RRC brake failure

looks like im going to have to leave the darkside and start using my trusty little 106 again, for a while at least =(
i need a car, but doesnt look like im going to have the range going soon enough

contact the peeps I suggested before you give up mate, costs you nothing and may solve it for you

yeah i sent a PM, though i really need a car asap so will have to start using my other car again anyway.

the plus side to all this is that the 106 will cost about a quarter of what it costs to run the range rover, so with all that spare money i can start doing all the little things that need doing to the range while its up on bricks (not literally of course. well, i dont think so anyway..)

will be one the kids get at it lol

thankfully i live in the middle of nowhere with off road parking so we dont have the problem of little ****s nicking off with car parts

well, i am no longer insured to drive my range rover =(
at least driving my little french boring mobile will free up some money so i can throw some at the rangie =/

get it fixed and get it on the road!!!

i will just as soon as i can spare the funds to

well it turns out my reliable little french mobile isnt all that reliable.

so now im left with my range rover with dodgy brakes, but im still no closer to being able to sort the braking issues.

is there any way to bypass or remove the ABS system so its not making the dash light stay on constantly, so that the pressure sensor on the pump is able to do its job and warn me of a pressure loss in the brake system?

if it works and stops the vehical then you could use it , just assume the abs doesnt work and take much more care especially in the snow.

obviously dont drive it if the brakes dont work!

Like I siad I know a guy who can come to you and sort it no probs. he is busy but will still travel in the snow in his classic if ur in the **** and he doenst charge too much for the traveling. PM me if you want his number.

thats the problem though, because the warning light is on all the time i wont know if the pump loses pressure

and im really strapped for cash at the moment, but im pretty sure ive got the chaps number from when you sent it me a while back mate.

well i tried to do the blink test, but the brake light just came on and stayed on like it usually does instead of going out after 5 seconds and going into the blink cycle.
also it seems the brakes have packed up again.

help?

BTW, check and clean the earth wires by the ECU. It might be worthwhile just taking out all the fuses and make sure all the connections are clean and tight, then do the same with the relays and relay bases. Moisture ingress/condensation could cause corroded connector terminals. You might also try testing all the relays to make sure they are switching but you should normally hear three clicks when ignition turned on - these will be EFI main power relay, Fuel pump relay and the ABS relay, your ABS pump will almost certainly run for a short time (unless you've been out and the system is still up to pressure).

will go now and clean all the contacts i can find under the passenger seat.

and the ABS pump is what hasnt been working and causing me issues. i know its meant to run for 10 - 20 seconds after switching on the ignition but its been intermittently cutting out

DeadTom said:

yes it has fluid, no i havnt checked the pads, i wouldnt know where to check earth connections, and handbrake switch is free

surely the blink test is there so you dont have to do all the checks manually though?

and im pretty sure (one of the) the problem(s) is with the plug on the pressure sensor, as i managed to get a very brief bit of life out of the pump by fiddling with the multiplug but then it quickly cut out again.

maybe the pressure sensor is giving a false reading so the system thinks it has pressure when it actually doesnt...
do i have to depressurise the system before removing the pressure sensor?

Click to expand...

Blink codes point you in the direction to look.

I have found clean earth connections are essential for the ABS and the EFI systems. I set out in my previous posts where ABS earth can be found by the passenger seat, two black wires if I remember rightly, you can do earth continuity tests on relay bases, pump etc. Brake pad wear sensors are on front and rear off side callipers. Look for a small wire attached to the calliper - that is the earth; the wires corrode and you might even find they are not connected.

The warning lights you should see at start up are orange (pad wear) red (brake fluid, system pressure, handbrake) and also the ABS light which should go out once you get above 5mph or whatever it is. If there is an earth problem, you may not get the orange light or the handbrake light. I have seen no orange light and the red light on but that goes out as soon as the system is up to pressure and hand brake released.

If the red light stays on all the time, then suspect sticky hand brake switch, low pressure in ABS or low brake fluid level.

Blink codes would tell you if there is a problem with a wheel sensor, or an electrical problem in the ABS system such a a duff relay, faulty pressure swich, stuck valves and the like.

So to re-cap- basic checks first - Brake fluid level. Fuses. Ensure all earths are clean and tight. Next check pad wear. Then check/clean ABS relays. Then get blink code(s) remember the ECU can store a number of codes so this could take time! Check your wheel bearings too - they can cause air gap problems and a funny feel to the brake pedal resulting in an intermittent ABS warning light.

If all that checks out then you need to start digging deeper. If you do a search there is quite a lot of info about the ABS system. Some info found in the Discovery section might help as some is relevent but be aware the disco uses a slightly different system. P38 is similar to RRC with some modifications.

is the ABS light not the same as the handbrake/system pressure light? i always assumed it was, as its the handbrake light that comes on and stays on for me, and i havnt seen any other brake related warning lights come on at all.

what does the ABS light look like?

oh and forgot to add ive checked all the relays and they are all nice and clean with a good dose of grease on them, so i dont think the problem is in those

DeadTom said:

is the ABS light not the same as the handbrake/system pressure light?

Click to expand...

No!

DeadTom said:

its the handbrake light that comes on and stays on for me, and i havnt seen any other brake related warning lights come on at all.

Click to expand...

Then do the checks I've suggested. If you have fluid and you think you've got pads then it sounds like you have a pressure problem - so pump, accumulator, pressure switch have to be candidates.

DeadTom said:

what does the ABS light look like?

Click to expand...

A red warning light next to the hand brake one? Have you got a manual? If not GET ONE, you will need it or down load RAVE.

sorry about all the questions, i know it can be soul destroying trying to help rookies with things that are second nature to someone who knows what they're doing.

bear with me, i'll go poke things under the bonnet and try what you've suggested.

i thank you for your patience