Land Rover Discovery 3 - Help!!!
Discussion
I have purchased a 57 plate LRD3 with 130k on the clock. Full service history and timing belt changed recently etc. However, I broke down on the way home this evening and it went into limp mode and only worked on the manual gear max 10mph. Warning messages saying Transmission Fault Limted Gears, HDC Fault and Park Brake Fault. I’m having it towed away tomorrow morning to the garage but has anyone experienced this and what it may be, to stop the flashing pound signs and the panic set in!
The guy I brought it from days to wait 30 mins and it’ll reset but surely it shouldn’t happen and why would he know that, must be a known problem?!!.......
The guy I brought it from days to wait 30 mins and it’ll reset but surely it shouldn’t happen and why would he know that, must be a known problem?!!.......
I had this on my old D3, along with the suspension dropping to the floor - turned out to be the £8 brake light switch located behind the pedal!
It could be one of many things however as I'm sure you've found via Google. Get it plugged in to diagnose and keep your fingers firmly crossed.
Chris
It could be one of many things however as I'm sure you've found via Google. Get it plugged in to diagnose and keep your fingers firmly crossed.
Chris
Don't worry could be one of a million things, including a knackered battery. LR in their wisdom put everything on a single CAN bus so if one module goes wrong, it cocks up everything else. Sometimes disconnecting the battery (reboot) works,
They are complicated beasts, take it to an indie for diagnosis and laugh it off.
They are complicated beasts, take it to an indie for diagnosis and laugh it off.
Edited by anonymous-user on Friday 1st March 18:38
Ask on the discovery forum.
https://www.disco3.co.uk/forum/
It takes very little to trigger an "HDC fault" - Hill Descent Control. But limp mode as well is not something I've experienced.
Mine went into HDC fault mode when a wheel speed ABS sensor wire was partially cut through by the wheel rim. When it got wet, the errors started. 10 mins with a soldering iron and it was sorted. My symptoms were HDC Fault! Suspension lowered to access height, no special 4x4 programs available, but it drove fine with full speed available.
Other causes can be
- weak battery (apparently this can cause loads of faults)
- damaged brake pad wear sensor wire
- failing brake pedal switch (a few quid)
You are rightly suspicious that the previous owner was aware of this. Sounds like he's ignored a problem and offloaded it onto you.
The good news is it is unlikely to be expensive.
The Disco 3's diagnostic codes are massively generalised. Someone never bothered to itemise specific sensor errors, instead, grouping loads of problems into "HDC Fault". Rarely has it anything to so with HDC!
p.s. at 130k miles, I'd advise having the transmission fluid properly flushed and replaced, with a new, low profile metal gearbox sump& filter (make sit a 1 hour job to change the tranny filter, instead of a 4 hour job). Should cost you £300 inclusive. At about 140k they auto box often starts shuddering and a total fluid replacement frequently solves it. It did on mind (saving a £3k repair bill).
https://www.disco3.co.uk/forum/
It takes very little to trigger an "HDC fault" - Hill Descent Control. But limp mode as well is not something I've experienced.
Mine went into HDC fault mode when a wheel speed ABS sensor wire was partially cut through by the wheel rim. When it got wet, the errors started. 10 mins with a soldering iron and it was sorted. My symptoms were HDC Fault! Suspension lowered to access height, no special 4x4 programs available, but it drove fine with full speed available.
Other causes can be
- weak battery (apparently this can cause loads of faults)
- damaged brake pad wear sensor wire
- failing brake pedal switch (a few quid)
You are rightly suspicious that the previous owner was aware of this. Sounds like he's ignored a problem and offloaded it onto you.
The good news is it is unlikely to be expensive.
The Disco 3's diagnostic codes are massively generalised. Someone never bothered to itemise specific sensor errors, instead, grouping loads of problems into "HDC Fault". Rarely has it anything to so with HDC!
p.s. at 130k miles, I'd advise having the transmission fluid properly flushed and replaced, with a new, low profile metal gearbox sump& filter (make sit a 1 hour job to change the tranny filter, instead of a 4 hour job). Should cost you £300 inclusive. At about 140k they auto box often starts shuddering and a total fluid replacement frequently solves it. It did on mind (saving a £3k repair bill).
Edited by anonymous-user on Friday 1st March 18:46
By the way, when I had a recurring HDC fault in my D3, which I owned for 7 years/150k miles, it turned out to be a dead battery (as above).
Weirdly my Monaro reports a throttle body fault and goes into limp mode for the same reason (voltage drop during cranking). Fix: new, bigger battery.
Weirdly my Monaro reports a throttle body fault and goes into limp mode for the same reason (voltage drop during cranking). Fix: new, bigger battery.
Edited by anonymous-user on Friday 1st March 19:20
Mbgl said:
I do thankfully and they are coming out in the morning to look first and then tow me to the garage. Cross fingers
Find a good LR specialist, a LR dealer or normal garage will just cost you money whereas an indie will know exactly what’s wrong with it and fix it quickly. Are a fixed number of things that go wrong and they will have seen them all before. As above, they are great cars.And don’t tow it anywhere, it’ll bugger the transmission, get it out on the back of a lorry.
The problem was still there this morning and still in limp mode. Recovery has taken it away to the garage on the back of the trailer. Both the recovery chap and my garage have cursed the vehicle and say it’s a moneypit and I should sell immediately. I’m gutted and confused and don’t know what to do. The garage are experienced in LR and will run the tests Monday but I’m really peeved. Any suggestions?? What else is likely to happen?!
RogerDodger said:
You are rightly suspicious that the previous owner was aware of this. Sounds like he's ignored a problem and offloaded it onto you.
The good news is it is unlikely to be expensive.
How do you know its not going to be expensive?!? The good news is it is unlikely to be expensive.
Of course the previous owner knew about it. I'd imagine it has several other faults too. However this is not a LR specific thing. With any used car, you are always buying someone elses issues that they didn't want to fix. Wouldn't surprise me if the glow plugs are knackered and torque Converter is on its way out too. All common stuff. Bet the FBH is locked out too.
I would join the D3/4 Facebook owners group. Better than the forum IMO.
Based on my experience of D3 ownership (Got shot of it in Jan after 2 1/2 years), my gut feel is brake light switch, brake light bulb, battery or alternator. All cause the issues you are experiencing.
D3s are expensive cars to run, especially if you can fix things your self. Please please do your research on every fault before posting anything. The FB group is really rather good and several independents are regulars on there.
Find your self a decent independent. Its essential with these cars. I'd want that Independent to have an AutoLogic Diagnostic machine too.
Best of luck. They are great cars...when they are working.
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