Land Rover Reliability.

[johnsoax]

On the DIs when the ABS fails, it takes out the entire brakes. So not only do you lose ABS, you lose the ability to stop completely. Thankfully the easy fix is to pull the ABS pump fuse under the hood.

I use my Rover for a daily driver, plus other stuff. My commute is less than 20 miles a day though. I've owned Rover for just under two years, and I have about $5250 invested in it. That includes purchasing it, and 5 new tires purchased last month. I have put just under 13000 miles on it too.

 

[Paladin]

Really, I find that incredible? Many cars have bad ABS brakes that fire if you hit a bump under braking, and make it really hard to come to a complete stop after a stop, or on ice. My WRX was like that. Is that what you mean?

 

[Roverhound]

I'm guessing I have the updated SLABS then as well. I'm guessing it's just what the 04's got, as they came with CDL from the factory, and don't shut off the SLABS when you engage difflock. I've have a few odd-ball 3 amigos trips, but they always reset themselves when I turn off the truck. If the 3 amigos were stuck on, I always had a real problem.

Out of curiousity, when you do get them, do you actually have 4 Amigos? 3+ the (!) parking brake? This is what I get, and I've seen some indication other 04's get the same.

Yes, on the srd500070 I get the 4 lights, on the older 000070 and the 000150 you would only get the 3 lights.
The 000070 came originally on my 2000. I believe the 000150 came on the 03's but I'm not sure.

 

[MatthewThompson]

Many Land Rover enthusiasts enjoy spending spare time in the driveway maintaining and repairing their vehicles. They enjoy learning about the various weaknesses of their vehicle and how to overcome them. Not me.

I thought this was an integral part of being a happy owner of a British vehicle, not necessarily just LR. I'm sorry that you've had a bad experience.

As an amusing aside, my 5 year old has named our Discovery2 "Lemonade".

 

[ArmyRover]

I drive mine 70 miles round trip to work and back everyday, have been for months. I've driven them cross country multiple times with no issues, aside from maintenance type stuff obviously.

Of course I have a Range Rover Classic with no electronics aside from power windows and locks.

 

[Paladin]

I thought this was an integral part of being a happy owner of a British vehicle, not necessarily just LR. I'm sorry that you've had a bad experience.

Actually, this whole refrain can be heard on discussion boards of just about every high end European vehicle. Complexity and proprietary electronic systems.

 

[Christophe Noel]

I thought this was an integral part of being a happy owner of a British vehicle, not necessarily just LR. I'm sorry that you've had a bad experience.

It isn't just a financial bummer. It's also an emotional bummer as I love to love my Rover. Every time it lets me down, it chips away at the romance of such a storied brand. At this point, if I were to grab a mode of transpo from our inventory for a trip around the world, my first choice would be my mountain bike. Second would be my wife's Vespa. Then, I'd go on foot and fund the whole thing with the sale of my Disco.

Seriously, I think the most outrageously bold overlanding endeavor would be to circumnavigate the globe in a ten year old DII. Now THAT would be brave.

 

[MattScott]

Relatively they are affordable cars. You have to find the right one. Was my Land Rover as reliable as my Land Cruiser? Hell no. Did I love my rover more than my cruiser? Hell yes.

If I was to do it again, I would buy a cheap one, and just replace all the ancillaries from the get go. (PS Pump, Starter, Alt, AC, CkPS, Driveshafts etc..) I really dont think it would ever have a problem then.

 

[johnsoax]

Really, I find that incredible? Many cars have bad ABS brakes that fire if you hit a bump under braking, and make it really hard to come to a complete stop after a stop, or on ice. My WRX was like that. Is that what you mean?

Senario: You start your morning drive. At the first stop sign, the pedal goes to the floor. You have to pump it 5 or 6 times to get any pressure at all, and just barely not go into the intersection. Then the AbS light would come on, but all would be fine for two or three stops, then the light would go back out and you again would push the pedal to the floor. Usually after the 2nd time I would pull over and pull the fuse. Then the brakes act like normal power breaks with no ABS.

The last time, I just stopped trying to fix it and left the fuse out. 1.5 years later, brakes still work fine, you just have to remember you don't have ABS.

My first car didn't have ABS. This truck is 16 years old, so I just pretend it didn't even come with ABS. This past winter my biggest issue was that my tires needed replaced, not that I needed to pump the brakes to stop.

 

[repete]

I make a 100 mile daily commute in my rover in Alaska. I have done this for about 7 years now. I alternate between my 90 Classic and my 93 classic LWB. (to help spread the miles) I have had very little issues in my 7 years doing this (exept the gas bill)!!! I wouldn't own anything else, exept a defender!!

 

[Viggen]

Reliability is directly proportional to maintenance. Ignore the PM and it will leave you stranded. Keep up with it, and youll be fine. That goes with just about any vehicle.

 

[Paladin]

Senario: You start your morning drive. At the first stop sign, the pedal goes to the floor. You have to pump it 5 or 6 times to get any pressure at all, and just barely not go into the intersection.

Wow, I didn't even think that would be possible. How has the NHTSA not recalled it? Must not be enough people filing official complaints, which is a common problem.

When it goes to the floor, is the ABS solenoid buzzing?

Viggen, what exactly is the PM on an oil seal? Or a CkPS?

 

[sven]

I usually have good luck repairing D1 ABS brakes. The key thing to check are the front hubs, they should be nice and tight. The second thing is to reseat the front sensors. The third is the shims underneath the rubber cap on the front hubs...there should be very little play there (RAVE tells you how to do this). If you tried all 3 things and it still doesnt work, pull the fuse.

 

[johnsoax]

Wow, I didn't even think that would be possible. How has the NHTSA not recalled it? Must not be enough people filing official complaints, which is a common problem.

When it goes to the floor, is the ABS solenoid buzzing?

I don't know about a solenoid, but the pump is running.

And as for not being recalled? The same reason why Chryslers can eat a quart of oil every 1000 miles or my Pacifica needs its engine mounts replaced every 40 thousand miles, ect. Because they get away with it...

 

[johnsoax]

I usually have good luck repairing D1 ABS brakes. The key thing to check are the front hubs, they should be nice and tight. The second thing is to reseat the front sensors. The third is the shims underneath the rubber cap on the front hubs...there should be very little play there (RAVE tells you how to do this). If you tried all 3 things and it still doesnt work, pull the fuse.

When the failure mode is no brakes at all, I just pull the fuse. I pulled both front hubs when I replaced rotors. Put right back on as stated in RAVE. Still no correct working ABS.