Land Rover   ·   1990–1991

Discovery 3.5: Common faults & known problems

Common faults & known problems (1990–1991)

5 known faults documented in workshop bulletins. Of these, two concern the body and trim and one the engine and fuel system. Each entry covers the symptoms, cause, workshop fix and any part numbers.

5 documented faults

Engine & fuel system

1 documented fault — symptoms, causes and workshop fixes.

Poor throttle response.

Fit modified part4 parts
Affects:

Discovery with cruise control.

Accelerator cable adjuster lost or slipping.

Workshop instructions & parts4 parts

Workshop procedure

  1. Fit modified accelerator cable assembly.
Parts listed in the bulletin
PartPart numberQty
Cable - Range Rover RHDSSB1040401
Cable - Range Rover LHDSSB1040501
Cable - Discovery RHDSSB1043001
Cable - Discovery LHDANR53271

Data: Motorwise Workshop. Bulletin 1.

Brakes

1 documented fault — symptoms, causes and workshop fixes.

ABS warning lamp illuminated.

Affects:

All models.

Excessive wear in front wheel bearings, causing wheel speed sensor to be moved out of its correct position. Excessive wear in rear wheel bearings, causing wheel speed sensor to be moved out of its correct position. Faulty ABS control module.

Workshop instructions

Workshop procedure

  1. Check front wheel bearings for excessive wear and replace if necessary.
  2. Adjust rear wheel bearings.
  3. Re-position wheel speed sensors, replace if necessary.
  4. Check ABS control module, replace if necessary.
  5. Access ABS control module fault memory and erase trouble codes.

Data: Motorwise Workshop. Bulletin 3.

Body & trim

2 documented faults — symptoms, causes and workshop fixes.

Excessive noise from rear seat backs whilst driving.

1 part
Affects:

All models.

Excessive play between stops on seat frame.

Workshop instructions & parts1 part

Workshop procedure

  1. Fit anti-rattle washer kit.
Parts listed in the bulletin
PartPart numberQty
Anti-rattle washer kitHTP 1000801

Data: Motorwise Workshop. Bulletin 4.

Water ingress into spare wheel well.

Fit new part
Affects:

All models.

Tailgate seal leaking.

Workshop instructions

Workshop procedure

  1. Remove and discard tailgate seal.
  2. Apply sealant to tailgate flange.
  3. Fit new tailgate seal.

Data: Motorwise Workshop. Bulletin 5.

Other

1 documented fault — symptoms, causes and workshop fixes.

Alloy wheels difficult to remove.

1 part
Affects:

All models with alloy wheels, →03/01.

Corrosion between hub spigot and wheel centre.

Workshop instructions & parts1 part

Workshop procedure

  1. Clean corrosion from wheel contact surfaces.
  2. Apply anti-seize grease to wheel contact surfaces.
Parts listed in the bulletin
PartPart numberQty
Anti-seize greaseRYL105020L1

Data: Motorwise Workshop. Bulletin 2.

Take it with you

Before you view one

Each documented fault as a quick check for a viewing or test drive — tick them off as you go.

  • 01 ↗
  • 02 ↗
  • 03 ↗
  • 04 ↗
  • 05 ↗

A little workshop vocabulary

Workshop terms used on this page

Definitions for the technical language used in these bulletins.

ABS
Anti-lock braking system — stops the wheels locking under hard braking
Trouble Codes
Standardised fault codes stored by the engine computer, read with a diagnostic tool
Anti-Seize
Grease that stops mating parts (like a wheel on a hub) from corroding together
Control Module
A computer that runs one of the car's systems (engine, gearbox, brakes, body, and so on)
Fault Memory
The list of stored trouble codes in a control module
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

Common questions

Using this guide.

What are the common faults with the Land Rover Discovery 3.5?

Garages and workshops regularly encounter five documented faults on the Land Rover Discovery 3.5 — two concern the body and trim and one the engine and fuel system. Each fault above lists the symptoms, cause, fix and any parts needed.

Does every Land Rover Discovery 3.5 have these faults?

No. These are patterns documented across the model by workshops, not predictions for an individual car. Where a fault applies only to certain vehicles or VIN ranges, that is listed with the fault.

Can I check for Land Rover Discovery 3.5 faults when viewing one?

Many of them, yes — the documented symptoms are things you can see, hear or feel on a viewing or test drive. The 'Before you view one' checklist above turns each documented fault into a quick check you can tick off as you go.

Workshop term

See in the glossary →