QuestionI have just purchased a 98 Land Rover Discovery from a flaky fellow and am trying to figure out what all he has screwed up on it. He "told" me he just replaced the battery and the front brakes. As a result of this work the radio reads 'code' and the dealer supplied code does not help. The check engine light, abs (sometimes), srs lights are on. the brakes work fine most of the time but some times when you push the brakes they make a spring sprunging sound and you have to push hard to stop. The anti-theft light is not on on the radio. The cruise control & horn do not work. I hate to go and get raped by the dealer right off the bat. what can I do myself as a backyard mechanic? I have begun changing the fluids and lubing everything. Also the Rover came with a spare engine that he says runs with the only problem being a cracked intake on one side. should I keep this or sell it?
I am a poor working class family man enjoying a rich man's ride. Any help would be great.
One more thing. The other day I was driving and alot of the electrical stuff quit. the sunroofs, interior lights, windows, heated seats, and when shifting the transmission into neutral a grinding sound ensued. then it stopped and all started working again. What the heck was that! To quote my oldest son.
AnswerHi Jon,
you may want to hold onto that spare engine for parts.
Brace yourself when you do go to the dealership for repairs. This vehicle is notorious for high maintenance bills.
Sounds like you have a few problems with this '98 Disco. That sound you mention could be the ABS modulator kicking in. If you then have NO brakes, that has to be the Master C. You could try flushing and bleeding the system, check also if the brake work was done properly.
SRS light should NOT remain on. If it does, it could be a number of faults (airbag, wiring, sensors). The dealer could locate this problem quickly and then you could decide whether its worth repairing right away or in your garage.
ABS system has its share of trouble. Again, the dealer could tell you what codes were triggered and thus give you an idea on what has to be repaired. It may be related to the noise you describe (ie. modulator failure).
The number of electrical problems may indicate a security related problem - not 100% on that. Seems strange that so many components are not working properly. You may want to check the engine fuse box to make sure its wired properly then check the fuse box inside the vehicle drive footwell. Perhaps its just the main lead to the battery is shorting out or a poor contact? Could also be grounding problem. Take a close look at all of this.
As for cruise control, check the vacuum line and pump. If the line is cracked, it can prevent the CC from working. Then check the switch itself. Lastly, if all else looks good, it could be the cruise control ecu. You should be able to find a salvaged one for about $50.
Did the original owner replace this engine?
The power cutting out completely and the transmission noise is troublesome. I suspect either the battery terminals or the main fusebox in the engine compartment. The only other component I could think of the is the main ECU (about $3000+).
If you are a DIY'er, Invest in either the Haynes Repair book for Discovery '94 to '98 (#3016) or purchase the workshop manuals.
Best of luck,
JohnMc
