D3 EPB Dash Indicator Flashing

[bobzed57]

I'm on my way to Cape York and now parked at Wepia taking a break from the dust and corrugations. Twice in the last couple of days before Weipa, while driving in dusty (bull dust) conditions, I got the EPB indicator flashing on the dash along with the message 'PARK BRAKE OFF LIFT SWITCH TO APPLY'. When we stop and set the brake, the message clears. The owner's manual states this means that an emergency release operation is detected.

There have been no other indications, the brake works correctly when applied and only seems to make normal set and release noises. Has anyone else experienced this? Is it a show-stopper? I have about another 2000km to go before getting back to the black top.

Cheers

Bob

[discojools]

Have had that happen a lot with my old D3.. Not with my current d4.. caused by dust. When the light flashed on a Simpson Desert trip for safety sake I stopped using it altogether.last thing you want is an EPB failure out there.. Put a bit of tape over the EPB switch and just used park on the transmission.. No probs doing this.
The light flashing may not be a show stopper but I wasn't prepared to take the chance with mine.

[MelbD3]

... and my 2005 TDV6 had similar trouble after driving from Melbourne to the Pilbarra via the Tanami Track and the Gibb River Road. By the time the car had been driven through multiple creek crossings on side trips from the Gibb River Road on the return trip and then back to Melbourne along the black top the problem had gone.

[bobzed57]

Thanks. It's all moot now anyway as the air suspension system speared in. I had to do about 20km of the the northern section of the Old Telegraph Track in access height. Made for an interesting 5 river/creek crossings that's for sure. Got a ride on the back of a truck to Bamaga and am hoping to find out if it's repairable this morning. If not, boat ride to Cairns for the Disco.

Cheers

Bob

[discojools]

Oh bugger, any idea what's happened? How old is the car and has the compressor been replaced ever?

[101RRS]

Thanks. It's all moot now anyway as the air suspension system speared in. I had to do about 20km of the the northern section of the Old Telegraph Track in access height. Made for an interesting 5 river/creek crossings that's for sure. Got a ride on the back of a truck to Bamaga and am hoping to find out if it's repairable this morning. If not, boat ride to Cairns for the Disco.

Cheers

Bob

Bobby - That is not good. Maybe you can get Gordon (gghaggis) to send you one of these kits. Products: EAS kits (http://www.greenovalexperience.com/eas_inflation_kit.html)

Did you get around to fitting LLAMS? If so will that not raise it??

So is the issue suspension ECU (LLAMS may fix), hardware failure as in a bag or plumbing or is it a compressor issue.

I hope all goes well.

Garry

Oh did you replace those incandescent stop and tail lights globes with LEDs like I suggested? (I still have to do mine). Check the incandescent globes as they can cause suspension faults if blown - likewise pull out the stop light switch on the brake and clean it all up - better still replace if you have a spare.

[bobzed57]

Not sure what the problem might be. All I get is the orange air suspension symbol and maybe occasionally a message saying vehicle raising slowly, which it never does. The guy at Bamaga has run the codes and thinks it's electrical as the compressor runs for about 15 seconds and then shuts down. I understand he's been in contact with the Cairns dealer to get info on what some of the codes might mean, no joy so far. I've put the acid on LR assist and I believe they've contacted the Bamaga fellow, but nothing heard back.

The vehicle is a Apr 09 build D3, with 75k on the clock, no LLAMS, serviced regulary and only four days before we left for this trip. No compressor issues previously. Interstingly, I was chatting to a bloke at Bramwell Junction and he had a well tricked up D4 and he asked me how any compressors I'd been through and he was surprised when I said none. As an aside his vehicle in the same shop having damaged a CV joint on a local beach.

The worst bit is all the clever-dick Toyota owners taking the Michael as my D3 went past on the truck. I guess from a brand perspective, it would be better if LR helped some of these remote repairers out a bit as I'd prefer to get back on the road than have the car go to Cairns on a truck.

Bob

[101RRS]

Not sure what the problem might be. All I get is the orange air suspension symbol and maybe occasionally a message saying vehicle raising slowly, which it never does. The guy at Bamaga has run the codes and thinks it's electrical as the compressor runs for about 15 seconds and then shuts down.
Bob

That might mean the dessicant in the compressor has sucked up all the moisture it can and is blocked - might be worthwhile taking it out and putting it in the camp oven for a while to heat the moisture out of it.

Garry

[gghaggis]

Bobby - That is not good. Maybe you can get Gordon (gghaggis) to send you one of these kits. Products: EAS kits (http://www.greenovalexperience.com/eas_inflation_kit.html)

Did you get around to fitting LLAMS? If so will that not raise it??

So is the issue suspension ECU (LLAMS may fix), hardware failure as in a bag or plumbing or is it a compressor issue.

I hope all goes well.

Garry



Note that neither the shortened rods nor LLAMS will be of any use if you have a fault that drops you to the bump-stops. If it's a fault that limits remedial action to dropping to access height then yes, they'll give you an added advantage of being up around or above normal on-road height.

The GOE EAS (http://www.greenovalexperience.com/eas_inflation_kit.html) kit will work to get you out in all situations, as long as the air-bags are intact.

Cheers,

Gordon

[bobzed57]

Garry

I wouldn't be surprised if it was related to moisture. I opened the cover of the compressor when I got back to camp before the vehicle was towed to Bamaga. The compressor housing was soaking wet (no surprises there) and it looked like it had never been off in its life. I took about a cup of grit and gravel out of the noise deadening material and the colour of the material was different to anything we'd been seeing up here, so I suspect nothing was ever checked irt to compressor.

We're getting the royal run around from LR Assist, Alianz and NRMA at the moment, they're happy to shift the car, but we're snookered with the trailer and ourselves. I suspect I'm going to have to walk out with the trailer on my back. It's been a very disappointing experience all around.

[101RRS]

I suspect I'm going to have to walk out with the trailer on my back.

Isn't that what Gemma is for ;).

Or you could drive back on the bump stops :o - or you have become soft in your old age (not helpful I know).;)

Is it worth taking a punt and getting a new compressor sent up from Cairns? Or an EAS kit from Gordon if you have the time.

External water should not have been an issue - the air intake and exhaust is in the back drivers side compartment (I think) actually inside the cabin so in theory the compressor is sucking in dehumidified air (if you run your A/c) from the cabin.

Sorry I cannot be much help.

Good luck with it.

Garry

PS - how is the Range Rover Sport holding up?

[bobzed57]

Garry

All good now car and trailer on boat. We're flying out pm Tuesday. Car will arrive in Cairns on Thursday, so hopefully the dealer will be able to check it out on Friday and I can catch up with the rest of the folk as they come south.

BZ

[101RRS]

All good now car and trailer on boat. We're flying out pm Tuesday.

Bummer - we will want full details when you are able.

Garry

[Graeme]

Hi Bob,
Is your vehicle the one that went bush to avoid a collision then had air suspension problems? The people from Land Rover Spares in Mackay had been in touch.

[101RRS]

Hey Bobby - what was the diagnosis??

[bobzed57]

Back in Canberra now. The problem proved to be a dud air compressor. Trinity LR in Cairns replaced it and we were on our way. I would like to know if any service/inspections are done on the air system because the way it looked to me, the cover had never been off the air compressor.

Anyway, all good now and the Cape is definitely worth a look.

[101RRS]

Back in Canberra now. The problem proved to be a dud air compressor. Trinity LR in Cairns replaced it and we were on our way. I would like to know if any service/inspections are done on the air system because the way it looked to me, the cover had never been off the air compressor.

There is nothing in the service schedule specifically covering the air compressor and air suspension as such other than checking boots etc. So there is not requirement to check or service anything on the air compressor.

Did you keep the old one as most likely it was just the desiccant that was cactus and not the compressor itself - Tote is the local expert on the compressors.

Garry

[bobzed57]

No Garry, I got nothing back from the Cairns dealer. I was just happy to be mobile again. I met a D4 owner at Bramwell junction and he asked how many compressors I'd been through. Up until that time none, but he he'd been through three in his old D3 and he put it down to the fact that the desiccant isn't checked. As an asside, his D4 ended up in the shop in Bamaga alongside mine, he'd damaged a cv driving on sand.

I find it interesting that there are no checks on the air suspension system particularly as it can prove to be a single point of failure.

Anyway, I got value out of my extended warranty, it was only four weeks old and I've completely recovered what it cost.

[101RRS]

It is good to see that things worked out OK financially. I am not sure why landrover did not make the descant a serviceable item to be replaced at each service.

Cheers

Garry

[DiscoWeb]

Garrycol/gghaggis,

As I have a similar aged D3 (August 2008) build with about 75,000 on the clock how easy of hard is it to either service the compressor/replace dessicant myself or ask is it easier to simply ask for it to get looked at, at the next scheduled service ?

Noting I am not overly mechanically minded but do like to fiddle with things, its the putting them back together that usually stuffs me !

George

[101RRS]

Never done it myself - there is a process to follow that is listed somewhere on AULRO but not sure where. Basically pull the compressor out and remove the desiccant and put it in a microwave or oven to dry it out. Alternatively I believe the desiccant is available from the dealers.

There are other bits (valves) that are also serviceable - next service I think I will pull my compressor out (I have done that before and is not easy first time around but gets easier) and replace the relevant valve and desiccant.

Garry

[Geedublya]

Mine started giving suspension faults yesterday (driving on bump stops is not fun).
There is a link (http://www.disco3.co.uk/forum/topic65683.html?highlight=%2Bcompressor+%2Brebuild ) that shows the service process.

I have ordered the dryer (VUB504700 $164.48) and pump repair kit (LR020590 $9.76) today. Looks like I will busy this weekend with this and the new silicon intercooler hoses.

[bobzed57]

Geedublya (http://www.aulro.com/afvb/members/geedublya.html)

I checked the link, there's nothing there that seemed too technically demanding. Thanks. Let's know how you go with the overhaul/repair.

I agree no fun on the bump stops. When mine failed, I had to do about 20 km of the Old Telegraph Track including five creek crossings and one winching up out of a creek. That said, while there was no available traction aids through normal systems, the 4WD system did what I expected it to do and I made it back to camp for recovery.

[101RRS]

Looks like I will busy this weekend with this and the new silicon intercooler hoses.

The fittings that connect the plastic pipes to the compressor can be difficult as they sometimes will not let go - I had major issues with my air intake and exhaust pipes and in the end had to cut the pipes.

So lube them up first with something like WD40 and go very carefully with a lot of patience.

Garry

[101RRS]

Bob - what happened with the original handbrake issue?? I assume it went away.

[Graeme]

.. remove the desiccant and put it in a microwave or oven to dry it out. Alternatively I believe the desiccant is available from the dealers.
A compressor repair kit sold by a German LR workshop has 150gm of dessicant in 1 packet and 50gm in another in case some of the 1st lot is spilt. The repair kit includes the genuine LR compressor valve kit.

150gm of dessicant can be purchased from ebay for very small change. I'm remiss in not already having a pack or 2 on hand.

[DiscoWeb]

Garrycol/gghaggis,

As I have a similar aged D3 (August 2008) build with about 75,000 on the clock how easy of hard is it to either service the compressor/replace dessicant myself or ask is it easier to simply ask for it to get looked at, at the next scheduled service ?

Noting I am not overly mechanically minded but do like to fiddle with things, its the putting them back together that usually stuffs me !

George


Spoke to soon, late last week my wife advised she got a couple of fault messages regards air suspension and over the weekend I got "Raising slowly - compress fauly" or something like that.

Looks like it is time to get some dessicant and replace it. !!!

George

[101RRS]

Spoke to soon, late last week my wife advised she got a couple of fault messages regards air suspension and over the weekend I got "Raising slowly - compress fauly" or something like that.

Looks like it is time to get some dessicant and replace it. !!!

George

You may be very well correct but the handbook does indicate that the "Suspension Raising Slowly" is not a fault message but an information message - simply says the suspension is getting up a bit slow - air tank could be depleted and compressor a bit hot etc. If the messages continue then I would get I would get it checked but if only occasionally happening I would not worry about it.

Garry

[DiscoWeb]

You may be very well correct but the handbook does indicate that the "Suspension Raising Slowly" is not a fault message but an information message - simply says the suspension is getting up a bit slow - air tank could be depleted and compressor a bit hot etc. If the messages continue then I would get I would get it checked but if only occasionally happening I would not worry about it.

Garry

Now i am aware of it I can hear the compressor going when i first start the car, i am assuming it is priming the air tank, never noticed this before.

I think it is probably the desiccant so will find the tie to pull the compressor off and hopefully dry or replace the desiccant in the dryer.

Anyone know where i can get my hands on some !!

George

[CanadianRyan]

This is an old thread but it appears that no one was able to identify the issue (and the thread went in another direction)

Similar to the original poster, I have recently experienced the red EPB flashing when driving heavily corrugated / dusty roads in my '08 D3 TDV6. There was no fault per se, just the message 'PARK BRAKE OFF LIFT SWITCH TO APPLY' and flashing red light. When I stopped, applied the EPB and released it, the flashing light went away. The EPB still worked fine and wasn't on at the time the light came on. The issue kept happening every few k's when on the corrugations, but as soon as I was back on tarmac it didn't re-appear and hasn't since. EPB still working fine now.

Any ideas? Could it be the actual console switch rattling around? Dust triggering something under the car? Any help appreciated.

[DiscoJeffster]

Mine does this every year, as in starts doing it. Having done some investigation into its function and how it works, it would seem that it applies with a certain level of tension. It then rechecks this tension periodically, a bit like the suspension checks its levels every six hours. My guess is that during the “sleep” time of the car, the actuator has noticed a reduction in tension and doesn’t believe it’s correctly applied, then flashes the warning when you start the ignition.

Why does it lose tension? No idea. I will say though, that when I see this, if I perform a clean and reset of the EPB e.g. perform the drum adjustments as per the brake bible, the errors stop happening.
Whether I’m guessing right or not I’m not sure, but my experience shows that when that error starts happening, if I action an EPB adjustment it’s good for another year