Hey everyone! I've been using several of these LR Forums for a few years and I've learned a great deal from all of you knowledgeable and giving souls - so thank you!

We have an 05' LR3 4.4L V8 that we've had no ending of issues with for the last few years. Truthfully I'd love to keep it, but my wife is SO done with our issues that I need to get it in a position to sell ASAP (before she divorces me over not having a reliable 7 seater our whole family can fit in) I spent $4,000 having the transmission completely rebuilt about a year ago and now it shifts beautifully and runs powerfully, but not as smoothly as did before.

I currently have 3 predominant issues that I'd LOVE to get advice on - I'm hoping to list them from easiest to hardest:

1. No Power To Climate Control Unit At All! No lights, no power, so no heat or a/c at all.

For about a year before we lost it, it would run for several minutes then shut off for a few seconds, then start up again for several more minutes, then shut off for a few seconds, just consistently - didn't matter if we were running the heater or the a/c. They both worked fine, just did it's little cycle.

Until one day it shut off like usual and then just didn't ever turn back on again! I've checked the fuses everywhere I can find a possibly relevant fuse [behind glovebox, engine compartment, etc...] and I pulled the unit out of the dash and checked all the connections and wires and everything seems fine! Haven't had much luck searching for suggestions on the forums for this issue, but I figured someone would have a brilliant idea.

2. No Power To Radio Unit At All! No lights, display, anything.

Same thing - I've checked ALL of the fuses, I pulled the unit out because I thought it might have it's own onboard fuse on the back of the Stereo itself, but it didn't. Checked all the wires and connections and everything seems fine. I don't know how to check any of the relevant Resistors or non-visibly broken pieces.

This has been this way for a while now. We just keep a bluetooth speaker in the car, but I need it to work to sell it.

3. The OFT-MENTIONED "Christmas Tree Freak-Out Multi-Error Spitting Heart Attack"

For at least 2 years we've been dealing with the same thing so many have mentioned on so many forums about the LR3. I've gone and done most of the recommended self-service suggestions:

- New Battery
- [Nightly Trickle Charge For 1 Week]
- Hard Reset
- New Brake Light Switch

I'm going to replace the tail light bulbs with OEM ones this week ASAP because I HAVE determined that the issue does in fact only occur WHEN OUR LIGHTS ARE TURNED ON!

I can drive the truck all day and it shifts fine, runs fine, gives me no problems at all. But upon turning on the lights, it's not too long before my truck has it's stroke! It's generally one of 2 or 3 different combinations of errors (see below) and they all fire one right after the other. It's not always necessarily ALL of the exact same errors, but it's some fun combination of them.

The NET result of the Stroke is that my transmission doesn't function properly. Either it doesn't shift automatically any longer, or if it includes the "limited gears available" error that time, it'll only give me one gear.

I CAN drive the car at night however if I make sure to switch the transmission over to manual tiptronic before the Stroke happens. Then it can throw whatever errors it wants, take away my PRND23 options on my display but it will still shift just fine. I just have to manually shift it through the gears to drive it. [My wife won't drive it at night because this drives her crazy]

Also if I happen to not get it into Manual Mode before it has it's Stroke, I can simply pull over, turn the car off, turn the lights off, then turn the car right back on and everything goes away, allowing me to place it in Manual Mode before I turn the lights on and yet another Stroke ensues!

I'm almost to the point of listing the car for sale and just telling potential buyers exactly what the issue is in detail, thinking possibly a Land Rover loving nutjob like myself will see it and have no issues at all picking it up and solving the puzzle themselves. I just don't necessarily want to lose $500-$1000 or more of what I could possibly get for it if it's an easy enough thing to fix with your kind help!

Anywho - that's my freaking drama and I'm hoping that you'll take pity on my poor soul and impart the appropriate wisdom to fix this red-headed step child of a vehicle once and for all!


Brake, Tilt, Tire Pressure

Suspension Lowered

Transmission Fault

HDC Fault System Not Available

Cruise Control Not Permitted

Park Brake & Hazards

Transmission Fault Limited Gears Available

System Fault Special Programs Not Available

Special Programs Off

 

Codes? Looks like a power issue. Keep in mind the LR3 has a very smart electrical system that kills other systems in priority. Heated seats probably first on the list, and so on.

 

I agree it, seems like a power issue. Most likely items would be alternator, battery, or battery cables.


If it occurs when you run the lights, seems the alternator may not be supplying enough power, or it is not getting the power to the battery. Check the voltage of the battery before you start it, and then when it is running and see what the difference is.

Also check the battery ground cable at the back of the battery. It usually corrodes and prevent battery charging. Check the positive cable at the front of the battery and be sure to look at the main fuse in the positive cable coming from the alternator.

Without codes it is hard to guess, but this is where I would start.


Let us know how it turns out.

Jeff

 

Alternator

check the ground wire off the battery, common point for corrosion

pull up the floor mats and check for water in the foot wells up front. common issue (sunroof drains, cowl and/or A-pillar covers), lost of wires run in the rockers and dont like water

 

So the battery is brand new - 12.9v cold and 13.6v when car was running.

All the cables and connectors look perfect - no corrosion anywhere.

Not sure if there's a way of testing the alternator while still in the vehicle, but that's the one thing I haven't done.

 

To check alternator, test voltage when engine is running. Turn on all lights etc and check voltage again, there should be an increase.

 

Checking further, Swap relay R176 in engine bay (heater/ac motor). Check link 17E in engine bay and Fuse 51 behind glovebox as that feed the control switches. Which model vehicle do you have, as HSE has different radio system. Have you tried switching the various switch combinations on the panel to see if heater motor runs.