Land Rover Repair: switches, air suspension system, pan gasket

Question
Hello John,
I own a 2000 D2 petrol engine.
I purchased a boat recently so paid $132 for the wiring harness (complete) and installed myself. the trailer has disk brakes, this meant it required a flat five conector so i also needed to tap into the reverse lights and replace the final pigtail. Rover provide extra wires and conectors to allow this.

I am an idiot and was towing this 6800 lb rig in low 4wheel drive. the transmission oil overheated and started squirting out the pan gasket, the warning light had come on so i stopped imediatly, called AAA to take the car home and had the boat towed home by the coolest bloke ever (Tony, he stopped to see if i was ok!) he followed my wife home, who came to help.
Anyway, having just bought the boat (no money) and not wanting further wrath from the misses i pulled the, pan replaced the filter, gasket and oil (redline D4. Ii seam to have been lucky and by stopping imediatly saved the tranny. Because i just test drove & towed the boat up the highway all seams to be fine, better even. This is how i met you, the advice you gave on re-filling the oil was priceless, thank you.
my questions now are:
what does the button that raises the rear do?
what does the button showing the rover going down hill do?
any advice on replacing the rear shocks?
the rear end goes down when i stop and raises back up when i start, why? (it did this before the boat).
THANK YOU
Graham


Answer
Hi Graham,

you have the luck of the Irish on your side!  A new tranny would have set you back $7500 or more. Stopping like you did was indeed a smart thing to do.

Your series II Disco must have the air suspension system so raising the rear may be good when towing.

Hill decent control is a useful switch when off-roading on terrain that is steep.  All part of the braking system.

You may have a leak in your air suspension system.  Could be the compressor, the air bag (shock) or the air line.  Hard to find leak...usually a LR mechanic had significant experience to find the leak.  Most times its the air bag (shock) but sometimes it's the compressor (ouch $$$).

I've known some series II owners to convert their Disco's from the air suspension system BACK to the coil and shock system.  If you like your air suspension system, my suggestion would be to purchase a heavier guage coil (spring) to compliment your suspension.

As for why the rear goes up and down on your Disco...it could be a leak. IT really becomes a problem with the system no longer 'rises' and remains in the 'seated' position.

Best of luck,

JohnMc