Confused over ABS problem

Good evening ladies and gentlemen,

I've only had my 2002 Defender for 5 months and its already been a rollercoster ride of many lows.

This is my first post, and I have already searched through this and many other forums, but I have not found the unique answer to my question.

I brought my long wanted Defender from a well known place in Peterborough, and whilst its OK its not been the dream ride I was lead to believe.

A couple of days ago my brake warning light, ABS and TC lights all came on and stayed on (the three amigos defender style).

A local indy specialist garage found 'pump failure 3' and whilst they plan to check the wiring, they suggested I start the hunt for a second hand ABS unit.

In a giddy peak of excitement I found one, and ordered it paying over the phone. I did not research the company I used properly otherwise I mad have held back.

When I was on the phone I was assured of a SRB 101540 Yr2000 for a Defender.
What has arrived all the way from Parkend is a SRB 101241 for a Discovery.

It looks tatty compared to my unit (which looks suspiciously clean with yellow loctite like marks) also the lettering on the top is in a different order.

On the defender unit they go: FL FR RL RR
On the disco unit they go: FL RR FR RL

Now I'm sure my mechanic could (maybe) make sure the correct pipe goes to the correct plug and then match the sensors but I just wish I had the right part.

What should I do?
Any and all advice or comments gratefully received.

I hope to be able to help others in the future but my skill set is more based around human mechanics and its faults.

Thanks in advance.

send it back as isnt what you ordered

jamesmartin said:

send it back as isnt what you ordered

Click to expand...

+1... Make no compromises when it comes to safety critical parts such as brakes. For all you know, your old part may not even need changing afterall.... best of luck

Thankyou gentleman,

I'm waiting now until I can see my mechanic on th 15th.

I dont know why I went and brought the 2nd hand unit - it was a fit of madness / panic induced by the cost of a new unit. Silly in hindsight.

I will now attempt to get my money back from the ABS seller - reviews suggest that this will be a very difficult process.

Lessons learnt, fingers crossed

Dear all,

I felt I wanted to add an update and ask a supplemental question.

Yes my 3 Amigos have gone (for now).

However I have been subjected to some of the worse customer service I have ever encountered. As a customer I have never been spoken to like that before. (I have edited this reply several times to reduce it to just the facts and remove the vitriol). I plan to make a formal complaint in writing.

My brakes are now so spongy as to qualify for entry into the Great British Bake Off.

I have been told that my brake system will need to "bed in" after bleeding and that they will be fine "in a couple of days".

Is this yet more mechanical smoke and mirrors?

sounds like bull**** to me. brakes should work from the off.

Yes bull****, there is air in the system, I recon the brakes was not power bled the proper way, its not essential to power bleed but its a very good thing to do. Take it back so he could do the job properly.

Dear Gentlemen,
Thanks, I did suspect I was being patronized again, there was just no arguing (or conversation even) with 'the thing' in charge.
It was heavily implied that the brakes where spongy because I dared to asked for a time, any time I could have my vehicle back (thus not allowing their experts more than 4 hours to bleed my system).
I plan to have 2 quotes on my brakes, get them fixed by whoever seems most on the ball, I shall then complain in writing. I just don’t trust 'the thing' in charge to be able to do a proper job.

Hi, I'm now faced with the prospect of needing a new ABS unit for my Defender and have also come across one in Parkend.... In the end, did the Disco unit you received fit or did you return and attempt a refund?

I've seen a unit advertised online for a Defender but am a bit concerned, after reading your post, that I might get the wrong part.

Cheers

Tony

G'Day Kzycnn,

Sounds like the same unit! I'm currently having more than a spot of bother getting a refund out of the supplier. I would avoid.

I was told by the spanner monkey at the first garage I went to that "only a new unit will work" (after his lurch apprentice had told me otherwise). So I had a new 'britpart' unit fitted (with some very nice minor damage to the body work thrown in for free).

However search for the post by Kirky1993 who seems to have successfully fitted a disco unit to a 'fender.

On a more serious note, since my friendly AL9 Landy specialist told me the brakes would come good in 2 days it has ended up costing me another £600.
The brakes failed as the brake lines had ruptured and the servo arm is buggered - all missed by the first 'garage'. A more professional outfit is currently fixing it. I'm now about 3K out of pocket - a lot of it caused (I believe) by negligence.

Thanks for the info - I'll avoid them...

I'm out of pocket for 2 rear calipers and a master cylinder so far. The 2 calipers are what I put it in for, although half expected to need a master cylinder as well.

The faulty ABS unit has come up when the indy attempted to bleed through the system using their Autologic system. Apparently, this won't push any fluid through at all and, according to Autologic, this means the modulator is toast.

Bleeding through by hand leaves the pedal to go soft after a few minutes (hence them resorting to Autologic).

I've come across ecutesting.com that will overhaul your own abs unit for £195. Tempted to give them a go before forking out £1200.....

Tony

I used a Nanocom to bleed my system through and it worked just fine. The Nanocom can do each high pressure wheel circuit separately and them you bleed the low pressure circuit from brake master to modulator in the normal way. This after LR main stealer told me I needed a new shuttle valve and modulator. Three years later and still working.