I've been trying to get an answer to this but can't seem to find a definitive solution as most of the threads just cut off without a result. I thought I'd assemble all the symptoms and solutions into a single Post to act as a sort of mini-knowledge base. The basic symptom is a TRACTION FAILURE message on the Message Centre of a Range Rover P38 1994-2000.
I can only find one instance of the message occurring with the vehicle moving so this seems to happen mostly at start-up. Most people also report the message only occurs after the engine has been run, not when starting from cold. I think messages on ignition off are a red herring as this is documented behaviour for the Message Centre to remind you about the previously reported error.
The table below has additional symptoms as reported by others:
ABS FAULT
Battery Drain
ABS Warning Light
TCS Warning Light
Suggested causes:
1) Faulty Battery o. Connections
2) Misaligned ABS Sensors.
3) Faulty Sensors.
4) Brake Pedal Switch
5) Leaky Accumulator.
6) Faulty Accumulator Pressure Sensor.
7) Leaky or Damaged ABS Pump.
8) Transfer Case Connection Failure.
9) Wheel Bearings wobbling the ABS ring.
My experience so far:
I dont get ABS fault.
I dont get battery drain.
I dont get ABS Warning light.
I dont get TCS Warning light.
In other words its just the message at warm start. ABS triggers OK and the TCS light flickers occasionally under power when its snowing.
1) Battery seems fine - cranks the engine very rapidly and never fails to start first time. I can leave the vehicle for a week or more without using it, no problems.
2 & 3 and 9) My local independent has driven it with an Autologic plugged in and says all ABS sensors are sending good signals. They also read the error codes - nothing relevant. They cleared the codes they found. A couple of additional visits right after the message didnt reveal anything helpful.
Brake pedal is soft when I get in but firms up immediately on startup.
Questions:
I do get a strange sensation from the brake pedal under firm braking, like a vibration - different to the pulsed feel of ABS, I know how that feels from the recent snow. Is this a symptom of 4?
If its not 4 is there any way to determine which one of the remainder is the answer without just replacing them all one at a time? :doh:
I can only find one instance of the message occurring with the vehicle moving so this seems to happen mostly at start-up. Most people also report the message only occurs after the engine has been run, not when starting from cold. I think messages on ignition off are a red herring as this is documented behaviour for the Message Centre to remind you about the previously reported error.
The table below has additional symptoms as reported by others:
ABS FAULT
Battery Drain
ABS Warning Light
TCS Warning Light
Suggested causes:
1) Faulty Battery o. Connections
2) Misaligned ABS Sensors.
3) Faulty Sensors.
4) Brake Pedal Switch
5) Leaky Accumulator.
6) Faulty Accumulator Pressure Sensor.
7) Leaky or Damaged ABS Pump.
8) Transfer Case Connection Failure.
9) Wheel Bearings wobbling the ABS ring.
My experience so far:
I dont get ABS fault.
I dont get battery drain.
I dont get ABS Warning light.
I dont get TCS Warning light.
In other words its just the message at warm start. ABS triggers OK and the TCS light flickers occasionally under power when its snowing.
1) Battery seems fine - cranks the engine very rapidly and never fails to start first time. I can leave the vehicle for a week or more without using it, no problems.
2 & 3 and 9) My local independent has driven it with an Autologic plugged in and says all ABS sensors are sending good signals. They also read the error codes - nothing relevant. They cleared the codes they found. A couple of additional visits right after the message didnt reveal anything helpful.
Brake pedal is soft when I get in but firms up immediately on startup.
Questions:
I do get a strange sensation from the brake pedal under firm braking, like a vibration - different to the pulsed feel of ABS, I know how that feels from the recent snow. Is this a symptom of 4?
If its not 4 is there any way to determine which one of the remainder is the answer without just replacing them all one at a time? :doh:
