| Home · FAQ · New Posts · My Posts · PMs · Search · Members · Members Map · Groups · Profile · Donate ·
Log In
|
- You are currently viewing DISCO3.CO.UK as a guest - Register to take part or Log In
jnoshea
Member Since: 07 May 2009
Location: Nottingham
Posts: 69
  
|
| Help! No brake lights and HDC fault - Fixed! |
|
Hi Guys,
My HDC system fault - special programs not available - suspension lowering problem has just gone from being intermittent to every time I touch the brake pedal. This happens when the engine is running or off, and no brake lights come on when I press the pedal - not the high level one or the main ones. All the other rear lights are working fine.
We drove a long way on Saturday and it only happened once. Sunday it didn't happen at all. Yesterday Vicky drove it on two short journeys - the first nothing, then on the second the fault happened twice. Last night I started it up to find out what the problem was and it didn't do it the first few times I pressed the brake pedal, then every time - and now no brake lights.
Has anyone else experienced this and knows how to fix it?
Cheers
James
Last edited by jnoshea on 10th Mar 2010 10:31 am. Edited 1 time in total
|
 9th Mar 2010 8:56 pm |
|
|
roverdrive
Member Since: 08 Oct 2009
Location: Wirral
Posts: 181
|
Sounds like the old brake light bulb problem.
Change both bulbs and see how it goes.
Curiously I had problems with the left hand side bulb blowing all the time, but never got the other problems that are well documented on the site. The problem I belive is down to how some of the lams are constructed. If the brake filament blows it can short out and cause the problems you have specified.
|
| 9th Mar 2010 9:27 pm |
|
|
jnoshea
Member Since: 07 May 2009
Location: Nottingham
Posts: 69
|
I thought about the brake light bulbs, but up until now all the brake lights have been working fine, its only since yesterday that none of them work. Since this includes the high level one, I can't see how they could have all blown...unless one was on its way out, which eventually blew and has shut down the whole brake light circuit. Does this make sense? Surely they wouldn't build it that way 
Searching on here about this error sequence is really difficult because there are so many things it could be. I just found a post that suggested it could be the brake switch. This makes some sense since it could be that it was working intermittently and causing the fault, and then yesterday finally stopped working alltogether. Does anyone know how easy it is to change the brake light switch? Are there any guides on here for how to do it? 
Cheers
James
|
| 9th Mar 2010 9:38 pm |
|
|
Q86ARR
Member Since: 23 Feb 2010
Location: Jersey
Posts: 378
 
|
I've replaced brake pedal switches in the past. Remove the lower dash trim (x2 phillips screws) and then the switch just twists in and out!
|
| 9th Mar 2010 10:29 pm |
|
|
jnoshea
Member Since: 07 May 2009
Location: Nottingham
Posts: 69
|
Ahh, sounds like something I could do relatively quickly then. Thanks. I'll give it a try tomorrow and see if I can see any signs of damage. It's my best idea at the moment. Of course, as soon as my Faultmate FCR arrives I can plug it in and see if the car can shed some light on its own problem. But until then, I'm pinning my hopes on the brake light switch.
|
| 9th Mar 2010 10:34 pm |
|
|
jnoshea
Member Since: 07 May 2009
Location: Nottingham
Posts: 69
|
So Vicky encouraged me to get up early on go and try to fix the car this morning. So I removed the brake light switch. This is easy to do. Simply twist it and it comes out of the holder as suggested by Q86ARR, then remove the connector. I found this was much easier with the upper panel removed as well as the pedal cover so I could get a good view, especially when refitting.
When I tested the switch in the house it appeared to do nothing - ah ah - I didn't know this but it doesn't work off the car because as you twist it unlocks the pusher from the mechanism inside so it no longer pushes the contacts when pressed. Anyway, there was some build up of carbon on the contacts so I cleaned them all, and tested the switch (you can simulate it being on the car by twisting the lugs on the top, but remember that in order to release it again into the mounting position you will have to take the switch apart again so perhaps not worth doing). Refitted to the car and problem has gone. And now I love my car again 
..ohh, and my brake lights work now too of course.
|
| 10th Mar 2010 10:37 am |
|
|
mig31
Member Since: 26 Oct 2009
Location: Reus
Posts: 64
 
|
Hello guys,
I wanted to thank you personally (once again) for this wonderful forum and in particular for this post.
I'm in Italy, 1000km from home. Heading back to Barcelona tomorrow, kids start school on monday....
...so Murphy and his great law decide that it's about time to come and say hi.
Last night at around 18:00, I come off the motorway and I got a lovely christmas tree to welcome me. HDC system fault - special programs not available - suspension lowering.
Get to my destination, stop the car, restart it....and all clear!
To cut a long story short, in the past 18 hours it becomes a constant problem and I'm planning my 1000km trip with lowered suspension (and whatever it comes next....I start to think).
At around 18:00 this eve I read this post and look at the photos that nek17 posted.
I go to the car, start it and nothing happens....touch the brake pedal and all hell break loose.
So it's basically confirmed!
18:00 I started reading this post, by 18:30 everything was back in place, switch had been cleaned and no trace of any fault anywhere.
30 minutes, including reading the post and a 5 min test drive.
I can't thank you enough. It saved me 11 hours of motorway on lowered suspension, a visit to my stealer and quite a bit of cash (I'm sure).
The knowledge in this place is amazing!
Can't thank you enough, so the least I can do (just done it!!!) is give a small donation to the site.
Best money ever spent!
|
| 6th Jan 2012 9:43 pm |
|
|
dragonfly28
Member Since: 08 Jan 2012
Location: South Coast
Posts: 66
|
I'd only had my D3 4 days when my nightmare came true: "Transmission fault" on start-up. Suspecting (hoping?) even I'm not that unlucky, I turned it off, waited a few seconds and tried again. No fault...
I found several threads here relating to brake light switch and/or battery, so I made an effort over the next few days to avoid touching the brake pedal until the system checks were complete, and it's been pretty much OK.
However, it wasn't to be so easily beaten, and yesterday the fault remained on at my second attempt plus the parking brake (which I don't engage on my drive as it's an auto left in P) was on and declined to release.
Another look on here uncovered this thread, and instead of buying a new brake switch as I'd planned following another thread, I followed the instructions above and opened it up. AS predicted, there was a fair bit of carbon deposit, but all cleaned up I've been using it today without any issues. Fingers crossed it's sorted.
Thanks for some great info and pix chaps 
Last edited by dragonfly28 on 14th Feb 2012 8:44 am. Edited 1 time in total
|
| 13th Feb 2012 5:48 pm |
|
|
mig31
Member Since: 26 Oct 2009
Location: Reus
Posts: 64
|
Never had any more problems since I cleaned it on jan 6th....
It looks like a simple fix...and one that works!!!!
|
| 14th Feb 2012 1:11 am |
|
|
dragonfly28
Member Since: 08 Jan 2012
Location: South Coast
Posts: 66
|
dragonfly28 wrote:I've been using it today without any issues. Fingers crossed it's sorted.
It appears I spoke too soon... 
|
| 14th Feb 2012 6:24 pm |
|
|
mig31
Member Since: 26 Oct 2009
Location: Reus
Posts: 64
|
Sorry to hear about that....
....now you'll have to search the forum again and look for the next step!!
Hope you get it sorted soon
btw. sorry but I don't know what the next step would be.....I got lucky with step 1
|
| 14th Feb 2012 6:35 pm |
|
|
|
Posting Rules
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
|
|
DISCO3.CO.UK Copyright © 2004-2024 Futuranet Ltd & Martin Lewis
|
|
DISCO3.CO.UK is independent and not affiliated to Land Rover.
