3 Amigos /Electrical Problem

Hey folks,

I've got a wee problem! I'm not an expert on car electrics so I thought I'd seek some advice over the 3 amigos problem which I have at the moment as it's not really covered in the previous posts.

I was changing my spark plugs on my Freelander 2.5 V6 2000(X) model .... and whilst getting to the tricky ones at the back I managed to knock the electrical sensor hanging out of the side of Brake Fluid Reservoir. I slightly cracked it, and it gave me the red brake warning light on the panel.

I have taped it up and the fault is gone, but it popped back up yesterday morning on the way to work. Not a problem I thought, so reapplied the tape. However when it came back this morning I got a 3 amigos warning too, which didn't go when I resecured the sensor.

So now I have only got the 3 amigos in amber, and no red brake warning light.
I felt a pulsing from the brake pedal earlier under braking but I just get the feeling this is an electrical problem caused by the sensor on the brake reservoir. I switched the fuse on the ABS and the light went, but was back 5 mins later after braking ....

Ooft. Help!!

Chassis out job.

I'd replace the reservoir and sensor first.

Thanks mate ... I shall look into doing that. I shall do my research properly before anyone bites my head off, but does this cause issues with air in the line etc?

ie. how careful do I have to be with it? (though I know the fluid is corrosive too, thanks folks.)

Hmm ... there's a click noise from near the gearstick when I depress the brake pedal ... this 3 amigo's thing is pretty wierd!

Normally when a wheel sensor goes you will get the three lights. My experience is that the red light will come on too if the fluid sensor thing is damaged (as I had a year ago). I replaced it and was left with the three lights, changed a duff sensor and they all went out. After a short while another sensor went and the three came back on. On reaching 10mph on comes the red one again. Best thing to do is get it plugged in to Testbook etc to see if a sensor is away. (Could be entirley coincidental especially if you felt the buzzing from the brake pedal one day - that is a classic sign of a sensor failure and can happen if the car has sat for a while for example). A clicking at the gear lever could be the HDC switch which is attached to it under the gaiter and is activated when you push the slide down. They can be troublesome too and put the lights on.

Just one more thing, is the car auto or manual? If auto then the click can be the inhibitor to prevent you engaging reverse unless the car is stationary (Its a BMW thing) and you just haven't noticed it before in which case not linked to the probs.

Thanks Hippolover ... yeah it is an auto box, so sounds like it's the inhibitor thing I haven't noticed yet ... only had her a few weeks!

It's been fun having a Freelander, getting right into fixing bits and bobs! Lol ... thank god I'm not broke though! (Though I may be shortly!)

The clicking by the gear stick is a soleniod to stop you putting it in gear unless you have your foot on the brake. Try moving it from park without your foot on the brake, it shouldn't go.

Great stuff, thanks folks. Just checked that and it is indeed the solenoid as you described.

Driving today the 3 amigos went out, and after a few minutes I braked normally coming up to a roundabout and as I came to a stop, I felt a judder through the pedal and the lights came on again.

Sounds like an ABS sensor maybe? The braking then feels very normal after that, though obviously the ABS/TC/HDC is disabled.

Thanks again guys, all very helpful stuff!
Happy New Year!

sweet potatos said:

Great stuff, thanks folks. Just checked that and it is indeed the solenoid as you described.

Driving today the 3 amigos went out, and after a few minutes I braked normally coming up to a roundabout and as I came to a stop, I felt a judder through the pedal and the lights came on again.

Sounds like an ABS sensor maybe? The braking then feels very normal after that, though obviously the ABS/TC/HDC is disabled.

Thanks again guys, all very helpful stuff!
Happy New Year!

Click to expand...

It does sound like the abs is getting a false signal from a faulty sensor or a broken reluctor ring.

Sensors should read 950-1100 ohms

You can see the front reluctor rings through a square hole on the hub (from underneath). Back ones are a bit ore tricky to see. Carefully stick a flat screwdriver through and try to turn it. If it moves without the shaft turning its probably broken. Could just be a bit dirt trapped though.

Thanks Hipoolover ... I'll get down and dirty tomorrow to check it.

This Freelander lark is really increasing my mechanical knowledge and at the same time doing a marvellous job of testing my patience! I'm just glad it's a wee project for a while before I leave the country!

Hippo, there is another problem I think. I noticed my expansion tank was bubbling/boiling the other day - first time I've seen it do it - seems a little scary. Temp is fine on the gauge, no coolant anywhere, there are the usual pressure cracks round the cap - well, I've seen them on other older cars anyway ... Looks slightly ominous!! No signs of HGF though - ie. mayo etc.
This Landy ownership really is hilarious!! Still, if I couldn't take a joke I wouldn't have joined!

If your coolant is boiling, thats a problem. I think I'm correct in saying the coolant, and the fact that it's pressured in the system, means the boiling point of the coolant is raised. Regardless of this, if yer tanks cracked, get it replaced. Just replaced mine a few days ago. LR updated the tank, so you have to get a new cap too.

tank = PCF000012
cap = pcd500030

Freelander ownership does inprove your tinkering skills.

Thanks Hippo. This is one for my local specialist I think ... I know my limits and how fragile the old KV6 can be ... Coolant and expansion tank replacement is garage terrtory for me!

Thanks again mate.

Thanks Hippo.

After looking at it, I'll do the Expansion tank myself, but the ABS sensor and Reluctor Rings are not easy to find ... Will have another look tomorrow I think.

Trying to achieve anything around Christmas is just impossible though!! Looking forward to everything actually being open!

Ok ... so sorted the Coolant expansion tank ... even easier than you said!! So fast and simple to change. Happy.

3 Amigos - the garage said they couldn't get their computer to speak to the ABS ECU ... now that may be their software they said or maybe the ecu itself - eek ... don't fancy the cost of that!

Sounds like they used the wrong connection. If it was testbook there are two different cables, blue or brown. Otherwise it could just have been a poor connection. Try it again, maybe with another machine.