POSTED BY: MZ  - BRISBANE - QLD, AUS  27 FEB 2008   PROVIDE FEEDBACK

========== ORIGINAL POSTING ==========
"LANDROVER DISCOVERY 2 1999: ABS MODULATOR FAILURE (ARE YOUR ABS/TC/HDC LIGHTS ON?) - Landrover Discovery 2 owners,

Recently I have joined you in the ABS modulator issue. I was slowing for a light when the 3 little lights (ABS/TC/HDC) appeared on the dash. Once stopped, I re-started the engine and the lights were no longer there. Approximately a week later they re-appeared.

I took the car to a LR service centre and was advised to replace the modulator. ($3000 to $4000) NB: They did however say that although this seems to be a Very common problem in this model, it was not one that would stop me from driving the car. They said the brakes are still usable however the ABS will not work and the brakes may not feel right.

After researching this issue throughout the internet, it has come to my attention that thousands of LR owners are faced with this exact issue. NB: LR service centres will try to say that there could be an array of issues causing the lights to appear on the dash. Although this may be true, all the issues suggested relate back to a faulty ABS modulator. It is a simple fact that the ABS modulators in Landrover’s are faulty.

Please email me if you are having the same issue. I believe Landrover should be helping us (repairing faulty modulators) and would like to take this to consumer affairs with a large group of LRD2 owners to show how big an issue this is.

Personally I don't feel safe in a car that is showing ABS warning lights. (NB: In the owner’s manual, the response to this warning light is to stop the car immediately and call your service centre - that's all well and good, but will they help!)

Hope to hear from you! Alister "
POSTED BY: ALISTER WRIGHT - MELBOURNE, VIC - AUS 11 AUG 2007

========== REPLY ==========
I have a 1999 Landrover Discovery, at approx. 60,000 km my 3 lights started coming on and Landrover would not fix the problem either. Just gave me the same story. Rover Parts in Victoria told me a new shuttle valve switch would fix the problem. They took my money; the new switch didn’t make any difference. When I rang them back the girl said they would ring me back, never did. I wish I never bought the car. I have done only 110,000km and repaired both auto lines the radiator, water pump, injector harnness, fuel pressure regulator, one original air suspension bag and 20,000km later another new bag.

I hope you have better luck.
POSTED BY: MARK DALLINGER - COOLANGATTA, QLD 13/8/2007

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I own a 2002 Discovery and to my dismay I have discovered the three amigos problem as well TC ABS and down hill lights. I took car to dealer and was told ABS module was bad. After researching on computer we are totally being taken advantage of by Landrover. This is so common that a recall is definitely in order. This can happen at any time during the life of our cars. I saw where it happened during our normal 4 year warranty during 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th.

When it happens during warranty nobody cares so we will have to fight harder for any satisfaction .They should be ashamed that we have to spend a lot of money to put our families into a car which has a braking system with a high rate of failure. Thanks Shaun
POSTED BY: SHAUN FULLER - YONKERS, NY USA 17/8/2007

========== REPLY ==========
I've had the "3 amigos" problem on my 2003 LR Discovery II with 45,000 miles for about 2 months now. Took it to the dealer last week and they suggested a new ABS modulator for 3200. This included 500 for a new switch of some sort for the right front wheel.

They showed me the diagnosis which pointed to some shuttle valves in the ABS switch. I've done some research and in 2006 LR provided a shuttle valve repair kit SWO500030. I'm still trying to find out if this was to address the ABS modulator problem.

I have to believe that the problem is NOT life threatening if LR hasn't issued a recall. I also have to believe that if someone has an accident and the modulator is shown to be the culprit there will be a rapid recall.

Research on the internet shows a lot of people like us in the same circumstances with lack of a concise resolution to the problem. I'll be happy to help in any way I can. I'm still looking for a resolution and my try a few inexpensive things on my own 1st. Keep you posted. Mark
POSTED BY: MARK FERDINAND - FORT MYERS, FLORIDA USA 22/8/2007

========== REPLY ==========
I had this problem for quite some time; the cause on my Disco was that the brake pads were changed without changing the disks.

The disks are designed to be changed when the pads are changed, they are not expensive. If you do not change the disks the pads ride up on the ridges on the disks for a long time and confuses the braking system, this may get better as the pads wear in to match the disks but it will generally still happen intermittently.

Change your disks and pads and I am sure you will see the end of it.
POSTED BY: JOHN JACKMAN - PERTH, WA 23/8/2007

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I had these lights come on. It was caused by a blown stop light fuse (blown by a dodgy hire trailer). New fuse fixed it.
POSTED BY: ANDREW - MELBOURNE, VIC 31/8/2007

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Alistair, I have the same problem with my 1999 Series II TD5. It is however very intermittent. The suggestion by one person on the discussion site that it is associated with new brake pads is not so in my case, as it was many months between fitting of new pads and the problem appearing.

Regards,
POSTED BY: NICK - BRISBANE, QLD 15/9/2007

========== REPLY ==========
I too have a 2001 Disco II. I have owned it for 2 years "The Three Amigos" have been an intermittent problem until recently. Now they stay on errantly.

I would gladly join this cause to bring this problem back to where it came from ... Land Rover. I agree after reading dozens of similarly frustrated LR owners complaints its time Land Rover took care of our problems because they are from Their faulty braking system.
POSTED BY: GLEN WOODS - ALTA LOMA, CA, USA 7/10/2007

========== REPLY ==========
I too have had the ABS failure problem with my Landrover Discovery II. I have been told by the dealer that the only solution is to replace the shuttle valve unit at a cost of nearly $4000. The problem seems to be intermittent and unpredictable. I recently towed a caravan with the car and in 300 Kms the problem did not occur, yet it occurred immediately the car was driven without the van.

I am reluctant to spend the money to repair the fault as I suspect that it may be caused by a sensor rather than the modulator. The experience of the writer who found the problem still there after replacing the unit deepens my suspicion.

I agree that a scan of the internet confirms that this is a world wide problem which Landrover has been **** in the hope that we will all pay up and shut up. I obviously made a mistake in ignoring the long standing complaints about the build quality of Landrover. I am very disappointed that the company refuses to acknowledge that they sold **** vehicles.

I was initially very pleased with my car but I now understand why all my associates said I was crazy not to buy a Toyota.
POSTED BY: ROBERT ADAMS - SYDNEY, NSW 17/10/2007

========== REPLY ==========
I have the same problem with my '98 Freelander.
The first time the lights came on was a couple of years ago. Land Rover fixed the problem when it was being serviced and it was fine for a while. However a few months ago the HDC/ABS/TC lights came back on and, with the exception of a 2 or 3 week reprieve after a recent service, the lights appear to be back for good.

I'd love to know if there is an inexpensive way to fix the problem.
POSTED BY: JOHN ILINCIC - SYDNEY, NSW 24/11/2007

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Can’t agree more! I have a Freelander 1.8 petrol and have had 4 warning lights on for 3 years. I took the problem to the garage who sold it and they tried to hide the problem. On further checks I was told that it is the Engine Management System that was faulty. When I am driving it dies out on me and then kicks back in. I feel like dumping it in a wrecker’s yard. To fix the issue would cost a lot of money that I can’t afford?

I will advise anyone against buying Landrover, they are expensive nightmares. If any one can help or give pointers to where I can go it would be appreciated.
POSTED BY: BILLY PATERSON - SYDNEY, NSW, AUS 19/12/2007

========== REPLY ==========
I too have the same problem with the three amigo's coming on. It started intermittently but now they’re on all the time. There are way too many instances and complaints for Land Rover to ignore. They have to issue a recall notice for this problem. It’s only a matter of time before there is a real failure and someone is either seriously injured or killed.
POSTED BY: JULIO - HOLSWORTHY, NSW 27/3/2008