Frequently asked questions, and answers about the Land Rover Discovery 3, 4 and Range Rover Sport.

Why
The FAQ exists so that new owners can quickly find the information they need instead of posting what is to them a new question but is to the regulars something that is asked every month which becomes very tedious, and turns away the very people whose expertise the new owners are seeking.

Please contribute -- add posts to the bottom with useful facts, links to other resources or threads, anything you think may be useful to other owners. There is no guarantee it will be used and the content may be edited, but that's pretty rare. Not all of the questions are fully answered but there should be sufficient information for you to conduct further research.

If you are in the industry, eg a journalist, please acknowledge this FAQ if you use information from it.

This is an Australian document but much of the information is common to other countries.

Please SEARCH before you post a question in the D3/D4/RRS forum!! Here's the link -> http://www.aulro.com/afvb/search.php

Disclaimer
This is worth what you paid for it. Do you own research before you rely on the answers.

Last update Date: 16/10/2010

Location:
www.aulro.com/afvb/d3-d4-zone/93220-aulro-discovery-3-4-rrs-faq.html

Contents
General
Is the D3 reliable?
How good is the V6 for towing?
Why can't I manually do <action>
What are the cool tricks?
Can I get an extended warranty after the standard Land Rover warranty?
What child restraints are there?
Can three child seats fit in the second row?
Are the owner's manuals available online?
Are there other FAQs or forums?
Is there a list of Land Rover specialist shops?
Where can I get offroad driver training?

Models & History
Were there ever any 5-seater HSE V8s?
Are there coil-sprung D3s?
When was the D4 introduced?

Accessories and Modifications
What spare wheel carriers are available?
Why should I fit a spare wheel carrier?
What bullbars are available?
Are there cargo barriers available?
Can the third row be removed?
Can the rear locker (the e-diff) be retrofitted?
What's the best dual battery kit?
How can I check the vehicle has an e-diff?
What are the options for long range tanks?
Can I mount a compressor under the bonnet?
Where can I put a UHF antenna?
How do I install a UHF radio?
Where's the best place for a remote-head UHF unit?
Where can I fit a sand flag?
What size canvas tourer bag can fit on the OEM Expedition roofrack?
What snorkels are available?
Can the front headrests be adjusted?What roof channels and cross bars/roof racks are available and what are their advantages/disadvantages?
Can I get sheep skin seat covers for the front seats?
Can Aftermarket Wiper Blades be fitted?


Wheels and Tyres
What are the minimum rim sizes for the D3/D4/RRS?
What's the best tyre?
What's the largest and widest tyre I can fit?
How do I find an appropriately speed-rated tyre?
What aftermarket rims are there available?
What's the factory offset and widths?
Can any tyre shop do a wheel alignment?

Suspension
What's the problem with the air suspension?
What can be done to prevent the suspension lowering?
What suspension modes are there?
Can I manually select Extended Mode?
How high is the vehicle?
Are there aftermarket options for the centre display on the D3?
Are there aftermarket shocks available?


Technical
What's crosslinked air suspension?
How does the 4WD system work?
What is different from the D3 to the D4?
Does the car have recovery points?
Useful torque settings
How can I tell if the car has the locking e-diff?
How does the remote locking work?
What are those large hanging weights at the back?

Driving Techniques
Why can't I lock the centre diff?
What's Terrain Response?
What's the difference in Terrain Response between the D3 and D4?
Gradient Release Control is now on the D4.
How do I drive in sand?
How do I drive in deep snow?
Can the centre diff be manually locked? Can the rear locker be manually controlled?
Do I need the e-diff (rear locker)?
Does the ABS work in low range?
I want to use an airbag jack. There are two exhaust outlets. How do I plug one of them?

Towing
Can I use a weight distributing hitch?
The Land Rover towhitch looks like a farming implement. Is there a better option?
How do I fix the parking sensors so they work with the Mitch Hitch?
What's the tow rating?
What's the towball mass?
What's Trailer Stability Assist on the D4?

Problems
Anything I need to be wary of?
My car is screeching!
Help, I've got an error message!
Jump Starting The Newer Engines.(D4 & Spt 3.0/5.0)
Why does the car fart when left alone?
What is the mis-fueling device on the D4?
My spare tyre winch doesn't work!


------------------------------------------------------------------

General
Is the D3 reliable?
Yes, it's just as reliable as any Japanese vehicle and much more so than the D2. For a more in-depth answer post a well thought out question, after searching.

How good is the V6 petrol for towing?
3500kg braked, all wheel drive, 6 speeds, excellent stability, but lacks grunt. The diesel or V8 are preferred. Preferred towing weapon is definitely the D4 3.0l.

Why can't I manually do <action>
Because Land Rover says you can't and they know best, apparently. Restrictions include not being able to manually select all suspension modes, extend the speed of Offroad Height, lock the centre diff and so on.

What are the cool tricks?
1. The parkbrake acts as an emergency stop. Find a deserted road, get up to say 60kmph and pull it on.

2. The keyfob can be programmed to do various things like change the air suspension.

3. You can change from low to high and back again on the move. Refer to the manual.

4. Miss Your Disco 2 Curry Hook? There are two on the D3, you have to open the lower glovebox and they are moulded into the inside of the door.


Can I get an extended warranty after the standard Land Rover warranty?
Land Rover now offer (from August 2010), "The Land Rover Assured Extended Warranty" This is underwritten by Allianz & PDS forms are available from your dealer.

A lot of after Market agencies also offer an extension.
BUT please do take the time to read the inclusions & exclusions section & if in doubt enquire & get it in writing.
There have been many times where customers have come in & the "Warranty Company" has excluded the repair due to the exclusions section. Again read the policy from book end to book end.

What child restraints are there?
There are three child restraint points in the middle row on all D3s (and RRS). They are located about 1/3 of the way down in the seat, an ideal location. Restraints can be fitted to the third row too.

Can three child seats fit in the second row?
Yes, three child seats can fit on the second row, dependent on the seat of course.

What seating arrangements are there?
Almost infinite ;-) A strength of the vehicle is the versatile interior. The third row folds flat, and either seat can be raised. The second row on 7-seaters is a three-way split. The outer seats can tumble forwards, and all three can be folded flat to give almost 2m of flat loadspace behind the first row. Non-7 seaters have a 60/40 split.

Are the owner's manuals available online?
Yes, at www.ownerinfo.landrover.com

Are there other FAQs or forums for these vehicles?
Yes:

DISCO3.CO.UK - Dedicated to Discovery 3 and LR3 Owners and Enthusiasts - with a section for Australia / NZ owners.


Is there a list of Land Rover specialist shops?
To qualify for inclusion here the organisation must:

1. Service D3 onwards Land Rovers
2. Modify Land Rovers and/or fit accessories
3. Work only on Land Rovers, or primarily on Land Rovers. No general-purpose all-marque shops are listed here.
4. Not be a Land Rover factory dealer. An up to date list of Land Rover dealers can be found at www.landrover.com.au

Victoria
Ritter Automotive www.ritter.com.au
Les Richmond Automotive www.lrautomotive.com.au
Range-Rov www.range-rov.com.au
AMV www.amv.com.au

Tasmania
Justin Cooper Land Rover 03 62291102 http://www.aulro.com/afvb/tasmania/1...-tasmania.html

NSW
Graeme Cooper www.graemecooper.com.au

Queensland
mrautomotive - Home

Rick's 4WD Centre - Land Rover, Range Rover, Land Rover Discovery, Defender, Freelander, Land Rover Mechanics, Land Rover Repairs, land rover, landrover spare parts, land rover accessories

Northern Territory
None known

Perth
None known

South Australia
Triumph-Rover Spares in Lonsdale. Triumph Rover Spares - The World's Largest Land Rover Dismantler


Where can I get offroad driver training?
To qualify for inclusion here the organisation must:

1.Specialise in Land Rover training
2.Use qualified instructors who have either attended Land Rover training or are qualified LR instructors
3 Be a commercial organization (no clubs; all Land Rover clubs do offer training)

Dealer Drive Days are not training per se and thus not included.

Victoria
None known

Tasmania
None known

NSW
Getabout www.getabout.com.au
Drive 4 www.drive4.com.au

Queensland
None known

Northern Territory
None known

Perth
Green Oval Experience www.greenovalexperience.com.au


South Australia
None known




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Models & History
Were there ever any 5-seater HSE D3 V8s?
Yes, a few, but they weren't popular.

Are there coil-sprung D3s?
Yes, from 2005-2008 the base model S in TDV6 & V6 Petrol only was standard with coils, with optional air and Terrain Response. Since 2009 the S model has had air suspension & coils are no longer an option for the Australian Market.

When was the D4 introduced?
For MY (model year) 2010, late in 2009.

Has Terrain Response changed over the model years?
Definitely. There are many subtle differences between MYs and TR is no exception. One interesting one is in Grass/Gravel/Snow. On pre 2007 models the vehicle starts in higher gear and stays in higher gear unless manual override and lower gear selected. HDC will only modify vehicle speed. On post 2007 models the vehicle starts in higher gear and if vehicle speed is modified with HDC TR will automatically down shift or up shift as required to match speed. The D4 improved TR again. Electronic additions compared to later models include CBC, GRC and HSA, plus sand launch assist. Some people consider some of these gimmicks, but overall the electronics are very well thought out.

Is the D3/D4 the same the world over?
No, it's called the LR3 in North America and there are spec differences such as different options to make SE, HSE. European models may have heated seats and the like. Australia gets the D4 V8 petrol, TDV6 2.7 and TDV6 3.0, whereas Europe gets only the 3.0 in two different states of tune, plus a commercial model we don't see here.


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Accessories and Modifications
What spare wheel carriers are available?
Bearmach
Kaymar (double, also replaces rear bumper)
Opposite Lock
4X4 Intelligence

Why should I fit a spare wheel carrier?
Because the spare release requires you to raise a third-row seat, difficult when loaded, and also you have room for a long-range tank.

What bullbars are available?
ARB
TJM
and some nudge bars, ie bars that don't replace panels but those tend to be comsetic rather than useful.

Are there cargo barriers available?
Hayman Recce (Land Rover OEM - note no longer available)
4X4 Intelligence
Milford

all fit both D3 and D4.

Can the third row be removed?
Yes, takes a while. That leaves room for a 60L+ water tank. If removed permanently you will need to advise VicRoads if you live in Victoria.

Can the rear locker (the e-diff) be retrofitted?
No, and there are no aftermarket options either although ARB may create one at some point.

What's the best dual battery kit?
Traxide.

Is there a dual battery kit for the D4?
It's been done, and there will be a Traxide kit.

How can I check the vehicle has an e-diff?
Note the VIN and ask your LR dealer to check.


What are the options for long range tanks?
Brown Davis
Long Ranger
Dolium

All are ~100l tanks giving a total of 190l, and both use pumps to transfer for the aux to the main. [ believe one of them has an option for split water/fuel ]

Check with the manufacturer of the tank for suitability of fit to a D4.
The tanks fit without issue, but the D4 filler neck has been altered by LR to accomodate the misfueling device. This may cause issues with the matching of the main filler pipe to the new filler neck, where the original filler neck is replaced as part of the fitting process of the auxilliary tank. The fuel cap fit & seal are also affected if the filler neck is changed.


Can I mount a compressor under the D3's bonnet?
Yes. Many people run ARB's CKMA12 in the space in front of the main battery.

Not known if anyone has done this on a D4 as there is much less space under a D4's bonnet.

Can the vehicle's on-board air compressor be used to air up tyres?
Yes...search for threads on the subject and Mitchell Bros have a kit. However, that requires a modification and many do not consider the tradeoffs worth it.

Where can I put a UHF antenna?
1. Make up a mount that extends out of the front grill
2. Side of the bonnet, fixing to a point under the bonnet
3. On the roofrack
4. On a spare wheel carrier
5. On the bullbar (not ideal, a bit low unless on the top bar)
6. On a window. You can get glass mount antennas for UHF radios.
These are available at time Plus Communications in Brunswick & are reportedly quite good.
They are supplied with two whips one for high speed application (short length) & one for low speed (longer length).
They are cheaper than good quality external mount antennas.
They are similar to the antennas for the mobile phone in-car kits.

How do I install a UHF radio?
http://www.aulro.com/afvb/d3-d4-zone...ic-440-d3.html
http://www.aulro.com/afvb/d3-d4-rrs/...-binnacle.html

Where's the best place for a remote-head UHF unit?
Discovery 3
Many people place the head between the two 12v sockets, affixed to the underside of the centre console.
Discovery 4
<tba>

RRS 2004-2009
<tba>

RRS 2010-<current>
<tba>

Where can I fit a sand flag?
In order of preference:
1. Bullbar
2. Roofrack or crossbars
3. On the spare wheel, if it's on a carrier.
4. Under investigation is on the windows, using big suction pads.


What size canvas tourer bag can fit on the OEM Expedition roofrack?
1200x 2100mm.

What snorkels are available?
Safari. Land Rover's own is not properly waterproof, which is why they call it a RAI, or Raised Air Intake. Avoid, but it's better than nothing.

Can the front D3 headrests be adjusted?
Not unless you cut away the side supports, then expose the mechanism from under the top of the seat. Alternatively, have an auto upholster take some foam out of the headrest and restitch it.

What roof channels and cross bars/roof racks are available and what are their advantages/disadvantages?
Rhino
Advantages
roof rails are almost flush with roof when no cross bars fitted
Lots of options in terms of alloy trays, flat trays etc. Winner for me is that one person can add or remove alloy rack on own. I prefer not to have rack on 100% of time.

Disadvantages
When set up with alloy tray /rack on top of bars does not look as neat as OEM roof rack
Not compatible with LR Expedition rack- different profile and too low.

Cheetah / Dolium make an aluminum flat style rack which is supplied with rails to bolt to the roof of the D3. Factory rails are not required with this fitment. Rails are available seperately.

Rear Ladders.
Dolium also make an alternative to the LR Rear ladder for D3.

Can I get sheep skin seat covers for the front seats?
Yes, but must be compatible with the air bags within the seats. Mortels at Rutherford (near Newcastle NSW) and ???? can make them to order.

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Wheels and Tyres
What are the minimum rim sizes for the D3/D4/RRS?

Discovery 3
TDV6 - 17"
V6 - 17"
V8 - 18"
RRS as above, Supercharged - 19"

Discovery 4
TDV6 2.7 - 17"
TDV6 3.0 - 19" *
V8 - 19" *
RRS as above (not 2.7 RRS), Supercharged - 19"

* there are investigations ongoing about aftermarket 18" rims.

Investigate your state's road agency's website for the regulations. In particular, check out minimum diameter, number of turns required on wheel nuts and the offset limits.


What's the best tyre?
Entirely depends on what's on the market at the time, what you intend to use it for, tolerance for tradeoffs and budget. Best thing is to do some research, then ask in the forum explaining the intended use of the vehicle.

What's the largest and widest tyre I can fit?
Your state will probably limit you to no more than 15mm greater diameter (SA, WA 50mm) and 25mm wider than the largest tyres fitted as OEM, details of which can be found on the tyre placard in the driver's door jamb. However, people do run 265/70/17 successfully. A 285/60/18 tyre may fit but is likely to rub. If you don't understand the notation "265/65/17" then please search the web in places like the Tyre Bible to find out before asking.

Will XXX/XX/XX tyre fit?
If it is no more than 15mm or so beyond the factory standards and no more than 20mm greater in width, then almost certainly yes. An example factory standard is 255/60/18. Work out the overall diameter of that tyre and your desired tyre and compare - use one of the many tyre diameter calculator tools like this one:

http://www.1010tires.com/tiresizecalculator.asp

The width is easier, 255 = 255mm so a 275mm wide tyre should work.

How do I find an appropriately speed-rated tyre?
You don't need to, all states permit use of N-rated tyres for offroad vehicles. However you must comply with the load rating which the manual says is 110, but the vehicle placard takes priority with 109. The rating of 109N opens up plenty of possibilities.


What aftermarket rims are there available?
Steel 17x8 rims from Dynamic
Alloy BB-6, 17x8 from Performance Wheels
Alloy G-Max 18x8, from G-Max
Holden Adventra rims and BMW X5 rims apparently also fit [ legality to be determined ]

Note 1: Holden Commodore hubcaps fit perfectly on steel rims.

Note 2: road regs say the nuts must engage the threads for as many turns as the original, which is 9.

What's the factory offset and widths?
53mm, for all rim sizes (17, 18, 19 and 20). The 17s are 17x7, the others are 8-inch, eg 18x8. Search the web for a definition of 'offset' if unsure.

Most states permit a +25mm track increase. The track is the distance between the centre of the rims not the outside of the rims. Therefore, increasing rim width has no effect on track.

Can any tyre shop do a wheel alignment?
Ideally the car should be put into a special suspension mode for wheel alignment to stop it moving, but just set it at Normal and you'll be 99% there.


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Suspension

What's the problem with the air suspension?
As you hit 40kmph in Offroad Mode it warns you with a 'bong' that it will lower to Normal should you not slow down. At 50km/h it lowers. There is no factory way to prevent this. Opinion is divided as to whether that's a problem or not. Many think it is.


What can be done to prevent the suspension lowering?
1. Cut and shorten the sensor rods
2. Buy shorter sensor rods
3. Buy adjustable sensor rods
4. Install the Matzker electronic kit
5. Install the Llams electronic height controller as described in a thread in the Verandah section.

all of which are very much disapproved of by Land Rover.

What suspension modes are there?
7 Modes:

# Belly
* Access
High Speed (auto selected at high speed)
* Normal
* Offroad
Extended (auto selected, or trick the car)
Super Extended (manually selected after Extended ins invoked)

* selectable by the user
# dealer select only


Can I manually select Extended Mode?
No. But there is a trick. Go into Offroad, jam a block of wood under the chassis, and lower the car. It'll get upset and go into Extended. Once in Extended mode you must remain under 8 kph otherwise the vehicle will automatically return to off road height. You may go faster than 8kph for a maximum time of 45 seconds. Also refer to the question about other suspension modes.


How high is the vehicle?
Depends on the suspension mode. Look at the back of the driver's sun visor. Don't forget to allow for roofracks.

Are there aftermarket options for the centre display on the D3?
Yes, some companies can fit GPS kit or radio equipment in this space.

Are there aftermarket shocks available?
The spring is an airbag and that is Land Rover OEM. Inside the airbag is a conventional shock absorber (damper) which some consider not up to the task of controlling a fully-laden Discovery on rough roads. In any case, they do wear out. Replacements are available from at least Koni and Bilstein. Fitting is a non-trivial task, far more difficult than a non-airbag vehicle as the entire airbag needs to be taken out and the shock replaced.

Can Aftermarket Wiper Blades be fitted?
Yes, Bosch Part Number BBA550-Front only, (available at Supercheap, Burson's, Repco etc.)

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Technical

What's crosslinked air suspension?
In low range, when one wheel is forced up as the vehicle crosses uneven terrain the air suspension forces the opposite wheel down, thereby improving the chances of it touching the ground and also increasing weight on it. Both are good for traction.

Can the centre diff be locked?
Not by you. The computer decides when to do that and how much. It is not a binary lock/unlock, it's a sophiscated torque splitter that can vary its torque front/rear and the degree of lock. All you can do is give it hints with Terrain Response settings.

How does the 4WD system work?
The cars have a centre clutch, electronically controlled. Torque is nominally distributed front/rear 50/50. This can be varied depending on the conditions. An amount of slip is permitted to prevent windup. The propensity to slip, and the torque distribution is influenced by different Terrain Response settings, for example Rock Crawl locks up earlier and for longer than the other modes. It is otherwise not under driver control.

Across an axle the vehicle has standard differentials (not torque sensing) with torque bias controlled by electronic traction control -- the brakes are applied via the ABS system to a spinning wheel which sends torque "drive" to the wheel with better traction. As with the centre clutch how early and hard this kicks in is influenced by Terrain Response settings. It is otherwise not under driver control.

The drive will be biased front/rear depending on the conditions, both reacting to and pre-empting situations even on the road. For example, if the driver applies heavy throttle from a standing start the system biases torque to the rear.

What is different from the D3 to the D4?
A few body panels, the dashboard and first row layout, engine compartment, option of two new engines plus:

2.7 TDV6 Base vehicle now, no designation
3.0 TDV6 SE & HSE Variants.
5.0 V8 HSE ONLY

All vehicles have Electronic Air Suspension & Terrain Response which have been improved, HDC now comes with Gradient release, which holds brake pressure & allows it to be released gradually on downhill descents.
All diesel vehicles now come with a mis-fuelling device.

2.7 retains existing ZF 6 speed, While the 3.0 & 5.0 get new ZF 6 speeds.

All vehicles now have ONE touch windows up/down function.
All vehicles now have Auto Lights & Rains sensors.
All vehicles now have Headlamp power wash.
All vehicles now have Fog Lights.
All vehicles now have Auto dimming rear mirror.
All vehicles now have Auto dual climate control.
All vehicles now have Trailer Stabilty Assist (TSA)
All vehicles now have a 5" TFT screen as the dash display, which incorporates Trip computer, fuel consumption etc.

Front Head rests are now adjustable up/down.
Bluetooth Phone system std on all models.
All vehicles now have Rear Park Assist.
LED Tail lights.
Body colored wheel arch flares, front & rear bumpers & mirror caps.
Speed proportional & variable power steering.

Keyless Start & OPTIONAL Keyless Entry.
2.7 has Halogens, 3.0 SE & HSE have Bi-Xenons with LED Signature & 5.0 HSE has Adaptive Bi-Xenons with LED sig.
2.7 has 5 seats cloth (option for 7 leather seats if required)
3.0 SE/HSE & 5.0 HSE has 7 leather seats. Premium Leather OPTION on 3.0 HSE ONLY. 5.0 HSE Std.
Electric Heated, Power fold mirrors on 3.0 SE/HSE & 5.0 HSE OPTION on 2.7.
Rear A/C std on 3.0 HSE & 5.0 HSE OPTION on others.
Sunroof with Alpine glass rear roof std on 5.0 HSE OPTION on others.
Rear e-diff lock std on 5.0 HSE OPTION on others.

The 5.0 HSE ptretty much comes with everything including Surround Camera System, Harmon Kardon stereo system with Logic 7, Rear Seat Entertainment, HDD Sat Nav, Heated W/Screen, Heated W/sceen washers, Heated seats 1st & 2nd rows, heated S/wheel.

From the second row backwards the D3 and D4 are virtually identical, eg the seats work the same way.

Does the car have recovery points?
Yes, the hooks front and rear under plastic covers, removed with a coin (see manual) are rated to the vehicle's GCM (Gross Combination Mass, GVM + GTM, so over 6000kg) and are used for recovery.


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Useful torque settings
D3 Wheel nuts 140Nm
2.7L TDV6 Oil drain plug 25Nm
2.7L TDV6 Oil filter housing 25Nm

How can I tell if the car has a locking e-diff?
It is hard to tell how many were delivered with the rear e-diff as only the sales guys & ordering personnel would know.

Some sales ads have missed this function on the vehicle as they simply don' t know if it's there, there is no way of telling unless you place the vehicle on a hoist or know what to look for under the vehicle.

To tell if it has the rear E-diff you will need to place the vehicle in off road height & slide under the vehicle (or put it on a 4 post hoist) & look at the rear diff, it will have a silver foiled wiring loom coming off the top of the diff housing & you will notice a solenoid plunger atop the diff housing also. You cannot rely on the SatNav as this will show both diff locks whether the vehicle has 1 or 2, however if you drive it and the rear icon locks, it's got the locker. Easiest way to do that is go into Rock Crawl mode and get cross-axled.

How does the remote locking work on the D4 work?
Smart keys & Keyless entry
As you approach the car with the smart key, it is waiting for you to touch the door handle before it leaps into life. Just the touching of the door handle is enough to unlock the car as the handles have built in sensors on the rear of the handle which respond to touch. The key has to be within range, about a metre, so keeping it in your pocket is fine. You don't need to take the key out of your pocket and click to unlock, although that'll still work.

The systems within the car are sensitive enough to know where the key is, so it is able to distinguish when the key is inside, outside, by the drivers’ door, etc… So, knowing where the key is means that, in theory, you should not be able to lock the key into the car. It also means that you can still use features such as the 2 point entry.

2 Point Entry
These days, even if we don’t use it, we’re fairly familiar with the idea of having one click on a key fob only unlocking the drivers’ door and then needing a second click to open the rest of the doors. How does this work when you have keyless entry?

When you go to open the car door, it knows exactly where the key is and which door is trying to be opened. Armed with this information, it can make a number of decisions:

• If the person with the key is opening the drivers’ door, it will just unlock the drivers’ door, even if someone is also trying to open a passenger door.
• If the person with the key is opening any door other than the drivers’ door, it will unlock all the doors at once.

…but remember, you need to have the 2 Point Entry enabled in the first place for this to work.

Locking the car
As the system is designed to be keyless, the last thing you’ll want is to then rummage around for your key when you want to lock the car. As such, there’s a little black pad on the door handles which you just need to touch with a finger to lock the car.

But how do you know when the car is locked?
When locked, the mirrors fold in. Don’t check by pulling on handle… it will just unlock itself again!! Or, place the key a couple of metres away and then try and open the door.

Concerns & Issues

• How close does the key have to be?
• Can someone steal my car from the garage with the fob in the house?

Given time and an infinite number of monkeys, I’m sure someone could crack the systems but… The system is very sensitive, even to the point that the car will not start if the fob is just outside the driver's door. It has to be in the area in, or immediately around the driver’s seat for it to work. As such, there should be no concerns about someone taking your car from your garage while the keys are safely tucked away in the house somewhere (but don’t quote me on that).

Does the engine stop if I take the key away from the car?

No.

Once started, if you remove the key from the car, it will continue to run but on the dash board display it will tell you that it can’t locate the ‘Smart Key’. However, if you stop the car, you will not be able to get it started again until the car is re-united with the key. There are also warning bongs. You can't miss it.

This system works in much the same was as the Toyota version in the LC200. It is optional on some D4 specs, standard on HSEs, and cannot be retrofitted to D3s. A bonus of the system is that when you open the car door there are no warning bongs, unlike a D3 with a key in the iginition. Keyless entry is fantastically useful once you get used to it. The key never needs to leave your pocket. You could almost get it embedded into your skin (see the Discovery 5 FAQ).

What are those large hanging weights at the back swinging off the rear chassis rails?
All Discovery 3/4 vehicles are male and those are the testicles. If you remove them you'll castrate your Discovery which turns it into a Freelander.

A more detailed explanation is here:
http://www.aulro.com/afvb/d3-d4-rrs/...sis-rails.html

Driving Techniques
Why can't I lock the centre diff?
You don't need to, the computer will send torque to the most appropriate axles in any condition. This works very well and people don't feel the need to manually control it, unlike some of the other electronic systems. There is no risk of windup with these vehicles.

What's Terrain Response?
Land Rover's system for changing the parameters of various car controls such as throttle, traction control sensitivity, auto shift points and more depending on what terrain the vehicle will be driven on.

GRASS/GRAVEL/SNOW Function.

Engine Management System.
More progressive throttle map to make it harder to induce wheel spin when setting off & easier to drive smoothly.
Automatic Gearbox.
Automatically sets off in 2nd gear in high range to make it harder to induce wheel slip when setting off.
Automatically selects 3rd gear in low range to make it harder to induce wheel slip when setting off.
Electronic Centre/Rear Differential.
Higher preload settings to reduce the chance of wheel slip occuring.
Hill Descent Control.
HDC is automatically switched on when in low range.
Traction Control.
Has a more responsive & aggressive tune so that if any wheel slip does occur, then it is controlled quickly.
Message Centre.
If a manual gearbox is fitted then the drive is advised to set off in 3rd gear if in low range when a different gear is selected.

MUD/RUTS Function.

Engine Management System.
More progressive throttle map to make it harder to induce wheel spin when setting off & easier to drive smoothly.
Automatic Gearbox.
Starts off in 1st gear, will remain in 1st if light throttle is applied.
Changes up with heavy throttle inputs. Stays in gear & torque convertor locks up when throttle pedal is released. Changes down gears if no throttle pedal input & speed goes below a set threshold.
Electronic Centre/Rear Differential.
Higher preload settings to reduce the chance of wheel slip occuring.
Dynamic Stability Control.
Dynamic stability thresholds are tuned to induce less engine throttle intervention.
Hill Descent Control.
HDC is automatically switched on.
Traction Control.
Traction controls tune is more responsive & aggressive & induces less throttle intervention to control excessive wheel slip quickly. But it allows higher slip levels so that traction can be generated.
Message Centre.
Recommends that low range be selected.
Recommends that the air suspension be raised to off road height.
Steering inputs are displayed when a 1/4 turn of the steering wheel is acheived.
Warns if off road height has been selected & not yet reached.
Warns if off an off road height has been inhibited due to trailer electrics being detected. (not sure if new programming has altered this).

SAND Function.

Engine Management System.
Soft intial throttle changing to more agressive as throttle becomes heavier.
Automatic Gearbox.
The gearbox changes up gears later & down gears earlier to keep vehicle in maximum torque band.
Dynamic Stability Control.
Dynamic Stability thresholds are tuned to induce less engine throttle intervention.
Traction Control.
Traction Control tune induces less throttle intervention.
Message Centre.
Steering inputs are displayed when a 1/4 turn of the steering wheel is acheived.
Warns if off road height has been selected & not yet reached.
Warns if off an off road height has been inhibited due to trailer electrics being detected. (not sure if new programming has altered this).

ROCK CRAWL Function.

Engine Management System.
More progressive throttle map to minimise wheel slip when setting off.
Automatic Gearbox.
Automatically sets off is 1st gear. Holds onto 1st gear longer & changes down to 1st gear sooner to maximise low speed control.
Transfer Box.
Rock crawl is only available in Low Range.
Electronic Centre/Rear Differential.
Has very high preload setings to reduce the chance of wheel spin occurring.
Hill Descent Control.
HDC is automatically switched on. The minimum target speed is automatically selected & the system is more aggressive so as to control the speed quickly.
Traction Control.
Traction controls tune is more responsive & aggressive so that if any wheel slip is detected it is controlled quickly.
Message Centre.
The Driver is asked to select low range.
Steering inputs are displayed when a 1/4 turn of the steering wheel is acheived.
Warns if off road height has been selected & not yet reached.
Warns if off an off road height has been inhibited due to trailer electrics being detected. (not sure if new programming has altered this).

Normal mode doesn't actually switch any of the system off or disable them, it just doesn't put them into any special mode. Hence, traction control etc is always active.

What's the difference in Terrain Response between the D3 and D4?
The D4 has Rock Pre-Crawl (applies brakes up to 5km/h in first and reverse forcing the wheels to turn against the brake).

Sand mode & Launch control: It uses a motion sensor on the chassis to detect when it is moving. Once moving, it'll then adjust the throttle response to make it more aggressive.

How do I drive in sand?
Select Sand mode in Terrain Response and ensure stability control (DSC) is switched off. Use low or high range depending on speed, and consider manually selecting gears, keeping the revs high in the soft stuff. Don't use HDC to descend in sand, come down on the gears, often 2/3 low or first high. Tyre pressure guide:

Rim size / pressure
17 / 16
18 / 18
19 / 20
20 / 22

you can go 50% lower than this in extremis but reinflate as soon as you can. Other variables for tyre pressure are weight and tyre construction. The tougher the tyre, the more you need to deflate it, and the greater the vehicle weight the less you can deflate.

All of the other sand driving techniques that can be found in many places apply.

Also have a read one of our classic threads -> http://www.aulro.com/afvb/d3-d4-zone...ing-wrong.html

How do I drive in deep snow?
Use anything but Snow Mode which is for slippery surfaces, not deep snow. DSC off, and manually control the gears, either second low or first low. If you can use third it's not really deep! Try Normal, Mud/Ruts or if it's a real slog, Rock Crawl and low range, DSC off. Trick the car into Extended Mode by grounding it and wheelspinning slowly, then go into Super Extended. Use Snow mode for a thin, slippery covering on a hard surface.


Can the centre diff be manually locked? Can the rear locker be manually controlled?
Neither can be driver controlled. The computer decides, not you. It actually does a very good job. Most of the time.

Do I need the e-diff (rear locker)?
Impossible to say. If you are buying a new car you'd be mad not to specify it as it cannot be retrofitted and will greatly improve the desirability of the vehicle to offroad tourers come resale, and of course the extra capability. Onroad it makes no difference, but offroad the e-diff can turn a medium track into an easy, and a hard into a medium. Simply, the car does it easier. However, it really only makes a difference in rocky conditions, or on steep climbs. In sand and mud it doesn't really improve performance. If you are shopping for a secondhand vehicle favour those with the e-diff.

Does the ABS work in low range?
Yes, although it will permit a bit of wheel lockup. Which is good.

I want to use an airbag jack. There are two exhaust outlets. How do I plug one of them?
Use a test plug available from plumbing supplies, e.g. TLS431 Plumboss Aluminium Test Plug 5 from Eagles Plumbing Plus. Or buy an air jack that is inflated by a compressor, not by exhaust, eg the Bushranger model.

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Towing
Can I use a weight distributing hitch?
No, the vehicle isn't designed for it, and you don't need one.

The Land Rover towhitch looks like a farming implement. Is there a better option?
Yes, the Mitchell Bros Hitch. The D4 hitch is improved, but still not as good. It can be retrofitted to the D3.

How do I fix the parking sensors so they work with the Mitch Hitch?
D3:Rotate the inner two sensors away from the hitch. Undo the four Phillips screws under the plastic bumper, have someone hold it out the way, reach up and rotate the sensors within their holders.

D4: On a D4 equipped "with" Surround Cameras - the rear park sensors cannot be rotated as they clip in to a locating socket. Don't be tempted to modify the locating socket (as I did) because even once rotated it doesn't solve the problem and in any event requires that the bumper be removed.

I don't know if the D4 "without" Surround Cameras uses park sensors similar to D3 or not?

What's the tow rating?
3500kg braked and 750kg unbraked for all models.

What's the towball mass?
For all models 350kg but not to exceed the rear axle limit so reduces as you approach GVM like all 4WDs.

What's Trailer Stability Assist on the D4?
TSA is there is to combat trailer sway, which when a trailer oscillates in increasing frequency at speed due to some initial disturbance such as a sudden gust of wind, instead of the rig dampening out the disturbance. It is caused by incorrect tow setup, usually the CoG too far back. I'm in two minds about TSC. It is a good safety feature, but on the other hand means that poorly set up trailers can now be towed. Hopefully when it kicks in it does so in such a way to let you know something is wrong, as opposed to the subtle intrusion of something like CBC. TSA is not unique to Land Rover. It won't work at low speeds offroad, however the normal ESC will, but usually you'd want that disabled. If the D4 is approved for a hitch, which I doubt, then TSA would work with it. All TSC does is figure out a trailer is hooked up and when it detects sway -- easy to do as there will be a force on the rear wheels -- it'll alternately brake the front wheels and chop the throttle to bring things under control. The rear wheels aren't braked because they need all their grip for lateral control.

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Problems
Anything I need to be wary of?
1. If you jack up the rear passenger wheel be careful to jack on the chassis and not on the air compressor. Check it out now, before you're in the mud. If you’re concerned about others using your D3/D4 and using the wrong jacking point, you can put a dob of bright paint on each of the 4 correct jacking points and on top of the LR jack. This also makes it much easier at night to find the jacking points.

My car is screeching!
Slap the passenger. If the noise doesn't stop, remove the blanking plug just behind the handbrake switch on your centre console, lifts up with the flat screwdriver in your toolkit, also remove the wheel brace extension piece, the one with the hook on it & reach down into the cavity under the switch, you will see a wire that is bent into a loop. grab that with the extension, lift it out from under where the switch is & get enough out to make the extension go in top a tee piece, now pull with all you might & the vehicle will go "clunk". Make sure when you release the handbrake the vehicle is on a flat or somewhere where it will not roll away.


Help, I've got an error message!
Switch the car off and on. If it's gone, it's an intermittent fault. Get to a dealer as soon as you can. If not, the car may be in limp mode, restricted to third gear. If that and praying to your diety of choice doesn't clear the fault try this:

How to Hard Reset
Removing the key from the ignition and let the vehicle sit at least 5 minutes to lets all the ECUs go to sleep so they won't be damaged by the reset. Then, undo the battery -ve terminal, then undo the battery +ve terminal and touch the two cables together to short them (You may have to place a screwdriver to get the 2 cables to touch). This is known as a hard reset.

**PLEASE** take care not to drop & short the cables together on the battery & create an arc as this will lead to damage. Note that this is touching the CABLES together, and does not involve the battery at all!

If you have a dual battery system installed, you MUST remove the negative terminal off all auxiliary batteries BEFORE you touch the cranking battery terminals.

And only after you have done the HARD RESET and reconnected both cranking battery terminals, then you can reconnect the auxiliary battery negative terminals.

Jump Starting The Newer Engines.(D4 & Spt 3.0/5.0)
When jump starting these vehicles please do not place the +ve & -ve terminals from the jumper leads on your battery if you own one of the above. You will notice on the -ve side that there is a battery monitor. If you place the jumper leads on both the +ve & -ve terminals you will blow the battery monitor, causing many electrical faults & error messages. You will need to replace the battery monitor & then recalibrate it via a dealer(SDD programable).
When we find a flat battery we use the +ve terminal & the cam bolt for the -ve on the suspension under the vehicle. (when sticking your head under the vehicle you will see a threaded bolt pointing towards you).
It is a common practise not to place the jumper leads on the flattened battery terminals anyhow, as you can damage any number of ECUs in the vehicle, mainly engine ECUs.
Please take note of this as it may save you money.

Why does the car fart when left alone?
It will auto-level downwards and needs to release the pressure.

What is the mis-fueling device on the D4?
A mis-fuelling device prevents a petrol nozzle being inserted into a diesel tank, by means of a clever device within the filler neck. You may want to practice how to reset the device with the special supplied tool before needing to do it at night, in the rain, with starving kids, etc.

Note - as some service stations use a different size nozzle for premium unleaded, the mis fueling device will not necessarily stop the filling of petrol into a diesel tank. Be warned and double check before filling.

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My spare tyre winch doesn't work!
[ sometimes the spare tyre winch doesn't wind up or down properly ]

Scouse says:

"After claiming a few under warranty for this same problem, I pulled one apart to see what goes on inside.

The problem is that the cable sits in a spiral groove rather than just winding around a plain drum. If there's no weight on the cable, it doesn't take much to make it jump out of this groove & then jam up inside.

The other problem is that there is no 'stop' when the cable is wound all the way out. Therefore, once it extends all the way out, it starts winding back in again but in the opposite way to it's design. The result again is a jammed cable.

Nothing is spring loaded & once apart it's easy to fix."

So - wind it out as little as possible, and wind it with a little tension, have someone hold it or put a weight on the end. The unit is riveted together but those can be drilled out and the rivets replace with bolts. Replace the unit if the cable is kinked or damaged.

Do not use a rattle gun on the winder. It can't take the torque. Yes, it's been tried. No, it didn't work.

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Contributors
rmp, Mal_W, WhiteD3, ahilliar, sniegy, drivesafe, chuck, scouse, tote, CaverD3, Camel_Landy, Jamo, Dingmark Jim, WhiteD3, Tote, ADMIRAL, Dave128, Fender-Tour, Graeme

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Robert
The FAQ. It's there for you -> http://www.aulro.com/afvb/d3-d4-rrs/...4-rrs-faq.html

Note: after I've incorporated contributions into the FAQ I am deleting the original message, after any discussion. That way this thread will not get insanely long, and readers won't need to read something in the FAQ and the same again in additional posts.

Thanks to all who have contributed. This has a long way to go...

__________________
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Robert
The FAQ. It's there for you -> http://www.aulro.com/afvb/d3-d4-rrs/...4-rrs-faq.html

Do not post in this thread UNLESS you are contributing to the FAQ in some way.

If you have questions post in the general forum.

Post only contributions or rewrites here, and those in a format we can just cut and paste in.

The moderators reserve the right to decline or edit contributions, but we don't plan on exercising that right!

Thank you.

__________________
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Robert
The FAQ. It's there for you -> http://www.aulro.com/afvb/d3-d4-rrs/...4-rrs-faq.html

Accessories & Modifications section.

Can Aftermarket Wiper Blades be fitted.
Yes, Bosch Part Number BBA550-Front only, (available at Supercheap, Burson's, Repco etc.)

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Ex 89 RR Classic V8i, Ex 93 D1 200Tdi, Ex 97 D1 300Tdi, Ex 98 D1 V8i LS, Ex 01 D2 Td5
D4 2.7 TDV6 in Alaska White / Almond/Arabica, E-Diff, 7 Leather Seats, Rear A/C, Sunroof & Bi-Xenons with LED Signature !



Keep Smilin' Pete.

Thanks, added. I'll leave this post a while before deleting to tidy up.

__________________
--
Robert
The FAQ. It's there for you -> http://www.aulro.com/afvb/d3-d4-rrs/...4-rrs-faq.html

Will the Koni & Bilstein D3 front shocks fit the D4? Yes.

Front MY09 D3 and MY10 D4 shocks have identical lower mounts, shaft diameters and profiles and extended lengths. The D3's casing length is 4mm shorter providing marginally more bump-stop clearance and the D3 air-spring seat is 4mm lower, perhaps giving a marginally firmer ride. Hence the Koni and Bilstein front shocks for a D3 would fit a D4.

Rear shock info will be posted when available.

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D4 SE, Llams & D3 suspension

Long Range Automotive also make a long range tank. They list it at 110L, but I can only squeeze 100L into mine. It does empty completely though - I can still get 100L into it on subsequent fills after the first.
It's listed for D3 diesel only.

Ian

Cross-link valves can be opened in both low and high range (as revealed with an MSV2). Cross link valves are normally closed but opened if speed and terrain roughness requirements are met. Once opened, they tend to be left open and are open at least up to 38 kph in high range, but close again when stopped.

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D4 SE, Llams & D3 suspension

I came across this tyre size and brand listing of tyres for D3 & D4's only omission is 17" tyre sizes.
It also states whether rods / llams would be required or optional.

LR3 Tire Size Chart

Using the Spare Wheel Winch (Hot Tip)
When using the spare wheel winch to either remove, refit & just wind up the cable (say when you throw the punctured wheel into the loadspace to be taken for repair) out of the way... You MUST have Tension on the cable at ALL times...otherwise the cables binds in the winder & jams.

__________________
Ex 89 RR Classic V8i, Ex 93 D1 200Tdi, Ex 97 D1 300Tdi, Ex 98 D1 V8i LS, Ex 01 D2 Td5
D4 2.7 TDV6 in Alaska White / Almond/Arabica, E-Diff, 7 Leather Seats, Rear A/C, Sunroof & Bi-Xenons with LED Signature !



Keep Smilin' Pete.