ETC/HDC not working

S

Snwbord24

Guest
Okay, my ETC and HDC have not worked for sometime now. I have an '03 DII SE with 38K on it.

The dealer can't find anything wrong, meaning it isn't throwing any codes and the only thing they've done is replace the ECU which didn't help. They checked the pads and rotors at the 37.5K checkup and they're fine. I've bled the brake fluid myself as well.

When one wheel starts to slip the ETC light comes on but absolutely nothing happens. It's like it wants to work but isn't braking the wheel. If I manually brake hard and hold it I can get power to transfer and continue moving but this severly robs forward progress and power not to mention the hell on the pads it wreaks.

Anyone have any ideas? I absolutely hate just throwing parts, time and money at things that aren't broken. I don't have any faith in my local dealer since the shop foreman didn't even know I had ETC but that's a different story.
 

LostInBoston

Banned
Apr 19, 2004
690
0
41
Wandering aimlessly
Same thing kept happening to me with my '00. I gave up and got a detroit, TT and cdl. Unfortunately cdl isnt an option for '03's. Sounds like your SOL. especially if your local shop guy is an idiot, although thats becoming an epidemic. You could try taking it to an independant specialist then giving the bill to LR. Im sure theyll love that.
 
S

Snwbord24

Guest
I'm going to replace the brake pads and have a shop flush the brake lines. I'm sure they'll be able to do it quicker and more efficiently than I can at home. If that doesn't work then I don't know.

It's still under warranty and the dealer can waste their money shotgunning possible problems until it's fixed.

Yes, my local shop guy is an idiot, the shop foreman is anyway. I let him take it home one night because there was a "steep" hill by his house so he could see if the HDC worked. He said it worked fine. I took it out and HDC did nothing at all it was all engine braking. I don't think he knows anything about LR's at all.
 
D

discobuddy

Guest
I have an '01 Disco and the same thing happened twice. Both times were at a severe side angle while wheeling. The first time I took it in they said the computer was programmed for air suspension and I have coil springs. They reprogrammed it and it was fine.......for a while. The second time it happened, they said a sensor was bad. It was replaced, the tech took it on the Dealer test track and it has been fine for over a month.
Have your guy check those things first. It could be something that simple.
 
J

JR Ewing III

Guest
Shane,

Have you gotten this problem fixed?

If not, I wanted to say that LR should fix the problem. "They can't figure it out" is not a valid excuse. If it's under warranty they have no choice but to make it work as it should. The only way they're not obligated is if you broke something that makes it work. But, if they can't figure out what's wrong then they can't blame you for breaking it (IMHO). I know I would want another Disco where the ETC worked properly. I have an '03 and without the ETC it's not a 4X4 (unless you have CDL). One other thing. I just want to make sure that you know that for your HDC to work you have to be in low gear. If something is wrong with the HDC an amber warning light should illuminate (in place of the green HDC light) on your dash. There is no warning light that shows a malfunction for the ETC. Any, FWIW, I would not let the dealer rest until they find your problem.
 
S

Snwbord24

Guest
Yes I know that you have to be in low gear for HDC to work. The ETC isn't working either. This problem still exists. Actually, I just dropped it off again today.

I guess they're running some tests on the computer that some tech guy wants to analyze. They think it may be the wheel sensors. I don't think so, but if they want to throw new parts at it fine, it isn't costing me anything (except play time). I don't think it's wheel sensors because when one wheel starts to slip, the ETC light comes on it's just that nothing happens after that. The wheel continues to spin and no power is transferred.

I replaced all brake pads, flushed the brake fluid and it's still the same. I really think that it's the ABS modulator. Anyway, we'll see what the dealer comes up with this time.
 
A

Al Cruz

Guest
Hey Shane,

I know it's a drive for you to head down to LA, but if all else fails, see Dave Lara at Hornburg in Santa Monica he'll set your rig so you won't have that problem. I had the same issue and he took care of it. Let me know if you want his contact info.

Dave's the only guy that works on my trucks now, he came highly recommended!

Al
 
S

Snwbord24

Guest
My guess has been the ABS modulator for some time now. But of course without some LR tech telling them that's what the problem is there's nothing they're going to do about it.

Now they want me to take some tech guy out wheeling to show him what happens. Of course I'm not available during the week and he won't do it on the weekend. I guess he's not local and the next time he'll be in this area is around the 1st of Aug.

How would I make a call over the dealers head?

Al,
What did Dave do to take care of it when you had this problem?
 
A

Al Cruz

Guest
I believe mine was the ABS modulator, I'll check with Dave and let him know that you may have questions for him.

Al
 

Ron L

Well-known member
Mar 30, 2004
194
0
52
SoCal
Al Cruz said:
I believe mine was the ABS modulator, I'll check with Dave and let him know that you may have questions for him.

Al

UH...AL I think that was your heavy foot, not the modulator :D
 
S

Snwbord24

Guest
Well, I took a LR tech out to Hollister today for some troubleshooting. It looks like the pump that supplies the pressure for the ETC and HDC isn't putting out enough pressure for the system to work. The pump is integral to the ABS Modulator so they're replacing it tomorrow. This should fix the problem so I'm pretty happy. I'll find out tomorrow though for sure.
 

utahdog2003

Well-known member
Apr 20, 2004
1,842
0
North Florida
yup. sounds like you had a modulator fail, probably due to the recent recall for the stupid little plastic caps, and then were unfortunate enough to have a pinhead dealer not willing to do the replacement under coverage.
 
S

Snwbord24

Guest
stansell said:
Its about time. I mean, cmon, I told you it was the ABS Modulator the whole time.... :D

:eek: Rob, you didn't even know what a modulator was until I told you.

Anyway, I'm pretty excited that I'll have a working 4x4 again. We'll see if it works, should have it back this afternoon. Fingers are crossed.
 
S

Snwbord24

Guest
Picked up the Disco from the dealer today after the ABS modulator replacement. The HDC seems to be working. I can't tell 100%, but I'm 98% sure it works. I don't have a steep enough hill around to be 100%. Anyway, going down a decent hill in Low/1st and Low/Reverse I believe the HDC is kicking in. I get up some speed with the gas and let off at about 10 mph. It's mostly engine braking but I can now hear the modulator kicking in again, which I couldn't before.

All in all, I'm pretty happy right now.
 
A

Al Cruz

Guest
Ron L said:
UH...AL I think that was your heavy foot, not the modulator :D

Damn, didn't see that reply........LOL......wise guy

Hey Shane glad your up and running!

Al