disco 3 invalid data, parking brake, suspension, abs fault

Hi Guys

I have recently bought a Land rover Discovery 3 to pull a largish caravan. I think I may have bought one with a load of problems so could do with some help please

I have had the car since the summer and used it regularly for holidays and towing with no problems. There was sometimes a bit of a jerk/delay changing gear, but not always so wasn't too concerned.

We had a brake error message come up on the dash so checked the brakes and changed them, but discovered that the ABS sensor had been disconnected and taped up. We reconnected it, then every light on the dash came on. Suspension wouldn't work etc. Took it to a local garage,he cleaned the lead to sensor cleared all the faults and the lights went out, all good ( or so we thought)

Always started ok, then in November we had to be in the car parked up for an hour or so. The interior lights were on although not the ignition, and the battery failed. Manage to get a jump start and drove it home, started fine the next day. Then we got Covid, so the car sat unmoved for a couple of weeks. when our isolation was over drove to the local market and when I had done my shopping tried to start the car, all. the dash lights came on again , alerts that suspension lowered, park brake fault, special programmes off etc.Took it to my local garage, he turned off the codes which were mostly invalid data, and the codes did not reappear. He tested the battery which showed 67%, so we put a new battery on it. Next day the lights were back on and in limp mode again. This time not all the codes cleared and its gone back in for further investigation. The guy has just rung and says he feels it may be pointing to the ABS module, but as he does not have full diagnostic equipment its hard to pinpoint exactly. Landover cannot look at it for at least 2 months. Any thoughts would be welcome

I am amazed it drove with an abs sensor disconnected, would think the car would throw a wobbly if if could not see all 4 sensors?
If you still have the standard bulbs in the interior lights, then you cant have them on for long (30 mins is pushing it) before you flatten the battery, I always have mine switched off, press and hold the centre overhead console light button until they flash at you (take a few seconds), then let the button go, voila no interior lights also no flat batteries!
The car like so much new stuff is so power hungry the batteries are only really good for 2 maybe 3 years at best.

Plus 1 ,

Your best bet is to get the exact code numbers then head over to disco3.co.uk, it has a LOT of info on basically all errors you're likely to come across with these cars.

50sfins said:

sorry hubby corrected me, was the brake sensor not ABS sensor, maybe thats why no wobbly?

Thank you for the lights off tip. Will remember that for next time.

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You most likely mean brake pad wear sensor? if so that is nowt to worry about, mine are taped up not an issue so long as you take a look through the wheel spokes often enough.

I have heard jump starts can cause issues on these cars and many other modern motors, maybe start with what is the alternator charging at, if hubby has a multimeter then its a few seconds work, if not buy one for a tenner off ebay and test it.

As TheMunster said above you will need the codes, with codes you can search google etc and get some good info, or even better someone else who has had the same issue before you.

50sfins said:

I think I may have bought one with a load of problems so could do with some help please

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Unfortunately the D3 can have lots of problems, which many owners don't bother getting fixed properly, or simply can't afford to get them fixed.
These substandard vehicles are often sold off cheap to unsuspecting buyers, themselves often unable to afford to get them fixed properly, so the cycle continues, until the final owner has a vehicle with many faults, that fixing it is silly expensive, so they come here for advice.

I suspect the new battery is undersized what did they fit ?. Multi electrical faults are always down to low volts at the battery.
Did you fully charge it before fitting ?
Have you tested for a drain ?
What the charging volts?
All basic checks that need to be done before further fault blaming .