Engine & fuel system
1 documented fault — symptoms, causes and workshop fixes.
Engine misfire
Poor contact between two halves of data link connector (DLC). Fix: clean and lubricate.
Overview
- Affects
- All models.
- Remedy
- Clean & lubricate
Symptoms
Engine stalls.
Repair steps
- Inspect DLC terminals.
- Adjust female pins to original shape.
- Connect and disconnect plug 3 or 4 times.
- Clean terminals with electrical contact spray.
- Reconnect DLC.
- Lock the two halves of the DLC with a cable tie.
Data: Motorwise Workshop. Bulletin 1.
Brakes
1 documented fault — symptoms, causes and workshop fixes.
ABS warning lamp illuminates permanently or intermittently
Poor routing of ABS wheel speed sensor wiring harness around the rear axle.
Overview
- Affects
- All models with ABS.
Repair steps
- Fit cable tie and clip around axle tube.
- Ensure the cable tie is outboard of the shock absorber with the clip on top of the axle tube.
- Fit ABS wheel speed sensor wiring harness to clip.
- Repeat procedure for opposite side.
Parts
| Part | Part number | Qty |
|---|---|---|
| ABS wheel speed sensor assembly - rear | SSW100060 | 1 |
| Accelerator cable | RGY500010 | 2 |
Data: Motorwise Workshop. Bulletin 4.
Air conditioning & heating
1 documented fault — symptoms, causes and workshop fixes.
Heater unable to demist front screen
Overview
- Affects
- All models.
Symptoms
Sound of water moving in heater.
Cause
Heater air intake drain valve sticking or blocked.
Water trapped in heater ducting.
Repair
- Ensure air intake drain valve operates correctly.
- Ensure air intake drain tube is not blocked.
Data: Motorwise Workshop. Bulletin 2.
Wipers & visibility
1 documented fault — symptoms, causes and workshop fixes.
Erratic front wiper operation
Front wiper arm loose, allowing wiper spindle to rotate without moving wiper arm. Fix: adjust and tighten.
Overview
- Affects
- 90/110/130/Defender, 1995-09: VIN 600000→.
- Remedy
- Adjust & tighten
Symptoms
Front wipers not working.
Repair steps
- Remove wiper arm nut protective cover and remove nut.
- If wiper arm has come loose from spindle inspect affected components for damage. Replace components as necessary.
- Ensure wiper motor is in park position.
- Fit front wiper arm. Tighten wiper arm nut as follows:.
- Freelander (97-06): 18 Nm.
- Freelander 2 (06-): 25 Nm.
- 90/110/130/Defender: 17 Nm.
- Discovery 3 (04-): 18 Nm.
- Range Rover (02-): 18 Nm.
- Range Rover Sport: 34 Nm.
Data: Motorwise Workshop. Bulletin 5.
Other
1 documented fault — symptoms, causes and workshop fixes.
Alloy wheels difficult to remove
Overview
- Affects
- All models with alloy wheels, →03/01.
- Remedy
- Clean & lubricate
- Parts
- 1 part
Cause
Corrosion between hub spigot and wheel centre.
Repair
- Clean corrosion from wheel contact surfaces.
- Apply anti-seize grease to wheel contact surfaces.
Parts1 part
| Part | Part number | Qty |
|---|---|---|
| Anti-seize grease | RYL105020L | 1 |
Data: Motorwise Workshop. Bulletin 3.
Glossary
Technical terms used in this guide.
- VIN
- Vehicle identification number — 17 characters, found at the base of the windscreen and on the V5C logbook
- Nm
- Newton-metres — the standard unit for how tightly a bolt is done up
- ABS
- Anti-lock braking system — stops the wheels locking under hard braking
- DLC
- Data link connector — the diagnostic socket a scan tool plugs into
- Anti-Seize
- Grease that stops mating parts (like a wheel on a hub) from corroding together
- Hub Spigot
- The raised centre of the hub that locates the wheel
- Wheel Speed Sensor
- A sensor at each wheel used by ABS and stability control
- Wiring Harness
- The bundled cables that carry power and signals around the vehicle
Frequently asked questions
What are the common faults with the Land Rover Defender 3.5?
This guide contains five workshop bulletins for the Land Rover Defender 3.5. Of these, one concerns the engine and fuel system and one the brakes. Symptoms, causes, repair steps and part numbers are shown where supplied.
Does every Land Rover Defender 3.5 have these faults?
No. These are patterns documented across the model by workshops, not predictions for an individual vehicle. Where a fault applies only to certain vehicles or VIN ranges, that is listed with the fault.
Can I check for Land Rover Defender 3.5 faults myself?
Many of them. The documented symptoms can be seen, heard or felt during a test drive.