Workshop Manuals Factory service & repair Land Rover

Land Rover common faults and how to fix them

Faults that are well known on Land Rover models we hold manuals for: what the owner notices, what causes it, and the pages in our manuals that cover the repair.

Range Rover suspension fault: air suspension compressor on the Discovery 3, Range Rover and Range Rover Sport

Symptoms

An amber or red suspension warning lamp and a "Suspension Fault" or "Suspension System Inactive" message. The car may sit low, refuse to rise or lower, or ride harshly. Often the compressor has been running for longer and louder than usual beforehand. It affects the Discovery 3 (LR3), the Range Rover (L322) and the Range Rover Sport.

Cause

The air suspension compressor wears and can no longer keep up, especially if an air spring or pipe leaks and makes it run for long periods. The relay that powers it can be damaged at the same time. Land Rover bulletin LTB00331 says the air suspension relay must be replaced whenever the compressor is repaired or replaced, because its contacts may be damaged.

Fix

Read the suspension fault codes and check for leaks before fitting parts. If the compressor has failed, replace it together with the relay (part YWB500220), as the Discovery 3 suspension fault bulletin requires. The LR3 air suspension compressor procedure covers removal. Afterwards the suspension control module may need a software update (bulletin LTB00270). The Range Rover air suspension uses the same parts and bulletin.

Repair instructions on this site

Sources: Land Rover technical bulletins LTB00331, LTB00270 (replaces LTB00250) and LM204005.

TD5 injector loom: oil in the harness causes misfire and non-starting (Defender and Discovery 2)

Symptoms

The engine misfires, runs poorly or will not start, and the engine warning light may come on. The fault can come and go. Unplugging the engine harness at the cylinder head usually shows engine oil inside the connector.

Cause

The injector harness runs inside the cylinder head, under the rocker cover. Land Rover bulletin 0026 says poor sealing in the injector harness connector lets engine oil migrate through the connector and along the engine harness, giving poor electrical contact. The oil can travel as far as the engine management ECU connector. It covers Discovery Series II Td5 models up to VIN XA 907212 and Defender Td5 models up to VIN XA 173796.

Fix

Disconnect the engine harness at the cylinder head multiplug and look for oil. If there is oil in the connector, the bulletin renews the injector harness and the engine harness, using the later harnesses with improved sealing. The TD5 injector loom procedure covers removing the rocker cover and harness. Clean any oil from the ECU connector. If there is no oil and the misfire remains, the same TD5 misfire bulletin points to the injector diagnosis bulletin next.

Repair instructions on this site

Sources: Land Rover technical bulletin 0026 (CDS ref L8616bu, August 2000).

Freelander 2 rear diff: whine, hum and rumble (and Freelander 1 rear differential noise)

Symptoms

A hum, rumble or high-pitched whine from the back of the car that rises with road speed. It is easily mistaken for tyre noise. Left alone, the noise gets louder as the bearing wears further.

Cause

On the Freelander 2 (LR2), Land Rover bulletin LTB00342 puts excessive humming, rumble or whine from the rear differential down to deterioration of the pinion tail bearing. It covers the LR2 from VIN 8H000212, 2008 model year on. The earlier Freelander had its own rear differential bulletin (0009) for increased bearing or gear noise, covering vehicles up to VIN 1A 576765.

Fix

Rule out tyre noise first. Bulletin 0009 warns the two are easily confused. On the Freelander 2, LTB00342 introduced a lower-level repair: the pinion tail bearing is replaced and it is "no longer necessary to replace the complete rear differential assembly". The Freelander 2 rear diff bulletin gives the repair procedure, and the LR2 rear differential removal procedure covers the rest. Check the differential oil level and condition while it is apart.

Repair instructions on this site

Sources: Land Rover technical bulletins LTB00342 (February 2011) and 0009 (issue 2, January 2002).

Freelander V6 overheating: KV6 thermostat housing, coolant loss and head gaskets (2001–2005)

Symptoms

The coolant level keeps dropping with a slow leak and a sweet smell, often from around the thermostat housing. If it is not caught, the temperature gauge climbs and the engine overheats, which can damage the head gaskets. It affects the Freelander with the 2.5-litre KV6 V6.

Cause

Wikipedia records that the plastic thermostat housing on the KV6 commonly fails, often along its mould line, giving a gradual loss of coolant. On the Freelander, failures of the thermostat and coolant expansion tank caused overheating that damaged head gaskets and warped the block and cylinder heads. Freelander owners in North America brought a class action over these and other faults.

Fix

Treat any coolant loss on a Freelander V6 as urgent. Pressure-test the system and check the Freelander V6 thermostat housing and expansion tank first, and replace the housing if it is cracked or weeping. Drain, refill and bleed the KV6 cooling system as described, because trapped air causes overheating on its own. If it has already overheated, check for head gasket failure before returning it to use.

Repair instructions on this site

Sources: Wikipedia — Land Rover Freelander; Wikipedia — Rover KV6 engine.