Hello,

Looking for some advice regarding an issue I am having with a local Land Rover specialist.

My L322 has been in a garage for 5 weeks with an ABS fault. The issue with the ABS started off as an intermittent problem in that upon starting the car I was sometimes getting an ABS fault on the dash which then led to several other warning lights coming on and some of the cars driving aids switching off.

I hooked up my Land Rover code reader which stated the problem was with the front passenger ABS sensor.

I took the car to a local indie based in, North Wales who specialised in Land Rover and they plugged in their machine which gave the same fault code.

They ordered a new sensor and I took the car back to them a week later. Within a couple of hours of them having the car they rang to say that the fault was not purely with the sensor but there was an issue with the driveshaft in that it had "swolllen" and this swelling had damaged the ABS ring so a new driveshaft was required. I agreed to this and they said the car would be ready in a few days.

A week went by without hearing anything so I gave the call and they said it would be sorted in a few days.

Another week passed by and I did not hear anything, so I gave them a call and they then told me that there was no communication between the passenger front wheel and the ecu/abs module. So the next step was to check all the wiring for any breaks.

Another 8 days go past and I received no contact from them, so i gave them a call and I was told that they had removed the ABS module and it had been sent it off to be tested/repaired.

Another week goes by and I don't hear anything, so i give them a call to be told that they will have the car ready for me by Monday/Tuesday next week.


Monday and Tuesday pass by and nothing is heard, so I give them a call to be told 100% the car will be ready by the end of the week.

Friday arrives and I receive no call, so I call them to be told that the car is not ready as refitting the ABS module is a big job but they would try to get it done by the end of the day and that they would call me even if they cant finish the job by the end of the day. No surprise, no call from the garage.

I have been without a car for 5 weeks and I do not seem to be getting anywhere with the garage.

Has anyone else experienced and issue with their driveshaft swelling up? Apparently this swelling has caused the wire to the sensor to rub through which has then caused the ABS module to fail??

I am surprised by the garage as they have been in business for years and do have a very good reputation in the local area, and come highly recommended if you have any type of Land Rover product.

Rant over



Last edited by Brimfull on 29th Dec 2023 10:22am. Edited 3 times in total

It's a long time ago but I vaguely remember one of my 322s (the 2004 4.4 I think) having a sensor problem (I think the same one, corrosion usually worse on passenger side) and being told that driveshaft expansion could be a problem in the sense that the expansion caused by corrosion made the shaft foul the sensor. The car was fixed, but I'm afraid I can't remember if the shaft was replaced, maybe it was. So at least that part of the problem is precedented with the 322.

Mine did not have the module issues and the work took a few days. Maybe the problem with yours is due to pressure of work at the business trying to fix the ABS module, or the difficulty in doing it. I have had problems with BMW motorcycle ABS modules getting a fault code "burned on" to them so that it is very difficult/impossible to eradicate, so there might be something like that, Q the cost of a new one, maybe unattractive even against the delay.

So maybe the problem here is poor communication/reliance on what the ABS module people have said rather than that your indie is "at it". Only Range Rovers since 1988

Sounds like the indie is either extremely busy, or lousy at communicating, seems it's one of those times when a visit for a face to face conversation is needed, I can understand your lack of faith in them after this amount of time and lack of info.

As for the drive shaft issue, I had to remove the whole knuckle / driveshaft / the lot when I had to change a front wheel bearing, when I removed everything there was plenty of corrosion and the reluctor ring was no longer fixed to the drive shaft, it was rusted into place inside the aperture of the knuckle and the ABS sensor was absolutely seized solid in place, due to the condition I fitted a new drive shaft and knuckle. Upon re-assembly I did not have any other problems ie ABS module.
The weird thing was that prior to removing all the parts, I did not have any faults indicated despite the reluctor ring being stationary whilst the car was moving!!!

As for the ABS module, my brother recently had a ABS module / pump unit from a volvo refurbed and that took a week to get back but re-fitting was quite fast.

PS - Also in Wrexham, if you see a 2006 / zermatt silver, I will be the muppet driving it.

I had the initial fault on the rear wheel when I had the TD6. The rust on the driveshaft had caused the relucter ring to split so the abs sensor couldn’t get a reading. Needed a new driveshaft. I know there are companies that sell reluctor rings and it’s possible to push a new one onto an old driveshaft.

TD6 ones here and they say they can make anything to order… I appreciate its a bit too late for you though.

https://www.reluctorrings.com/cars/range_rover

As to the rest of it, no idea, sorry.

 2011 Range Rover Vogue SE 4.4 TDV8

Previous cars :
2003 Range Rover Vogue TD6
1999 Discovery Td5 ES
1995 BMW M5 3.8 6 speed
1992 Range Rover 3.9 Efi Vogue
1992 BMW M5 3.8
1988 BMW 735i SE
1989 Ford Sierra XR4x4 2.9i
1981 Ford Fiesta Supersport

what ABS error code did it throw up ?

and yes, I had both my rear reluctor rings replaced on MY04 car when the ABS Brake Module 0x8B Transfer gearbox CAN error fault popped up on the scanner. Fault was fixed for £27 ( price for a pair of rings )

https://www.ukpartsdirect.com/land-rover-r...at-v4.html

I have no affiliation with UK Parts Direct, but the telephone and email comms were really good, as was the pricing and quick delivery.

Hey Brimfull, did you ever get this resolved. I use a Land Rover specialist in Deeside for my defender and full fats annual visit and work I can’t do myself. The place I go has always been very good, so I hope it’s not the same one - you could PM me the name, or name them publicly if you feel you’ve had bad service.

The last time I spoke with the garage was on 19th December, and they told me that the module had been sent off for a second time as the first repair on the module had not been done correctly

This time they had sent the module to a company named Actronics on the 19th and stated that the turnaround was 2 days for the repair. Nothing heard since!!!

coming up to 7 weeks now without a car.

Last edited by Brimfull on 29th Dec 2023 10:14am. Edited 1 time in total

JoolsB wrote:

Hey Brimfull, did you ever get this resolved. I use a Land Rover specialist in Deeside for my defender and full fats annual visit and work I can’t do myself. The place I go has always been very good, so I hope it’s not the same one - you could PM me the name, or name them publicly if you feel you’ve had bad service.

Hi

Still not had my car back and no communication from the garage. I have tried calling them but there has been no answer so I assume they have closed for christmas\ the new year

Not wanting to name them yet as they still have my car. I have used them before but for only small jobs that to be fair they sorted within a few hours, however this time something doesn't feel right and doesn't add up.

I use this particular garage as its easy to catch the train direct back to Wrexham for only a couple of quid.

Is there any chance this garage are after doing damage or made a mistake and are trying to stall to get parts? I was into my local JLR dealer before Christmas and they are struggling to get the most simple of parts over from the UK warehouse. They have cars parked up for weeks due to it.

There is nothing worse than no communication and the sooner businesses learn to at least call and say there is no update the better. Sorry to hear you are going through this, I would have been towing my car out of there after 2 weeks but I just cant stand this type of customer service Current yokes
2012 4.4 TDV8 Westminster
2006 Disco 3
Scoobie GT wagon
Mx5 G Ltd
TT S Line
Pajero JDM Exceed

The only thing they should be waiting on is the return of the module. The driveshaft and sensor were fitted 7 weeks ago. I am going to have to go down and find out what is going on. I am not aware of any other parts that are needed.