have been very methodical about how you've approached resolving this brake problem.

As I said earlier I'm not in favour of swapping out bits without very good proof they are faulty, but you've tried quite a lot already.

My wife's TDi 300 has, on occasions, a similar sounding problem, so I would be most grateful to find out how you resolve yours.

If the breaker will supply you an ABS ECU on a sale or return basis I can't see how you can fail - if it works great pay the man, if it doesn't you don't pay.

I don't want to upset you in any way but the only other component that could be at fault is the ABS pump itself - and they can be expensive.

Let's just hope that the swapped ECU cures the fault and everyone is happy.
Click to expand...




Hi again, :)

Thanks for your comments, we are hoping to get hold of and try the replacement ABS ECU next week, so we will let you know how we get on. (fingers crossed it does the trick - don't fancy having to get an ABS pump)
 
If you do a search for ABS faults on here you will find,eventually,a way of reading the fault codes yourself without a computer hooked up.Its not terribly hard but if you CANT do it yourself it might be worth printing off the directions and getting a friendly independant mechanic try it,it may save you a lot of cash.

With any luck someone cleverer than me (ie anyone ) might post a link for you!!
 
If you do a search for ABS faults on here you will find,eventually,a way of reading the fault codes yourself without a computer hooked up.Its not terribly hard but if you CANT do it yourself it might be worth printing off the directions and getting a friendly independant mechanic try it,it may save you a lot of cash.

With any luck someone cleverer than me (ie anyone ) might post a link for you!!
 
Quick update for you................. we have fitted replacement ABS ECU (£20 from local LR breakers), and the blooming ABS light still won't go out. Brakes haven't failed though (yet) with the replacement ECU, but I still don't trust it, as it often behaves for a day or so, and then fails several times in one day.

When it was hooked up to the computer diagnostics in the garage the other day the chap definately said that was the problem part - does that mean that this replacement part is also faulty or that it is not the only problem, or will we need to take it back to the garage to have them re-set it on the computer before the ABS light goes out?

Any further ideas - or is it just a process of replacing bits until the ABS light dissapears?
 
Shaz said:
Quick update for you................. we have fitted replacement ABS ECU (£20 from local LR breakers), and the blooming ABS light still won't go out. Brakes haven't failed though (yet) with the replacement ECU, but I still don't trust it, as it often behaves for a day or so, and then fails several times in one day.

When it was hooked up to the computer diagnostics in the garage the other day the chap definately said that was the problem part - does that mean that this replacement part is also faulty or that it is not the only problem, or will we need to take it back to the garage to have them re-set it on the computer before the ABS light goes out?

Any further ideas - or is it just a process of replacing bits until the ABS light dissapears?
Click to expand...


I would have thought it was MOST UNLIKELY that this additional ECU is faulty so it might just be a matter of cancelling the fault codes. Another trip to the garage I'm afraid.
 
Thanks, off to the garage again then!!

Am I right in thinking that it will fail an MOT if the ABS light is on all the time? - Also is it failure if no ABS light is on at all (ie as the previous owner did - take the bulb out!!??)
 
Yes, its a fail if the ABS doesn't work properly. The light should come on when you start the car and then go off when you got to about 5mph, anything else is an MOT fail
 
Shaz said:
we have finally got our 1st ever landrover discovery 95 300TDi ES (Lenny) (Is it sad that we have named it?) and obsolutely LOVE it.
Click to expand...

No it is not sad that you have named it. Every owner I know of with a Land Rover soon name it after a few weeks (sometimes days), the names are fairly common like in humans you know like John but the more common ones are B*STARD, PIECE OF SH*T, BAG OF CR*P, LEAKING F*CKING P*XY ECT, so Lenny is quite nice.

Mine does not have a name so there are some good ones out there, these are fantastic motors and I love mine to bits! Just service it properly and as already mentioned get various opinions on problems that might occur using this forum, here is a wealth of knowledge that far outstrips many garages including the main stealers.

FWIW I have never seen a brake ECU fail, and if there is a common ABS problem then it's the wheel slip sensors or attached wiring/connectors.

I hope you sort your problem but keep an eye on this forum in the future and you will be amazed at how much money you can save using advice on doing a lot of the jobs yourself.

Good luck with Basta...........oops sorry Lenny
icon10.gif


regards

Dave
 
Dave 2000 said:
No it is not sad that you have named it. Every owner I know of with a Land Rover soon name it after a few weeks (sometimes days), the names are fairly common like in humans you know like John but the more common ones are B*STARD, PIECE OF SH*T, BAG OF CR*P, LEAKING F*CKING P*XY ECT, so Lenny is quite nice.



Good luck with Basta...........oops sorry Lenny
icon10.gif


regards

Dave
Click to expand...


:hysterically_laughi
 
You should all think yourselves lucky - my current disco number plate is P**FTA so everyone refers to it as poofta :suspicious::suspicious: thank you so very much in advance for your supportive comments
 
shocker said:
You should all think yourselves lucky - my current disco number plate is P**FTA so everyone refers to it as poofta :suspicious::suspicious: thank you so very much in advance for your supportive comments
Click to expand...



Right lads, turn All the cannons this way - right a bit, left a bit and FIRE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
Shooting pooftas, is that legal now? I thought they banned hunting. :D

Last time I had an intermittant ABS fault I just took the wheel sensors out, wiped 'em with a rag and put them back. After clearing the ECU fault codes it worked a treat. (The ECU was complaining about low signals from the wheel sensors). There's a couple of pins that you short together on the ECU connector to get it to flash the codes on the ABS light, having done that it clears them from the log. Can't remember the exact details but a Google search should bring it up.
 
Sparks said:
Shooting pooftas, is that legal now? I thought they banned hunting. :D

Last time I had an intermittant ABS fault I just took the wheel sensors out, wiped 'em with a rag and put them back. After clearing the ECU fault codes it worked a treat. (The ECU was complaining about low signals from the wheel sensors). There's a couple of pins that you short together on the ECU connector to get it to flash the codes on the ABS light, having done that it clears them from the log. Can't remember the exact details but a Google search should bring it up.
Click to expand...


Are the sensors easy enough to get out with damaging them?, Would dodgy sensors be enough to cause the intermitant brake failure?
 
It was a classic range rover that I was working on at the time but the Disco is very much the same. The sensors are only held in place by a rubber bush. You can get them out by gently prising them with a suitable lever. Make sure you clean around them first though, you don't want any muck falling down the hole.

An intermittant fault can occur if the sensor has been dislodged so that its face is too far away from the exciter ring. You could just push them home without taking them out if that's all the fault is.

On the naming front, mine's called Reg. Well he's R Reg isn't he? :)
 
Hi... a further update for you.

We have finally got rid of the ABS light and intermitant break failure!! - yipeeee!! (and no, we haven't taken out the bulb or fuse!)

With the help of our local friendly LR specialist garage (£20 diagnostic check) we appear to have fixed the fault. As well as a replacement ECU (£20 LR breakers), we also replaced one of the front sensors, which was what was showing up as an intermitant fault on the diagnostic test. It wasn't the sensor itself, but the wiring from the senor, so although visually it appeared to be ok it was further down the line. We went to the LR breakers again and got ourselves a sensor c/w wiring for £10, fitted it and so far so good.

The ABS light comes on as it should on starting the disco and goes out around 5mph..... AND WE HAVE BRAKES!! (which is quite a novelty now!)

It's well worth doing some homework to find a local friendly garage who live and breath LR's! - Their knowledge and experience is fantastic and they charge a fraction of the price that main dealers charge.

Hope this helps you if you are having similar problems - good luck.

Now..... next job......attempt to get the central locking to work!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

9
300TDI Doughnut
Replies
9
Views
690
9255 steve
9
C
snapped speedo cable Disco 1
Replies
14
Views
813
Curly Oak
C
Gothicsera
Discovery 2 TD5 Lack of Power
Replies
4
Views
211
sierrafery
sierrafery
H
Lost Key Inside the car
Replies
0
Views
461
haggishunter
H
F
Disco 4 boot unlatching
Replies
4
Views
574
FiMac
F