Thread: D2a Electrical Issues. Please Help.

Originally Posted by Vinnie

Hello All,

I have started getting some electrical issues with my 2003 V8 Auto Disco 2a.

I have the Traction Control, Down Hill Decent Control, ABS and Handbrake lights come on the dash of the disco. I've had it checked by a local LR mechanic and the fault comes up as low output on the right rear speed sensor. The first diagnosis was that the joins in the speed sensor cable running from the right rear to the front of the car were faulty, hence a new cable (with no joins) was installed and the fault cleared. That lasted a week before the lights on the dash returned. Fault checked again and was the same, so this time the right rear sensor was replaced, fault cleared. This lasted 2 days before it returned. Fault checked and was the same again. The mechanic cleared the fault codes for me and they returned again after about a week, during which time the mechanic had said that after several inquiries that there was a recall on my model vehicle for the wheel hub assembly (apparently due to metal filings in the hub assembly interfering with the ABS sensor). He was certain this was my issue. Wheel hub replaced (very expensive) and the fault came back the next morning, and yes, the same fault.

I am at a loss, as so it seems is the LR mechanic. This fault only occurs at very low speed (highest speed I have been doing when it has come on is 26 km/h), most of the time leaving my driveway, just touching the brakes. When it first comes on and for several times after the first, if i turn off the car and start it again it clears. It's only after several times that it comes on and stays on. Apparently what is unusual is that the handbrake light comes on when the fault occurs.

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated as I can't justify throwing money at the car, when clearly it's not fixing the problem.

Thanks in advance.

Vinnie

Check your battery SoC. Put it on the charger overnight, and see if the fault appears next morning. My D2 is very sensitive to battery State of Charge issues. Even if the battery spins the motor over fine, a low state can bring on the dreaded amigos, as well as other warning lights.

Otherwise, there are a number of fixes available, many of which you can do yourself, so you're only up for parts cost. Search this forum (from the bottom search box) for "3 amigos", or "Option B"

If your vehicle was subject to a recall (and it hadn't already been done) then it shouldn't have cost you anything to get a dealer to do the hub.

Actually sounds like you're throwing money at your mechanic, rather than at the car!

I always want to suggest Option B but in this case the fault is the same each time and isolated to one wheel so not sure if relevant. Then again, no-one is ever certain of anything regarding these faults.

I’d also check your battery and both terminals. The factory terminals are ****e and often make poor contact.

Hopefully Sierraferry will chime in with info on what the 4 dash lights mean.

Something else to look at......I’ve noticed after recent hub changes that different branded hubs issue different gaskets and o-rings (or none at all) for the ABS sensor.

Perhaps the ‘low output’ signal is due to the sensor not sitting deep enough in the hub. Or too deep?

So wheel off, brakes off, undo sensor allen head bolt, remove metal gasket if it has one, try again. Just a thought. Takes 15 mins.

fuse panel circuit board is worth a look they seem to bring some odd faults such as the h/brake light coming on.

by the way German Shepherd best dog in the world

Just a few questions to clarify what was done.

Replaced whole sensor cable to the slabs unit including the plug connections?

When they replaced the hub was it whit a complete new sensor as well??


Just out of interest I had a similar fault on the front right wheel, new sensor replaced problem still there..... would clear every time! But same would come back just as your while driving out the drive or a very low speeds.

So just kept clearing fault until I was able to get a new sensor. But..... while waiting on and deciding on a course of action, didn't really want to replace the hub! On morning the amigos came on then after driving down the road for a bit they when out and haven't been back!!!! It's like it finally recalibrate to the new sensor????
All TC, HDC and ABS systems working as well.
Got me stuffed as to why it's working now??

Cheers Lemo

Something else I just remembered. There was a thread a while ago about someone who found that the hub(s) they bought had a different number of teeth on the ABS ring than their original one did.
PS. I hope you kept the hub that was replaced - at the sort of prices they go for (even the cheap and nasty ones!), it'd be handy as a spare, especially since it seems there was nothing wrong with it!

Originally Posted by donh54

Check your battery SoC.

What voltage should it be?

Thanks

Julian

Check the connection in attached connector C0378/0392 pins 3 - 4 eventually give it some contact spray, the red brake warning is normal to come on together with the 3 amigos cos it's part of the diagnostic protocol(see attachment), actually it should come on every time but in reality it used to come on mostly on sensor related fault codes

Thanks to everyone so far, unfortunately I am not the best mechanically, can do basic service etc, but leave everything else to mechanics. My normal mechanic is not a LR person and I have had a LR mechanic down the road look at this so far. In fairness to him he has been very good, in that when he originally replaced the cable from wheel to engine bay it was done so there are now no connections between the wheel and the computer. When the fault came back he replaced the wheel sensor free of charge and when the fault came back again he made inquiries (I have to take his word for it) with contacts he has in the UK and hence the wheel hub assembly thought. Unfortunately that has turned out to be a waste of money and I don't have the old one as a spare (annoying) but he did't charge for labor on the install (and I did check the price of the part to make sure I wasn't being duped on the price). My battery seems fine. I have a voltage monitor installed in the car and it's where it should be. The sensor wasn't replaced when the wheel hub was done as it was new and only 2 weeks old. I will try the connections and go from there. Any more ideas please keep them coming, the more the merrier. Once again, thanks.

Vinnie