3 Amigos dilemma??

[adonuff]

Hi
My 2002 series 2 td5 discovery recently decided to put on the 3 lights. If I turned her off they went away for a while only to return. So off to get a diagnostic check, verdict "intermittant shuttle valve failure"?

The workshop who did the test, ( recomended on this site) suggested that we clean the terminal blocks on the unit and see how it go's. Suggesting that the recent bout of wet weather might be to blame.

The lights came on half way home? and returned on regular basis even a trip to the hardware shop just up the road.

Rang them back and was advised needs major work ($1400.00 approx). Thats fine happy to do that if the thing is broken.

Herein lies my dillema, today we went for a trip in the Wombat State park (Thanks to alienD2 & Joker) the lights came on as we arrived went away after turning the engine off and so far have not returned.

The trip was a very mild drive the traction control came on several times as did the ABS, I also dropped her into low and used the hill decent, none of this was really nessacary but I thought maybe giving it a bit of a stir up might help.

So far no more lights & all is working perfectly?

Has anyone had a simular experiance? Trying to get some good answers here as I have booked the vehicle for repairs next Wed and he has already ordered the bits. Also do not want to have a drama towing the van down to the beach just after Xmas. (Been a hard year for both of us and we really need a break).

From what I have read so far I should be able drive it fairly safley with the 3 amegos on if they come back over Xmas when everything is shut?

Your thoughts & advice please
Andrew

[Milton477]

IMHO you do not need to replace anything - just re-wire the shuttle valve as described in option 2 here:ABS Mod - Land Rover Club V.I. (http://www.landroverclubvi.com/abs-mod.html) I did this last week after suffering a year of symptoms the same as yours. My lights have not returned after coming on daily - sometimes from startup & especially in hot weather.

Good luck

[feral]

I know that this is a very good solution to fixing the shuttle valves but I really do have some reservations about rewiring the ABS.

My main concern is the possible police investigations or the insurance aspect. What would be the outcome if you are involved in a fairly serious incident, quite possibly a fatality, and the investigations that will follow up? Even if that wasn't the case and it was a simple mistake and your insurance found out that you have modified the braking system. Quick smart assessors know that these things can be modified cause they look at cars everyday of the week.

For a $120 fix for the shuttle valves I certainly would not be modifying any part of the brake system.

Its just not worth the grief.

[gazk]

For a $120 fix for the shuttle valves I certainly would not be modifying any part of the brake system.



I have the same symptoms as ADONUFF, I just live with the lights when they come on - quite random and intermittent. Shows up as an intermittent shuttle valve fault on the Nanocom. I'll get around to fixing the electrical gremlins one day.

The shuttle valve switch module was replaced in my 2002 TD5 not long before I bought it nearly 2 years ago - the problem went away for a few months but then returned.

The simplest fix (cheapest) is to replace the shuttle valve switch module BUT there is no guarantee that the problem won't return.

regards

[LandyAndy]

Using HDC exercises the shuttle valves,about the only thing HDC is useful for on a D2.
Its good practice to regularly find a suitable hill and give the HDC a workout.
Andrew

[Zute]

I recently flushed my brake lines and modulator with new Dot 5(?) brake fluid. Its supposed to be for ABS braking systems. Mine was also coming up with shuttle valve fault. Anyway it seems to have worked 95% of the time. when they do turn up (three Amigos ) It seems to be when I get brake squeal. I'm hoping new pads will fix this.
So I recommend, do a full fluid flush and power bleed every 40,000 km.;)

[Redback]

I recently flushed my brake lines and modulator with new Dot 5(?) brake fluid. Its supposed to be for ABS braking systems. Mine was also coming up with shuttle valve fault. Anyway it seems to have worked 95% of the time. when they do turn up (three Amigos ) It seems to be when I get brake squeal. I'm hoping new pads will fix this.
So I recommend, do a full fluid flush and power bleed every 40,000 km.;)

I have this done on a regular basis, and at around the same time as Zute does, just like I do the engine, diff, gearbox and transfer case as part of the regular service of the car.

The mechanic I use (Peter Davis) recommends it, he also recommends using the TC on a regular basis.

Baz.

[Milton477]

I know that this is a very good solution to fixing the shuttle valves but I really do have some reservations about rewiring the ABS.

My main concern is the possible police investigations or the insurance aspect. What would be the outcome if you are involved in a fairly serious incident, quite possibly a fatality, and the investigations that will follow up? Even if that wasn't the case and it was a simple mistake and your insurance found out that you have modified the braking system. Quick smart assessors know that these things can be modified cause they look at cars everyday of the week.

For a $120 fix for the shuttle valves I certainly would not be modifying any part of the brake system.

Its just not worth the grief.

I agree about the insurance but I always ask myself what is safe? A 3 amigo fault in the middle of a crisis would I imagine be most unwelcome. I know now that this will not happen unless the shuttle valve does genuinely fail.

The problem is not with the shuttle valve but with the connector pins that are part of the modulator. You can change the shuttle switch all you like but the new one will be connecting to the same dodgy soldered pins in the modulator. It is therefore the modulator that needs to be repaired or replaced, not the shuttle valve. I confirmed this on mine by testing the continuity between the multiplug (pin 6) & the shuttle valve connector. If I wriggled the shuttle valve connector pins, I lost continuity due to bad soldering I presume. When you fit a new shuttle, you are disturbing the dodgy pins which may in some cases make contact again for a while.

Can anyone confirm that the new Wabco modulators have had this problem cured? Hummer seem to be having the same problem with the same part.

[adonuff]

Hi all

Did a lot more klm's today and still no lights,I have cancelled the repair and will give the systm a bleed soon as I get time. Will just wait and see how it goes. Fingers crossed.

Andrew

[disco_thrasher]

my experience with the three amigos is i was quoted all these small house deposits to fix them and one day i had all 4 wheels off doing maintanance and decided to check and clean all my abs conectors where they plug in there was a fair bit of dirt around them and whalla no more 3 amigos for a very long time try it it may work
cheers kelvin

[Hendrik]

Using HDC exercises the shuttle valves,about the only thing HDC is useful for on a D2.
Its good practice to regularly find a suitable hill and give the HDC a workout.
Andrew

Hi Andy
Wouldn't TC and the ABS (ie braking hard for the ABS to kick in) exercise the shuttle valves anyway?

On mine, the TC is very sensitive, as in it come on over speed bumps, so I guess they did get a fair workout then.

[Pedro_The_Swift]

I have the same symptoms as ADONUFF, I just live with the lights when they come on - quite random and intermittent. Shows up as an intermittent shuttle valve fault on the Nanocom. I'll get around to fixing the electrical gremlins one day.

The shuttle valve switch module was replaced in my 2002 TD5 not long before I bought it nearly 2 years ago - the problem went away for a few months but then returned.

The simplest fix (cheapest) is to replace the shuttle valve switch module BUT there is no guarantee that the problem won't return.

regards

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/general-chat/49022-holiday-fun.html

[adonuff]

The previous owner just drove around Sydney on the bitumen and towed a small caravan on two occasions, in fact I stuggled to shift it into low range the lever was almost stuck. Don't think it was ever used.

The abs trac control etc. was possible never activated. Bleeding the brakes as well as a bit of use seems to have solved the problem so far and on the weekend I will check out the wheel sensors.

I have printed out a lot of the relevent stuff and now have enough notes to fill 3 phone books.

Will have a good look at bleeding the brakes using the abs pump as described somewhere in the pile of notes and hope for the best. If that fails will dig a bit deeper.

Thanks everyone the info on here is fantastic.
Andrew

[Bunyip123]

Hi My Dysco SII had this problem on and off since I purchased it (2nd hand) two years ago, about six months ago I gave it a realy good 4X4 work out and I have not had the problem since. As they say : IF you dont use it you lose it.

So get out and drive it as it was designed to be driven

[LandyAndy]

Hi Hendrik
I dont thing regular use does work the shuttle valves that much.
Find a big hill(bitumen is fine) put it in lowrange and let the HDC do its work.You will see it works the system well,especially if its a big hill.
Its all HDC is good for;);););)
Andrew