Oh Larry
Word and Pictures by Debbie Forster
My Land Rover Life journey started in May 2023 when I purchased a Discovery 2 (affectionally called Larry). I’d been after a Land Rover for a number of years, and picking up the Disco was one of the best things I have ever done. It has turned into a career changing journey to say the least. I knew nothing about cars then, now I am training to be a mechanic.
Of course, owning a 21 year old Land Rover comes with its challenges. Larry has not suffered any major break downs this last year, but there have been some issues that have caused me a few headaches.
Three Amigos
Many a Disco owner (And Freelander owners too!) will have lamented about the Three Amigos and I can count myself among them. For those not in the know, the fault throws up dash lights relating to the ABS system – the ABS, Traction Control and Hill Descent Control are the usual suspects, with the brake light sometimes pinging up too. The fault itself can be quite tricky to find, and the use of a code reader is a good start in trying to find the problem.
My Amigos appeared in June. I had just pulled into Asda to grab some food when they showed up. I didn’t do anything different to usual, and although Asda has speed bumps, I’d hardly call them taxing. My first step was to pick up a code reader. Not a Nanocom, as those devices cost a small fortune, but one that would at least point me in the right direction.
After figuring out where the ODB port was, (under the steering wheel for those interested), the reader told me I had an issue with the right rear wheel speed sensor. After testing the sensor with a multi-metre, and finding it to be sending a duff signal, I knew it was time to go to the garage – Clasp 4×4, the local specialists. I’m no expert, and changing a sensor shouldn’t be too bad right?
What did I know? Turns out that changing the entire hub was better than just the sensor due to the height it need to be set at. Fortunately, the garage I go to are aware than I am learning to be a mechanic, and were only too happy to allow me to ‘help’ change the hub. I also ended up changing both sets of rear pads and servicing the brake callipers at the same time, so it was well worth it.
I got halfway home when the lights came back on.
Mildly annoyed, but aware that code readers are not always accurate – they can only read what they are programmed to read – I set about looking for other sources of the fault. The shutter valve switch on the ABS unit can cause a bad earth, which throws this fault, so I needed to have a look at that. I picked up a replacement, along with instructions on how to do the bypass for the earth and set about swapping them over. It wasn’t too bad a job in the end. I cleared the codes and hoped that would be the last of it.
The lights came back on ten minutes into my next drive.
I was starting to notice a pattern. Every time I went up a particular slip road, the amigos would appear. Bumps didn’t bother them, pot holes were fine, but this slip road was becoming a problem. It’s an essential one too, so there was no avoiding it. I’d retested the wheel sensors, I’d checked the wiring loom and all the fuses. I’d examined all the earth points and still the issue persisted.
Unable to think of anything else, or find other solutions, I went back to Clasp to ask if there was something I was missing. The simplest answers are often overlooked, and we like to think the new parts we use are trustworthy. Turns out this was not the case. The new hub was at fault. After changing it over for another new one, the lights were banished and have not been seen since. I even managed to test the Hill Descent Control on a quiet hill in Manchester. Maybe next time, I’ll get to use it offroad.
Next Month Debbie gets to grips with her Iron Oxide!