HDC Not engaging...

Hiya Folks,
Yesterday decided to try out the HDC, a) to see if it still works,b) to free up any cobwebs since last used. Pulled the trigger, dropped the collar, no HDC . On starting up, both HDC lights iluminated as the manual sez they should, but thats the only time the icons light up..guess it's the microswitch gone, anyone an idea how much they're gonna sting me for one?

Hugs,

I think to have read it might be a loose cable on the gearstick contact ??

hiya cashy
my freelander does exactly the same as yours the lights come on with the ignition checks then when I engage hdc the light doesnt come on, but hdc still works, I have read on other threads that it makes a noise when it works but mine is silent, can feel the brakes working and it goes downhill very slowly, only had it 3 weeks and not used to it yet, hope it is supposed to work like this,
Bazzer

Bazzer,
You'll know about it if it does come on! Similar Clicking/thumping/banging sound to the TC actuating. Suggest you may have the same as me... Silly q, how old/engine is yer hippo?

mornin' Cashew - cant help with ya HDC, but nice ta see ya around.

ps - nuttin about the Hippo is engagin'

Remove the rubber boot from around your gear lever you will see the connection to the switch on the gear stick, it has 2 wires running too it, its very common for one or both of these to become disconnected and thus showing no light on the dash when its engaged.

Its a 10 minute job with a soldering iron.

Zippy

and a £400 bill for new plastics if yu muck it up

Gulp . . .dont back chat Zippy, Floppy hat, or we will all suffer, Hi Zip, glad ta see ya helpin Cashback. . ..

i woz just sayin' "take care" - mornin Ming

The Mad Hat Man said:

i woz just sayin' "take care" - mornin Ming

Click to expand...

Mornin Flop. . .

this from the man - who asks ones gender when answering - tsk tsk Ming

hiya cashy,
its 1998 xedi, 82000 miles, hdc definately works, but no noise, can feel the brakes working and it doesnt go above 5mph going downhill in forward or reverse, dont know anything about it really only had it 3 weeks

HDC only works in 1st and reverse
When in higher gears the light should flash
best to try it going down a gentle incline off road
if ya give it a little bit of throttle then take yer foot of the pedal you should feel it work
mine makes like an orrible grating type noise as well as the pedal vibrating

I must admit my first experience of using it was on an incline of about 35+ degrees with deep rutts.
It goes against the grain to go down that sort of slope using only the throttle. I was very impressed.

Yesterday i was visiting a client who works in the bottom of a quarry, I've not been before so I debated about taking the defender in case it was poor access, some of my clients live in odd places. Anyway the sun was shining so I took the Hippo. Got to the quarry entrance, engage HD , no warning lights, but i set off anyway. It seemed to be Ok the hill was steep, rough but quite dry so perhaps it was not having to work very hard but there was a definite point at which , as the slope steepened, the car controlled itself and slowed , no bangs or anything. Does the light indicate as a seperate circuit , rather like the light on the diff lock on the defender, which does not always come on and off in sequence with the lever operation , or is the switch on the gearlever to engage the electronics as a whole?

I know it might be a mute point - but using the old rule - "check the fuse before dismantling the video" - does the light come on on the pre-flight? checks? or is it a case of blown bulb?

Sorry. Yea, all preflight checks OK.

On one other occasion i engaged HD on tarmac downhill and it was a very uncomfortable experience with a warning light. This time it was very smooth but did appear to be in control. This morning I lengaged HD and let it drive out of my drive on to the road, ( unmade road , very very gently down hill )and it appeared to work ie. when I switched it off the car went quicker with no throttle. still no light. Sod it I'll go and check under the rubber...................Yep, both wires had fallen out of the connector block.
This would explain a stange thing that happend in between my first and second use of the HD when i was reversing out of someones drive and HD engaged without me touching the gearlever and then disengaged just as inexplicably as i drove forward in first. Must have been the wires coming out and shorting. Which way do they go back in or doesn't it matter? Green and purple from loom, blue and white from switch. Sorry for being such a tit but I've only driven things with difflocks before.

yu not a "tit" or if yu are - this forum is full of 'em. If yu knew the answers yu wudnt be asking. Glad yu mite have the problem sussed tho.

I have just had the hdc controll sorted out, when I engage hdc the green light stays on in first and reverse it flashes when I choose the other gears, going downhill in first or reverse there is no noise but you can feel the brakes working, the faulty lights were caused by the wires coming away from the hdc switch

Seems like a very common problem ,glad ya all got it sorted as the hd is indeed a great tool. . . .

Hey Minge - y aren't yu in the pub - we is dyin for a pint over there