Land Rover Repair: LR2 over heating and lights, sensor calibration, home remedy

Question
Hi and thanks for the help. I live in a small town in Arizona, called Prescott.
A couple years ago I bought a 2002 LR2 with around 30,000 miles and in
pristine condition. Not used for heavy 4 wheeling but we do get snow and I
drive out to hike on occassion. I have had a local shop service the car. It had
over heated a couple times pegging my gauge in the red to which I pulled
over immediately and retrieved water. They could not find anything and
could not get it to overheat again. There are no visible leaks so I have no
idea where the fluid is going. Even when it is hot and I stop there is no fluid
anywhere! But I now carry around a gallon of water for the random event
when it overheats! I can occasionally hear water bubbling in the cab from the
passenger side floor board, guessing that is air bubbling through a heater
core? I was guessing a thermostat but an not sure where it might be
located. Sometimes when it does not over heat it just smells hot! Any ideas?
I thought I would buy a manual. if you can recommend one that would be
great. I have repaired lots of older cars but don't work much on cars
anymore. But with my only service option being 120 miles away i figured I
would learn to work on this since I like the car and want to keep it. The
other issue which does not prevent me from driving the car around town is
all the brake lights now come on. There are three that come on when I start
it up. The descent light, the ABS, and the skid control. They started coming
on shortly after the local shop did a brake job, so I am suspicious that
perhaps some reader/sensor calibration is off? But I am not sure what I am
looking for.
Thank you for your help and hopefully I can return the favor one day!
Dan Shaw

Answer
You need one of the special LR diagnostic systems - Autologic or T4 - to find out why the brake lights are on.  There is no home remedy for that.

With respect to the overheating, there is an article on my website, www.robisonservice.com > service > rover > advice

You may have the first stages of liner failure.  DO NOT drive at all if the gauge is in the red, or you will be buying a new engine block.  These are very unforgiving engines.