Electric Hand brake.

Mike Jackson · Oct 23, 2018

I will never buy another Land Rover. My Discovery 3 is not fit for purpose. The electric hand brake has cost me several thousand in repairs and has let me down twice in potentially dangerous situations. When I complained to land rover they said that it was my fault for driving it off road in the mud and wet.

Dragonwalker · Oct 23, 2018

Mike Jackson said:
I will never buy another Land Rover. My Discovery 3 is not fit for purpose. The electric hand brake has cost me several thousand in repairs and has let me down twice in potentially dangerous situations. When I complained to land rover they said that it was my fault for driving it off road in the mud and wet.

What does the Owners Handbook say about using the electric handbrake ?

I'll bet you have an Auto ?

Why don't you just pull the fuse like normal owners ?

You can also hold down the EPB switch at engine off to stop it engaging.

Flossie · Oct 23, 2018

Hello and welcome from me

Mike Jackson · Oct 23, 2018

Dragonwalker said:
What does the Owners Handbook say about using the electric handbrake ?

I'll bet you have an Auto ?

Why don't you just pull the fuse like normal owners ?

You can also hold down the EPB switch at engine off to stop it engaging.

I have a Manual. The electric handbrake jammed whilst towing a horsebox with two Hunters inside in low range gear on a steep and narrow road.. I was forced to stop and the handbrake jammed whilst trying to restart .
With a proper handbrake this would have been easy . Left hand controlling handbrake and easing it off whilst left foot easing the clutch and right foot on the gas. Instead the wretched thing jammed and the AA had to be called to free it by removing the fuse and using the jack handle where the hand brake should be. The horses had to be taken from the box and in the meantime we were blocking the road. I complained to Land Rover and they said that the problem was most likely caused because I had been driving the car off road in the mud and wet !!!!
The Disco 3 replaced a Disco 2 which of course has a proper hand brake. I wasn't keen on the electric hand brake when shown the car but was talked into it because, ' it was so much better than a normal hand brake ! ' My next 4 x 4 will be a Nissan Navarra or similar which has a proper hand brake. To be fair my Disco has covered almost 200,000 with no significant problems except the hand brake. It is presently off road having the hand brake repaired yet again, because mud and water has entered its delicate parts. !

Hippo · Oct 23, 2018

Welcome to the forum

Disco 3 and 4 and newish rr's are known to be eggspensive to maintain. Plenty of D3 and D4 owners take theirs oft road on you tube but never tell yer the truth about getting them wet. I din't realise getting a disco wet was such a problem.

@gstuart

gstuart · Oct 24, 2018

Mike Jackson said:
I have a Manual. The electric handbrake jammed whilst towing a horsebox with two Hunters inside in low range gear on a steep and narrow road.. I was forced to stop and the handbrake jammed whilst trying to restart .
With a proper handbrake this would have been easy . Left hand controlling handbrake and easing it off whilst left foot easing the clutch and right foot on the gas. Instead the wretched thing jammed and the AA had to be called to free it by removing the fuse and using the jack handle where the hand brake should be. The horses had to be taken from the box and in the meantime we were blocking the road. I complained to Land Rover and they said that the problem was most likely caused because I had been driving the car off road in the mud and wet !!!!
The Disco 3 replaced a Disco 2 which of course has a proper hand brake. I wasn't keen on the electric hand brake when shown the car but was talked into it because, ' it was so much better than a normal hand brake ! ' My next 4 x 4 will be a Nissan Navarra or similar which has a proper hand brake. To be fair my Disco has covered almost 200,000 with no significant problems except the hand brake. It is presently off road having the hand brake repaired yet again, because mud and water has entered its delicate parts. !

Hi

May i ask when was the handbrake taken apart and serviced , inc the actuator box itself

The actuator box is complete water tight so don’t know why u were told there no good for off roading , unless seals have failed

Alas they are looked over as part of normal servicing

gstuart · Oct 24, 2018

Hippo said:
Welcome to the forum

Disco 3 and 4 and newish rr's are known to be eggspensive to maintain. Plenty of D3 and D4 owners take theirs oft road on you tube but never tell yer the truth about getting them wet. I din't realise getting a disco wet was such a problem.

@gstuart

Hiya

The EPB actuator box sits up by the rear axle in a sealed box, alas heard many stories where they are just left until they go wrong by lack of maintance

Think with many modern land rovers they have these EPB so a case of ensuring there stripped and checked on an annual service

Another thing I’ve heard is where there not adjusted properly , drivers carry on using them when they start screeching instead of disabling them and getting them fixed before the big bills start to happen

Assume it’s the same with all the new landies ensuring there serviced

Hippo · Oct 24, 2018

gstuart said:
Hiya

The EPB actuator box sits up by the rear axle in a sealed box, alas heard many stories where they are just left until they go wrong by lack of maintance

Think with many modern land rovers they have these EPB so a case of ensuring there stripped and checked on an annual service

Another thing I’ve heard is where there not adjusted properly , drivers carry on using them when they start screeching instead of disabling them and getting them fixed before the big bills start to happen

Assume it’s the same with all the new landies ensuring there serviced

I would eggspect it to be one of the items on the service list which a land rover dealer would check. But a DIY or independent may not do do as they tend not to fail. Or it's just not thought of as something to check. In the op's case it's on 200k miles so wear and tear on anything is likely. All options should be considered.

gstuart · Oct 24, 2018

Hippo said:
I would eggspect it to be one of the items on the service list which a land rover dealer would check. But a DIY or independent may not do do as they tend not to fail. Or it's just not thought of as something to check. In the op's case it's on 200k miles so wear and tear on anything is likely. All options should be considered.

Indeed , is on the service schedule but as u rightly say some independent garages might not check it

https://www.disco3.co.uk/gallery/albums/userpics/11102/normal service.pdf

IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT :
After 50 miles continuous use in severe off road conditions - wading, deep mud and abrasive grit/slurry - the electric park brake should be inspected, cleaned and adjusted, and the ancillary drive belt should be inspected and cleaned.
Air suspension vehicles used extensively in arduous/ off road conditions will require the compressor inlet filter to be replaced at more regular intervals.
When the vehicle is used in dusty or field conditions or deep wading , frequent attention to the air cleaner may be required.
When the vehicle is used in areas where fuel quality is poor, more frequent draining of the fuel filter/ sedimentor may be required. If the vehicle is used with leaded fuel the spark plugs must be replaced every 15,000 miles.
For full details regarding the operations contained in this maintenance check sheet, please refer to the workshop manual.

landyzoner · Oct 24, 2018

welcome to the forum

Electric Hand brake.

Mike Jackson

New Member

Dragonwalker

Well-Known Member

Flossie

Well-Known Member

Mike Jackson

New Member

Hippo

Lord Hippo

gstuart

D3 Grandad

gstuart

D3 Grandad

Hippo

Lord Hippo

gstuart

D3 Grandad

landyzoner

Well-Known Member

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