I recently installed the Ashcroft CDL Kit to my '01 Discovery. All good and the CDL Dash Light comes on if I start the Disco with CDL dis-engaged then engage CDL. And if I start the car with CDL engaged, the HDC, TC, and ABS lights come on - the expected behavior. To avoid this, its recommend you cut the Black n Blue wire in the SLABS ECU (Pin 9) under the dash, passenger side.

Questions -

1. If I clip this wire, what am I giving up, if anything, if I do not engage the CDL? Will TC, HDC, and the ABS be compromised, or?
2. And if I don't clip the wire, what do I lose in CDL mode in AWD Low? Will TC and HDC be compromised?

Ideally, I'd like HDC, TC and ABS work in either scenario as before I installed the CDL. I'm not clear on the behavior if I clip the wire, so appreciate the feedback.

 

Just find an 03-04 SLABS Unit, you can usually score one for 25.00-35.00 online. It will have newer firmware with better settings for TC/ABS/HDC, and of coarse it will have CDL support. (03 in other markets had CDL so any 03-04 dated SLABS Unit = CDL ready), without any wire cutting or modifying.

 

Interesting and great idea. If I go that option, is it "plug n play" that is I can swap it out without having to re-program anything else?

 

Search for my posts on this topic... it was not plug and play for me.

 

99% of the time it should be 100% PNP, only real issue would be the Coil or SLS setting. I've never had a problem slapping in a SLABS Unit out of one D2 to another. I'll have to look, but I used to have a spare 04 SLABS dated from 06 laying around.

 

Will this one work? I'm not sure how to read the date codes. My '01 Disco does have ACE and SLS.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/27461205402...torefresh=true

Seller sent me an offer for $45 to buy it.

 

SRD0000150 is the 2003-2004 model SLABS. Even if that one isn't set for ACE and SLS, you can program those into the SLABS with a Nancom (which you can rent using the sticky link at the top of this forum).

 

From the Nancom sticky thread, per post #8, if the SLABS does not have ACE/SLS activated, it appears its as easy as just changing it to Y from N? Is that all there's to it? Could my local Land Rover mechanic do this as well (in a matter of minutes I assume)? I'm a pretty customer there (sigh)....so they'd probably do for $20, the cost of Nancom rental.

 

Yes, that's all there is to it. I did it on my '99 truck. I did get a brake warning light on my dash after the physical upgrade (unrelated to the SLS and ACE change) but that was because the new SLABS has improved ABS response and my brakes needed work. The '99 SLABS didn't see anything wrong, but the 2003 SLABS did.
Other than that, the only possible wrinkle seems to be the rare issue discovered by nashvegas where the SLABS just isn't compatible with your truck.

 

Sometimes it is just a glitch in the D2 matrix...

Out of all the times I’ve sold used D2 SLABS units to D2 TD5 and V8 owners with SLS air or springs suspensions, I had one strange issue with ‘99 D2 TD5 owner who had springs. I sold him a SRD500070 SLABS unit that I fully tested on my ‘01 D2 V8 before mailing. He couldn’t get it work. Instant 3,4, and sometimes 5 amigos on engine start up.
After many calls, emails, texts and FaceTiming to troubleshoot his problem, I mailed him a fully tested SRD000150 SLABS unit. Same 3,4,5 amigos when connected on his ‘99 D2 Td5.
Strange! I found out the original SLABS unit part number he had was the extremely old SRD100462. I then mailed him my original SRD000070 SLABS unit that I kept after my SLABS swap from my ‘01 D2 V8 and also mailed him my Nanocom to help him with his SLABS issue. Same 3,4,5 amigos when connected.

After 3 months of this back and forth troubleshooting, communications, mailing and having him reinstall his older SRD100462 SLABS unit and had no amigo problems, we finally gave up and chalked it up to his dodgy ‘99 D2 electrics.
In the end I gave him a full refund for the SRD500070 SLABS unit and he mailed me all 3 SLABS units, my Nanocom and a bottle Jamesons Irish whiskey.