First of all, thanks for looking. I am an AVID BMW enthusiast and owner of a few and I recently picked up a 1996 Land Rover Discovery 5 speedfor $1200. Has 115,000 miles on it and is in "pretty" good shape except for a few things. Here it goes:

-Emergency brake handle is stuck in the released position. The button pushes in but the handle does not pull up....???

-ABS light is on....

-Brake pedal is very soft and kind of worries me (fluid level is fine)

-Check Engine Light is on....

-Truck seems like it is kind of a dog on 2nd to 3rd gear...

Any help would be greatly appreciated as I want it for a safe family truck. Also, what is the gas mileage on these??

Thanks so much!!!

 

Flush your brake fluid.
Your parking brake is froze. Either the cable or the shoes inside the drum. The parking brake is on the backside of the transfer case. (that big drum)
You have a bad ABS wheel sensor. Just pull the fuse in the fuse box under the hood and live with the ABS light. If you want the ABS to work you are looking at big money and hassle, and more failed ABS sensors in 6 months.
You need a good tune up, spark plugs and plug wires. You can only use OEM or Magnecor plug wires, anything else and you will have the same problem in a month.
This truck weights 6,000LBS and has a 182HP engine. It is going to be a dog. It does require premium gas, that will help.
Using premium gas, and once you get it well tuned, you can expect 12-14 around town and 18-22 on the expressway. But not at 80 MPH, that is at 65 MPH.
www.atlanticbritish.com for parts and tech tips. Read the tech tips. They help ALOT.

 

Great info, Thanks!!!! Will the brakes get worse since I cant flush it right away?

Also, when I drive the truck it doesnt seem to have a "drag effect" like the brakes are on. Would the "brake" light be on if the brake was still on? Is there a way to temporarily disable or release the brake just to double check. I bought it like this so I hope I have not been driving with it on.

 

Your brake fluid is just worn out. Will it get worse? Yes.How soon? I dont know.
If the parking brake handle is down then it is not set. If it were hung up you would smell it geting hot when you drive.
Yes the brake light would come on if it were set.
I do not know of a way to disconnect it.

 

Awesome, thanks Spike555! How much should a brake flush cost me? I only drove it about half a mile and i didnt smell anything and I assume it would still smell on a short distance drive, correct?

I just wanna make sure I can drive it to a local shop without my brakes goin out....

 

I dont know how much a brake flush will cost, I domine myself. LR recommends every 2 years, just like BMW does.
You are fine to drive it. Just dont wait 6 months, the sooner the better.