Service Engine light

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MarkJ

Member
Jul 27, 2004
23
0
San Jose, CA
My '96 D1 has around 105k miles and the service engine light came on recently. I ignored it since I knew it just meant that the emmissions should be checked soon but now I have a couple of questions.

Does the light come on based on mileage or is it based a sensor finding something wrong? I thought it was mileage but it came on at a really strange number. I also remember that my wife forgot to put on the gas cap after filling up and didn't tell me for a couple of days...and the engine was ticking and I found out that a spark plug was loose. Just wondering if these things can be related to the light coming on...

The next question is what actually needs to be done at this service interval? The Haynes manual mentions that LR suggests that the O2 sensors and catalytic converters be replaced. Is this necessary? That can be an expensinve bill.

Thanks,
Mark
 
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Peter-man99

Guest
Hey Mark,
Is it the "check engine" or "service engine"? The check engine has to do with emission where as the service engine is milage related. My service engine light came on at 81k miles. Sure it would make more sense at 90k but oh well.

I spoke to the local british car mechanic and he said that he would reset the light as close to 90k as we can get, but drive it in the mean time. The light is just miles related and if one service was done later (since its usually not earlier :D Then the next time the light will come on may appear to be some random interval. By the time you take over the car and the light has been reset later and later it may appear to be some random (non-tune-up interval) time.

I am also doing some of the tune up work myself. The mechanic gave me a print out of everything that needs to be done to use as a check list. He said everything I can't or don't want to do he could do when he resets the service engine light. Ask your mechanic to do the same if you feel so inclined, help save yourself some cash.

Peter
 
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Porter

Well-known member
Apr 20, 2004
124
0
check the "tech" section. Under Resetting service engine light. I just did it at 105k today. It took about 3 minutes to 1) take the cardboard cover and plastic cover off, 2) get a paper clip and bend it at the tip 3) stick it in the hole and wiggle. I didn't even have to take the module out. Why pay a technician to look at discoweb's tech section and do the same!!

If your so inclined, take a rubber mallet and hit the cats to see if they rattle, if they do - they'll need replacement. Or, smell the exhaust, if it smells like rotten eggs the cats need replacement. When you go for DEQ, they'll let you know as well - otherwise you can't get tags (depending on your state of course)

The O2 sensors are expensive, and generally people look at them of there is a cause - like lack of mpg or the engine running too rich.
 
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adi

Guest
I just had my cats replaced on my '96. Total cost to me? $0. According to the dealer, if your cats are defective, the fed gov't warranties replacement and labor for 8 years for them. Mine was within 3 months of that 8 years, so the dealership pulled and replaced them for free.
 
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D Chapman

Guest
adi said:
I just had my cats replaced on my '96. Total cost to me? $0. According to the dealer, if your cats are defective, the fed gov't warranties replacement and labor for 8 years for them. Mine was within 3 months of that 8 years, so the dealership pulled and replaced them for free.
Click to expand...

What would be considered "defective"? Mine are shot. There is no "honey comb" left in the things. But, they are also pretty beat up from off-road use. I could really care less about the things, but my O2 sensors don't like it.
 
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adi

Guest
Land Rover Centerville
155 South Frontage Road
Centerville UT 84014
(801) 298 5300

I had a check engine light on, they determined is was the cats throwing off the o2 sensor(s).
 
neil30076

neil30076

Well-known member
Apr 20, 2004
276
0
Cary, NC - ex - San Diego
How to reset the light

Remove the plastic trim on the right side of the passenger footwell.
Look for the Brown unit, about 1 x 1 x 2 incehes, with the TRW logo on it.
Unplug it ( do not attempt to short with the unit in place!)
Remove the tamper proof LR label
Take a small screwdrive, look in the small hole exposed when you remove the label, you will see two silver contacts.
Use the screwdriver to short them out for about 5 seconds.
Replace unit and trim.
The light has been reset.
It is supposed to come on at intervals approx 50k miles apart, but that was in teh UK, lower temp, etc. The circuit they use to figure out how may miles you have driven is less reliable in US temps.
Mine came on first at 82K.
 
Lake_Bueller

Lake_Bueller

Well-known member
Aug 11, 2004
2,105
59
56
Beloit, WI
Does anyone have the specific "federal mandate" regarding the cat replacement? My nearest "dealer" hasn't heard of any such thing (not that I should be suprised).

BTW.....I'm new to the thread. It's been VERY helpful so far!!
 
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Discobro

Guest
My service engine light (yes the red one) flickers occassionally when I go from stopped in Drive with foot on brake. When I take my foot off the brake and start moving forward it flickers for a second and then off. Should I be worried? Is this trans. related?
 
Robbie

Robbie

Well-known member
Apr 20, 2004
1,463
1
NOVA
My service engine light (yes the red one) flickers occassionally when I go from stopped in Drive with foot on brake. When I take my foot off the brake and start moving forward it flickers for a second and then off. Should I be worried? Is this trans. related?
Click to expand...

the light really should only come on at mileage intervals to indicate emission check-ups. honestly, i bet it is just lucas. mine used to do weird stuff. would go off when i was completely stopped, sort of flicker, then when i rolled forward (not even engine rpm's related) it would come on solid. did that for over 2 years. tried the resetting a few times. finally just disconnected the box thing and threw it in my spares box.
 
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