Yikes $7000 for ABS modulator

[Bugman]

Hello all,

It seems I'm not alone with the warning lights on the dash going off. It's been happening for about 12 months on and off but over the last 3 I've been taking the Defender TD5 to MR Automotive at Redcliffe to clear the fault and work out what's wrong.

After a couple of different faults we keep returning to faulty valve in the modulator. They've had a very bad experience in trying to get one of these fixed and are not keen on doing it again.

My options are:

$7000 for a new modulator (That's not going to happen)
$2,100 for a second hand version (still not going to happen)
Try a full brake system flush (Of course we're doing this)

Anyone got ideas on alternatives. I suppose I can just keep driving the car around and not ever have ABS or Traction Control but I need the traction control when towing the boat up the beach.

For less money I can get full air lockers installed and probably go further.

Anyway thoughts or advice would be handy.

Brett

[PhilipA]

Bugman,
I reckon you are one of the first of many with this problem, although Aquarangie ditched his ABS years ago.
I think that your idea of lockers is good, although you maybe should retrofit a complete brake set from a non ABS car. You probably only need a rear locker and a brake master cylinder , lines, booster etc would not be that much off a wreck.

Think of the $10,000 38As coming up with $7000 parts needed.
NO studty has ever found ABS cars to have fewer accidents than normal braked cars. So its not a safety feature , its a sales feature.
Regards Philip A

[Grizzly_Adams]

Originally posted by PhilipA
NO studty has ever found ABS cars to have fewer accidents than normal braked cars. So its not a safety feature , its a sales feature.

Off-topic I know (sorry), but after having been on a driving training course in an ABS braked car and one without, I'd much rather be driving an ABS braked car. It makes a huuuuge difference in the controllability of a vehicle when under heavy / extreme braking..

ok, now back to the regularly scheduled program :-)

[loanrangie]

ABS is just an excuse for sh@t driving and airbags are just an excuse for sh@t build quality. How old is the fender ?

[PhilipA]

Yes of course but the conclusion made by US insurance companies who initially promised lowered premiums for ABS, was that drivers compensated for the increased controllablility by driving faster and nearer the limit.
Hence no difference in accident rates. And what about on gravel/dirt/ice?
You drive a Range Rover/Disco differently to a Mazda MX3 (I hope)
Physics is physics.
I can hardly wait for the first US lawsuit against a stability control when the driver claims that it should have stopped him running of the road doing 160 in a 50KM corner.
Regards Philip A

[tombraider]

Originally posted by PhilipA
So its not a safety feature , its a sales feature.

Like :?:
auto climate control
Self dimming mirrors
Parking gauges
Electric windows
Central locking

Also all sales balony!

People cant operate a winder? Flick a lever on a mirror?
Reverse properly? Adjust a temperature knob?
Or my favourite.... Lock a door?

All sales features, and in todays times all considered "important" by the buyer for some reason!!!

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/

On topic though, 4x4 design and engineering in Vic is rebuilding these without issue.

Cheers
Mike

[stevo]

good to no someone can rebuild them had thought about pulling mine to bits and giving it a good clean but have 2 problems need car for work and
live in a block of flats no where to spread the bits out(except kitchen bench).

anyone knows what goes wrong on the inside??

[tombraider]

It appears that lack of flow and therefore flushing of the valve causes it to sieze up over time.

More regular brake flushings should prevent the issue.

Cheers
Mike

[Maggot4x4]

Originally posted by PhilipA

I can hardly wait for the first US lawsuit against a stability control when the driver claims that it should have stopped him running of the road doing 160 in a 50KM corner.
Regards Philip A

Like the guy who sued Winabago (and won), for not telling him that the cruise control didn't mean he could set it and pop into bed for a sleep.

[Tusker]

Not sure about QLD, but in NSW, you won't pass rego unless the ABS works as the manufacturer intended.

I've just been through this exercise when getting an engineering certificate. They check & test drive it. Removing globes is not an option.

Regards
Max P

[Bugman]

It's a 2000 Fender TD5

So it seems no-one else has been confronted with the same scenario. There's no way I'm going to pay $7k for a new modulator.

Maybe or maybe not the flush will work. Anyone had any experiences with actually fixing one of these boxes?

Bugman

[PhilipA]

I believe that you can retro fit components as long as the component that you change to is offered on the model year of your vehicle in standard production.
IE You can change air bags to springs in a Range Rover Classic without an engineering report but you cannot fit springs to a 38A without an engineering certificate. AFAIK The product has to be offered somewhere in the world.
This is why Graeme Cooper for example does not offer springs for 38A.

Similarly I believe I am OK taking the anti roll bars off my 92 , as they were an option in production and were not standard in production. They were fitted to all Australian cars but not to the base model in UK or the "Hunter" in US and probably not on any Range Rover vans.

So the question is , was the model in question offered with normal brakes anywhere?
regards Philip A

[tombraider]

Originally posted by Bugman
It's a 2000 Fender TD5

So it seems no-one else has been confronted with the same scenario. There's no way I'm going to pay $7k for a new modulator.

Maybe or maybe not the flush will work. Anyone had any experiences with actually fixing one of these boxes?

Bugman

Its happened a few times even the boys on the d2au site have had a few failures... Its an occasional scenario... Not too common....

4x4 Design and Engineering rebuilds these units.

Fault is caused by siezing inside valve, more regular flushing of brake fluid seems to prevent this issue.

Cheers
Mike