Accelerator wont work in gear.

Hi all, well after 3 years of no land rover products I went out and got myself a 1998 p38 DSE yesterday.

10miles in my drive back home the brakes failed and the accelerator stopped working in drive. Looks like I'm getting the last 3 years back in one dose.

The brakes will be something to do with the ABS pump I'm sure.

The accelerator confuses me, if I put it in N or P I can rev the engine. Put it in a gear 1 2 3 D or R and its as if the cable has been cut. I was able to rev it in N up to 1k then slide it to D then it would carry on as normal till I came to a stop again.


Some people like to go to sex clubs and get punished by a leather clad girl, I like to punish myself by buying P38s

Think about it, why would you want it to drive if you have no brakes. The ECUs think you shouldn't, that is why you can't rev the engine in gear. Get the brakes fixed all will be well. Get it on diagnostics.

Ah ha! I didnt think it was that clever!

gib6933 said:

Ah ha! I didnt think it was that clever!

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If the ABS ECU is telling the Engine ECU we have no brakes. Then the gearbox ECU says to the Engine ECU we are in gear and ready to go. Just maybe the Engine ECU is saying sod that, if we can't stop, we ain't going anywhere. Get it on diags and see what's wrong.

Well before I pay to get it on the diagnostics I have been looking myself.

I can get the ABS pump to work if I directly power it and it sucked the fluid out of the tank, so the motor is ok. Also if it was the pressure switch it would normally stay on. I have checked the fuses, but not the relay yet.


Thanks for helping!

The relay works. And the wires are ok from the relay to the pump.

Do you not know anyone with a Nanocom? Saying where you are may help.

Ok its the pressure switch.

Now i have pumped up the do-dar, so if I take the pressure switch off will there be half a pint of brake fluid at 180bar behind it?

wammers said:

Do you not know anyone with a Nanocom? Saying where you are may help.

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I dont but I feel like im getting close at the moment.

If it knocks me back down in a moment I might need to find help.

I live in Nantwich Cheshire.

gib6933 said:

Ok its the pressure switch.

Now i have pumped up the do-dar, so if I take the pressure switch off will there be half a pint of brake fluid at 180bar behind it?

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Switch off ignition and pump the brake thirty or so times to depressurise the system.

Yep its the green pressure sensor, but Im dammed if i can find anyone selling the thing on its own without the pump.

They are available but serious money. Several cars are fitted with same unit. Try the sponsor at the top of the page. Emmotts of Colne. Give them a ring people have got them there in the past.

wammers said:

Think about it, why would you want it to drive if you have no brakes. The ECUs think you shouldn't, that is why you can't rev the engine in gear. Get the brakes fixed all will be well. Get it on diagnostics.

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Hmmm never heard of the engine not revving in gear if the brakes fail
The only connection I know between the gearbox ECU and the EDC is the Torque reduction demand and there is no direct connection between the ABS ECU and the EDC is there?

Datatek said:

Hmmm never heard of the engine not revving in gear if the brakes fail
The only connection I know between the gearbox ECU and the EDC is the Torque reduction demand and there is no direct connection between the ABS ECU and the EDC is there?

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No neither have i, but can you think of another explanation? All the ECUs are interlinked via BECM. If he can rev the engine in N and P but not in 1 2 3 D and R something is shutting down the throttle pot link to the engine ECU that's for sure. We will have to wait and see.

wammers said:

No neither have i, but can you think of another explanation? All the ECUs are interlinked via BECM. If he can rev the engine in N and P but not in 1 2 3 D and R something is shutting down the throttle pot link to the engine ECU that's for sure. We will have to wait and see.

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They are linked but not in a way that I can see that would allow that to happen, as you say, wait and see, the outcome will be interesting if we ever get to hear. Diagnostics would quickly prove the point

Ok sorry guys I have been away. Finally got the pressure switch and the brakes are back

But the accelerator is still acting up.

Other problems I'm collecting are the hot start, I have fitted an eBay jobby and no joy.
Also it's started stalling.

I think I need it plugging in. :-(

Just found out the accelerator works in low range.

wammers said:

Think about it, why would you want it to drive if you have no brakes. The ECUs think you shouldn't, that is why you can't rev the engine in gear. Get the brakes fixed all will be well. Get it on diagnostics.

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Wammers does than not only happen depending on the sensrio ie if its the abs pump then yes but a leaking front brake pipe no ect

Grit Valve said:

Wammers does than not only happen depending on the sensrio ie if its the abs pump then yes but a leaking front brake pipe no ect

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Don't know if it actually does have an effect. Never heard of it before. He needs it on diagnostics then we may learn something. If you have a weeping pipe nothing will show anywhere until the fluid drops below minimum.

i had a compete failure of fluid a month or so back were a pipe split and resulted in no brakes yet i was still able to drive to the next junction (on the hard sholder) brakeing with the handbrake! acelerator would have drove as normal had i floored it.
although it would be a very good feature if it had been installed! i might have known there was a seroious problem before i spotted the stationary car 100yards infront of me whilst i was doing 70ish
brown trousers was an understatment