Freelander 1 HDC amber light on when in reverse

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Chris Rigler

Member
Posts
10
Location
Dorset
Hi all
I have a 2001 Freelander 1.8 K series GS with 42,000 miles on the clock. 3 days after I bought it, it pushed a rod through the block. I then found a 42,000 mile engine from a 2000 Rover 25 which I have transplanted (just the block and head - everything else is as the original car) and it works a treat. However, I have one issue which has appeared from the first start up with the new engine.
When I select reverse gear, the amber HDC 'failure' light comes on and stays on after driving off.
If I then I stop, switch off and switch on, light goes off (unless I select reverse again).
If I don't select reverse, light does not come on.
While there's no warning light on, I have tried the HD and this works normally (green light on dash and ABS cuts in as it should)
Reading the forums, I see that this can sometimes be cured by an adjustment of the throttle cable. I have tried this (many times) but with no success.
As the inlet manifold and all the wiring are still the original components before the transplant, I am wondering what can be different to make this fault occur? This fault was not there before the transplant.I can see a switch at the bottom of the gearbox casing which has nothing connected to it but as there is no connector on the loom to mate up with this, I cannot see that this is relevant. (RAVE says this is "1st gear detector"??
Any ideas guys?
Thanks
 
It sounds like a gear implausible warning. You said reverse lights work ok, so that leaves the first gear sensor.
 
Ok - I'll have to investigate tomorrow. I may have missed the connector to that switch but I did have a good look! Thanks for your reply.
 
Ok - this is doing my head in now.
There are no connectors on the loom floating around that I have missed. If you look at the photo, you can see the '1st gear switch' in question and, looking at the dirt on the plastic, it doesn't look as though there has ever been anything connected to it.
What is even more frustrating is that, although the Haynes manual shows how to change this switch - it doesn't appear anywhere in the wiring diagrams.......:mad:
I have only transplanted the bare engine (block and head). Everything else in the engine bay is as it was (manifolds, loom etc). Only the engine has come out, leaving the gearbox, drive etc in the car so there would have been no reason to remove the connector from the 1st gear switch anyway. The gear stick hasn't been touched so there's no reason to believe anything has happened there and this fault was definitely not present before the engine went bang.
switch.JPG

What am I missing??
 
Would anyone who has a similar model (2001 1.8 petrol) have a look at theirs and tell me where the cabling for this 1st gear sensor traces back to in the loom? Many thanks :(
 
Would anyone who has a similar model (2001 1.8 petrol) have a look at theirs and tell me where the cabling for this 1st gear sensor traces back to in the loom? Many thanks :(
I could have a look on my L Series PG1's box. However, I'm not sure if it is rain, sleet or hail that is blowing horizontally at the moment - I'll have a look when it clears up, it might be spring though!
 
HDC light will come on in a 1.8 K series at around 5mph if you over tighten the throttle cable at the TPS. It should be way more slack than looks sensible.
 
Yea - as mentioned earlier in this post, I have tried the throttle cable thing. To the point of half a yard of slack but no joy. In any case, the light comes on simply by putting the car in reverse gear, without touching the throttle - so I don't believe this is the issue.
On the verge now of taking the bulb out. :confused:
 
Yea - as mentioned earlier in this post, I have tried the throttle cable thing. To the point of half a yard of slack but no joy. In any case, the light comes on simply by putting the car in reverse gear, without touching the throttle - so I don't believe this is the issue.
On the verge now of taking the bulb out. :confused:
Getting the dash out only takes a few minutes. Another 10 to get it apart and a little magic light fixing black tape will sort the problem ;)
Don't ask how I know. :oops:
 
It does sound as though the ABS ECU isn’t getting an appropriate reverse gear selection signal?

Would be worth getting a diagnostic when you can to properly understand the issue.
 
Hi Rob_bell
Yes - I will do that when I have 5 mins.
I just can't get my head around why I don't have a plug on the loom for that gear select switch (as above post). And also why that switch doesn't appear in the Haynes wiring diagrams. :confused:
 
I’ve got the same age car and engine (albeit an S model). Where is that switch on the gearbox housing?
 
As in photo above - its at the bottom front, just under the reverse light switch, but doesn't come off the same part of the loom. I would be interested in seeing if yours is connected and, if so, where the wiring traces back to?
 
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