Removed ACE - Warning light and new MOT

Hi All,

I've searched the forum and cant find an answer to this question...........

My Disco has had the ACE system replaced by coils. There is an amber warning light on the dash that is constantly on - its to show potential failure if the ACE was still fitted.
How will this measure up under the new MOT ? will it result in an MOT failure - even though the test station can see that the original ACE system isn't fitted.

I've read in the forum that a dealer (or somebody with an Hawkeye) can switch the light off - by reprogramming the ECU so that the vehicle is "coil" not "air" suspension. Is this the only (reasonable) solution ?

Longjonty

2000MY GS TD5

Longjonty said:

Hi All,

I've searched the forum and cant find an answer to this question...........

My Disco has had the ACE system replaced by coils. There is an amber warning light on the dash that is constantly on - its to show potential failure if the ACE was still fitted.
How will this measure up under the new MOT ? will it result in an MOT failure - even though the test station can see that the original ACE system isn't fitted.

I've read in the forum that a dealer (or somebody with an Hawkeye) can switch the light off - by reprogramming the ECU so that the vehicle is "coil" not "air" suspension. Is this the only (reasonable) solution ?

Longjonty

2000MY GS TD5

Click to expand...

Light can be turned off yes, this will need to be done via a scanner, not sure what one as I have no experience with TD5's.

As for the MOT, it will fail after april 1st, all lights except the EML are now part of the MOT. However, you could use a loophole and that is the modified for purpose, you can explain to the tester that the system has been removed due to off road use/towing e.t.c. and he can then pass and advise against it, this is down to the tester however and modified for purpose is designed for vehicle being used off the public highway (off roaders/track cars e.t.c.)

Hi

Just to let you know the "ACE" system has nothing to do with the springs. Have you removed the air springs on the rear and fitted coils instead?
Or have you removed the ACE and fitted standard anti-roll bars?

Anyone with a Nanocom or Hawkeye can swith the lights off for you.

what does the warning light look like?

Hi,

Thanks for the answers guys, I appreciate your time.

I bought my Disco last September, the rear air bags had already removed and replaced with yellow coloured coils already in situ. (I'd purposely looked for a rear coil original or converted Disco as I'd read on this very forum about the expensive repair bills for a failing ACE systems).

Also, the header tank under the bonnet for the ACE system is empty and the compressor and its housing have been removed.

The light on the dash is coloured amber, and is an outline drawing of the car with two small arrows extending from either side sort of indicating a rocking movement !

My handbook says its the ACE warning light.

I've now read elsewhere that removal of the bulb from behind the warning light, at the rear of the instrument cluster cures the problem, although that feels like cheating !

Many thanks again,

John

Sounds to me like you have had ACE and the air suspension removed, (I assume you now have normal anti roll bars) find somebody with a nanocom or a hawkeye or go to a landrover specialist who has the test book electronic equipment and they will be able to switch off the systems in the ecu. That will be the best way to extinguish the light

HTH
Dave

Longjonty said:

Hi All,

I've searched the forum and cant find an answer to this question...........

My Disco has had the ACE system replaced by coils. There is an amber warning light on the dash that is constantly on - its to show potential failure if the ACE was still fitted.
How will this measure up under the new MOT ? will it result in an MOT failure - even though the test station can see that the original ACE system isn't fitted.

I've read in the forum that a dealer (or somebody with an Hawkeye) can switch the light off - by reprogramming the ECU so that the vehicle is "coil" not "air" suspension. Is this the only (reasonable) solution ?

Longjonty

2000MY GS TD5

Click to expand...

Hi LJ, just to be clear, the SLS is the Self Levelling Suspension system and has air springs at the back, which are pumped up by a compressor attached to the chassis, under the front passenger seat.

The ACE system is Advanced Cornering Enhance and is a system of hydraulic anti-roll bars using high pressure hydraulics produced by a pump operated from an auxiliary belt driven by the engine. It has a valve to control the distribution of fluid- this is situation on the chassis rail beneath the drivers seat.

The two systems are entirely separate.

If the SLS is replaced with coils, the cars electronic systems need to be told, otherwise a fault light occurs.

If the ACE system is replaced with std anti-roll bars, ditto.

If the ACE header tank is empty, it is important to ensure the ACE pump has been replaced with an idler pulley. Otherwise the pump will run dry, seize and snap the auxiliary belt that runs the alternator, PAS and water pump - not good!

You need to verify which systems you have and do not have before any further diagnosis work can commence.

Incidently, removal of warning light bulbs doesn't cure any problem, it creates one and these warning bulbs should all illuminate before engine start.

Cheers
Dave

Hi Dave,

Thank you for your detailed reply.

I'll check what I've got and what I've not got ! and get back to you.

I'm not sure my D2 has ever had SLS - there isn't a switch for it on the dash facia just a plastic blank where it should be ?

Like I said I'll check things out.

Thanks again,

John

Hi again,

Checked out what I've got underneath............

As I suspected an SLS system has never been fitted to my D2, there's just an empty shelf/bracket on the near side chassis, with no signs of anything ever being there.

Underneath the off side are the remnants of the ACE system, my anti-roll bars are STD issue, and the ACE pump has been replaced by an idler.

So it looks like somebody has done a decent job on the mechanical side but not had the ECU reprogrammed to reflect this.

I suppose until the introduction of the NEW MOT this year the ECU correction was seen as an "unnecessary" expense !

I've contacted the local LR dealers and they want £100+ just to correct the ECU, a local Indy has quoted £54 which is a lot better, but still a bit of an "ouch".

However I haven't much choice as my MOT is due in May.

Thanks for all your comments and help guys.

Best regards,

John

Longjonty said:

Hi again,

Checked out what I've got underneath............

As I suspected an SLS system has never been fitted to my D2, there's just an empty shelf/bracket on the near side chassis, with no signs of anything ever being there.

Underneath the off side are the remnants of the ACE system, my anti-roll bars are STD issue, and the ACE pump has been replaced by an idler.

So it looks like somebody has done a decent job on the mechanical side but not had the ECU reprogrammed to reflect this.

I suppose until the introduction of the NEW MOT this year the ECU correction was seen as an "unnecessary" expense !

I've contacted the local LR dealers and they want £100+ just to correct the ECU, a local Indy has quoted £54 which is a lot better, but still a bit of an "ouch".

However I haven't much choice as my MOT is due in May.

Thanks for all your comments and help guys.

Best regards,

John

Click to expand...

Hi John, have a look on the D2 Boys Club forum under the following link and you may find someone close to you, willing to help.

The D2 Boys Club. - Login


Cheers
Dave

Ps If you put your location in your profile, peeps will know roughly where you are, in order to help you.

Hi Dave,

Thanks for the advice, I'll give the D2 boys club a try.

I've updated my profile now as you advised - I guess I was a little shy to start with :behindsofa:

Thanks again,

John

you could just disconnect the ACE ecu...

sparky steve said:

you could just disconnect the ACE ecu...

Click to expand...

I'd be a little bit careful about that - the ACE ecu talks to the main ECM

I think the indicator lights on a DII are all LEDs, so you can't remove the 'bulb' anyway.

v8hybrid said:

I think the indicator lights on a DII are all LEDs, so you can't remove the 'bulb' anyway.

Click to expand...

If there is no bulb, you could blank it with gaffer. If there is a bulb, you could replace it with a suitable resistor to keep the ECU sweet.
I removed an offending ABS warning lamp on a RRC, the ABS worked fine.

thebiglad said:

I'd be a little bit careful about that - the ACE ecu talks to the main ECM

Click to expand...

yeah but if the ACE ecu wasn't there then it should just ignore the ACE system.. and no warning light on..

don't some disco 2's come without ACE, but still have the same instruments..
should work, worth a try

sparky steve said:

yeah but if the ACE ecu wasn't there then it should just ignore the ACE system.. and no warning light on..

don't some disco 2's come without ACE, but still have the same instruments..
should work, worth a try

Click to expand...

Yes they do, but the BCU has been programmed so the cars electronic systems know that the car is not ACE-equipped.

thebiglad said:

Yes they do, but the BCU has been programmed so the cars electronic systems know that the car is not ACE-equipped.

Click to expand...

good point but still think it would work..
i'll try it on mine tomorrow and report back

sparky steve said:

good point but still think it would work..
i'll try it on mine tomorrow and report back

Click to expand...

Well the best of luck on that - but please do remember that the BCU also controls the immobiliser

I hope it doesn't muck things up for you - might be an idea to disconnect the main battery before you disconnect anything else?

Dave

thebiglad said:

Well the best of luck on that - but please do remember that the BCU also controls the immobiliser

I hope it doesn't muck things up for you - might be an idea to disconnect the main battery before you disconnect anything else?

Dave

Click to expand...

don't worry, i'm an auto spark, with a Hawkeye to reset things