Land Rover Repair: Three warning lights, electrical harnesses, los tres amigos


Question
Hello, I hope you can point me in the right direction.  I pulled my 2000 Discovery out of the garage today where it sat all day in the driveway.  I drove it back into the garage at night and the TC, ABS, and hill descent lights came on. I turned the truck off and then started it again and it was fine. Then I put it in drive again and they came back on.  What possibly could have triggered that in the 10 feet I drove it today?

Answer
Hi Paul,

I call them 'the 3 amigos'.  The problem is usually linked to the ABS modulator but it could also be wheel sensor failure, aftermarket brake pads, electrical harness short/corrosion, solar flare (???).

Some dealers will swap out the ABS modulator in hopes that it fixes the problem, others will prolong you misery and slow swap parts in vain attempts to find the fault.  Its somewhere within the braking system but they can't quite get their finger on it.  

I was told last year that newer modulators were being used and a cure 'los tres amigos' seems possible.  If you do have the modulator replaced, insist on a new model only - something made in 2008 or more recent.  If you're going to pay out $2000, make sure its not a rebuilt - the problem could come back in a few months.

Problems have been found with electrical harnesses and perhaps some cleaning can fix the problem.  Here is a Technical Information notice that may be helpful:
http://www.nettechy.com/LRabsBulletin.pdf

The jury is still out on the new modulator being the fix, I've yet to hear from those owners who have replaced the modulator with new ones.  I have heard from owners how have purchased salvaged and rebuild ones - and they all had to purchase a new modulator.

Best of luck,

JohnMc