Thread: An unsual 3 amigos problem?

Originally Posted by FatBob

On a trip this weekend to the Alpine region around Bright, Vic I had an attack of the 3 amigos. The lights came on after I'd been driving around for about 30 mins in low range with HDC engaged. I turned off the HDC after the 3 chimes but the lights stayed on. No dramas until I attempted a relatively mild hill when I seemed to lose the ability to use low range and my mates reckon only the front wheels were spinning as I floundered at the bottom of the hill, very strange? After several attempts I abandoned the ascent feeling very embarrassed but concerned? I was able to engage low in my Disco but it just didn't want to know the climb and tyres were not an issue given a Hilux and Patrol on HT rubber went up with no problems? I then tested the operation of the four wheel drive and it seemed to be working in high as you'd expect so why no low range? On the trip home the amigos appeared twice more but disappeared after the usual reboot of the engine? Has this happened to anyone before or was I imagining the whole thing as I wasn't expecting to lose low range even with the temp loss of TC, HDC and ABS or can that happen?

4wd is available all the time in the D2, however if you lose TC and traction to any set of wheels then you wont be going far. Without a CDL and TC you are not much better off than a 2WD. Hence the Patrols and Hilux doing the hills OK.
Low and High Range are not affected by the 3 amigos, as this is a mechanical selection. So your lack of low range is related to your shift mechanism or internals of the transfer case and not the 3 amigos. However the 3 amigos will affect your HDC. HDC will only work with low range.

I guess I have an unusual problem as well. 3 amigos are going strong. I have checked a number of things and run out of ideas.

1. Shuttle valve switch and connection is ok.
2. ABS sensores read ok at wheel and back at slabs
3. No oil in harness to ecu.
4. ABS seems to work. (can feel pulsating)
5. TC/HDC no go.
6. Diag tool connected found no faults! (dunno what brand but it was yellow with blue buttons) used by another enthusiast on his D2 and was able to read abs codes.

Is it possible his diag tool wont work with my D2?

I dont know what else to try.

PS sorry in advance if i posted this in the wrong spot.

Was the D2 a V8? It is possible to have the wronf diagnostic tool. The diagnostics for the TD5 runs a different protocol. So you will need a specific unit like Nanocom, Testbook, T4.
What did you use to test your sensors and switch?

cheers

Originally Posted by strangy

Was the D2 a V8? It is possible to have the wronf diagnostic tool. The diagnostics for the TD5 runs a different protocol. So you will need a specific unit like Nanocom, Testbook, T4.
What did you use to test your sensors and switch?

cheers

Thanks for reply!
Yeah its a TD5 and his LR is a V8. Could explain this reason for no codes.
Just used a miltimeter and all tested around 1170 ohm and more as spun wheel.
I noticed mine had a fix on it which bypassed the driverside ABS sensor plug and it is directly wired into the slabs. Is this a fix from LR or some dodgy back yarder? Looks legit has wabco sticker on wiring. And well, seems to be getting signal.

Can't help regarding your 3 amigos generally. Get them myself occasionally but not enough yet to motivate me to do something. In regard to the directly wired abs sensor--yes L/R did bring out a later one to eliminate the connector in the cable I assume as dirty or corroded connectors were sometimes the cause of the amigos. The downside is replacement now may be beyond a DIY job for some as you need to hardwire it into the ecu.
Cheers
Paul
2004 disco2 td5 auto

Originally Posted by gavcan01

Thanks for reply!
Yeah its a TD5 and his LR is a V8. Could explain this reason for no codes.
Just used a miltimeter and all tested around 1170 ohm and more as spun wheel.
I noticed mine had a fix on it which bypassed the driverside ABS sensor plug and it is directly wired into the slabs. Is this a fix from LR or some dodgy back yarder? Looks legit has wabco sticker on wiring. And well, seems to be getting signal.

Yes as discolaw said the sensor has been replaced with a newer sensor. So not bodgey.
I dont know where you are, but, check out members with diagnostic equipment and PM or make a call to someone nearby.
Check out the other thread running on 3 amigos also.

cheers.

Thanks for your help discolaw and strangy. Im getting my codes read and reset in the next couple of days so ill let you know how it goes after that.

worth checking the state of your battery/alternator.
TD5s hate lousy connections or low voltages.

Trev.