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Following on from my replacement of the ABS Short harness to the ECU in a bid to cure my recurring ABS fault, and in response to the LR Tech Bulletin, unfortunately it hasn't cured the issue...
So most of today was spent trolling the internet for further information I could find out about the system.
The L322 2002-2006 shares a lot of tech with the E38/E39/E53 BMWs so I trolled their forums too.
The L322 and the BMW's use the same Bosch 5.7 DSC ABS Module and from what I can gather they suffer from heat induced failure. On the L322 the unit is mounted above the L/H bank exhaust but higher up than the E39 unit which is located above the R/H bank exhaust only lower and closer to it. The BMWs seem to suffer from this issue quite a lot from what I can gather!
My LPG pipes from the coolant system run directly underneath the ABS unit and as such could be making it a lot hotter than normal, hence why the L322 ABS module rarely fails due to heat but as mine is kept at around 105degC due to the coolant pipes...it could be the problem!
Range Rover .....
BMW E39....
People have tried to shield the unit from heat using makeshift heat shields and one has even wrapped it in tin foil - not sure how effective that will be!
What happens is; on the inside of the unit is a ceramic 'motherboard' on which the components are located. They are linked to the various connections and etc using very fine hair-like Gold wires and thicker Silver/Ali wires....
The Gold wires are flexible enough to accept the vibrations and heat expansions the unit suffers from, but the thicker Silver wires aren't as robust and are rather inflexible and they tend to break away from their connections - particularly when the unit gets warm - hence why the problem only surfaces when the unit gets warm!
The main culprits are circled...
Their have been reports of being able to solder in replacements, but getting rid of the protective 'goo' covering the components without damaging the fine Gold wires proves to be difficult, although it has been done by a very few people!
A further troll reveals a few companies do remanufacture ABS Modules, one of which is BBA-Reman. Dutifully giving them a call and a chat they say a test on the unit will be £35+VAT+PP and if there is a fault the repair could be Around £200+ (+VAT & PP) but they won't be sure on costs until they test the unit which is understandable!
A further troll of suppliers indicates the Module starts at around £760+VAT to over a £1000+VAT.....
A further troll on the Bay of E reveals very few L322 ABS components let alone ECUs but I do spot one for sale from a Company called 2ndGear4x4, they have just got hold of a load of Main Dealer stock from a Dealer that went south due to the Financial situation ad have listed an Brand New in box ECU with Item No SRD000133 - mine is 132, a call to my Local LR Dealer Parts Centre confirms that 132 has been superseded with 133 and is a direct replacement......Fleabay price £250+PP
A call to the girlfriend and a bit of apologising later I click Buy It Now.....
My MOT is due next Tuesday (14th) and is booked in....if it faults during the test it is an instant fail.....and I am not sure the new unit will be here by the MOT (est. Delivery is Tuesday to Thursday next week) fingers crossed it will be!!
So lets see if this is going to cure the ABS issue....!
So most of today was spent trolling the internet for further information I could find out about the system.
The L322 2002-2006 shares a lot of tech with the E38/E39/E53 BMWs so I trolled their forums too.
The L322 and the BMW's use the same Bosch 5.7 DSC ABS Module and from what I can gather they suffer from heat induced failure. On the L322 the unit is mounted above the L/H bank exhaust but higher up than the E39 unit which is located above the R/H bank exhaust only lower and closer to it. The BMWs seem to suffer from this issue quite a lot from what I can gather!
My LPG pipes from the coolant system run directly underneath the ABS unit and as such could be making it a lot hotter than normal, hence why the L322 ABS module rarely fails due to heat but as mine is kept at around 105degC due to the coolant pipes...it could be the problem!
Range Rover .....
BMW E39....
People have tried to shield the unit from heat using makeshift heat shields and one has even wrapped it in tin foil - not sure how effective that will be!
What happens is; on the inside of the unit is a ceramic 'motherboard' on which the components are located. They are linked to the various connections and etc using very fine hair-like Gold wires and thicker Silver/Ali wires....
The Gold wires are flexible enough to accept the vibrations and heat expansions the unit suffers from, but the thicker Silver wires aren't as robust and are rather inflexible and they tend to break away from their connections - particularly when the unit gets warm - hence why the problem only surfaces when the unit gets warm!
The main culprits are circled...
Their have been reports of being able to solder in replacements, but getting rid of the protective 'goo' covering the components without damaging the fine Gold wires proves to be difficult, although it has been done by a very few people!
A further troll reveals a few companies do remanufacture ABS Modules, one of which is BBA-Reman. Dutifully giving them a call and a chat they say a test on the unit will be £35+VAT+PP and if there is a fault the repair could be Around £200+ (+VAT & PP) but they won't be sure on costs until they test the unit which is understandable!
A further troll of suppliers indicates the Module starts at around £760+VAT to over a £1000+VAT.....
A further troll on the Bay of E reveals very few L322 ABS components let alone ECUs but I do spot one for sale from a Company called 2ndGear4x4, they have just got hold of a load of Main Dealer stock from a Dealer that went south due to the Financial situation ad have listed an Brand New in box ECU with Item No SRD000133 - mine is 132, a call to my Local LR Dealer Parts Centre confirms that 132 has been superseded with 133 and is a direct replacement......Fleabay price £250+PP
A call to the girlfriend and a bit of apologising later I click Buy It Now.....
My MOT is due next Tuesday (14th) and is booked in....if it faults during the test it is an instant fail.....and I am not sure the new unit will be here by the MOT (est. Delivery is Tuesday to Thursday next week) fingers crossed it will be!!
So lets see if this is going to cure the ABS issue....!
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