Land Rover Repair: Land Rover Brakes - ABS, TC, HDC lights, land rover dealer, consumer protection agency


Question
I have a 2001 Discovery II SE7 with 57,000 miles.  The ABS, TC, and Hill Descent lights continue to pop up on my dashboard and the dealer cannot find the cure.  I've replaced the front pads (Lucas OEM) and rotors (Brake Engineering) with an ex-ACE mechanic so the dealer is asking me to replace those parts with Land Rover dealer parts.  The problem existed before and after the brakes and rotors where replaced.  The dealer has replaced the ABS sensor and overlay harness, but the lights continue to come on.  I've purchased Land Rover's aftermarket warranty, but the dealer stated it cannot make changes without be putting the dealer pads and rotors on the car.

I am extremely frustrated. Any suggestions?  

Answer
Hi Jeff,

I understand your fustration.  It would appear that those non-LR OEM parts are hindering your chances of having your dealership fix the 3 amigos problem (ABS, TC, HDC).  Do you get the impression that they are trying to force you to buy the their parts?  

Give them a condition:

You agree to purchase the OEM parts ONLY if they can prove that the aftermarket parts are the cause of the problem.  In theory, aftermarket parts should match OEM specifications.  

Your alternative is to send your protest to LR head office and or your local consumer protection agency.  A call to your state attorneys office or lawyer can reveal what rights you have in this matter.

The 3 amigos, as I call them, are a common problem with Disco Series II owners.  Often it is related to the ABS ECU, ABS pump and various sensors.  Clearly, LR has problems with these three components and ABS problems have existed since the '95 models were released.

Keep your courage and voice your complaint!

JohnMc