Land Rover Discovery Series Ii 2002my Owners Handbook Nas Rover

							Brakes
120
Brak esFOOT BRAKE
For your safety, the hydraulic braking system 
operates through dual circuits. If one circuit 
should fail, the other will continue to function. 
However, in the event of brake failure where 
only one circuit is operational, the vehicle 
should only be driven at slow speed to the 
nearest qualified dealer. In these 
circumstances, exercise extreme caution and 
be aware that increased brake pedal travel, 
greater pedal pressure, and longer stopping 
distances will be experienced. 
Power assistance
The braking system is power assisted, but 
ONLY when the engine is running. Without this 
assistance greater braking effort is necessary to 
safely control the vehicle, resulting in longer 
stopping distances. Always observe the 
following precautions:
•NEVER allow the vehicle to coast with the 
engine turned off.
•ALWAYS take particular care when being 
towed with the engine turned off (see 
‘TOWING FOR RECOVERY’, page 201).
•If the engine should stop for any reason 
while the vehicle is in motion, bring the 
vehicle to a halt as quickly as traffic 
conditions safely allow, and DO NOT pump 
the brake pedal as the braking system may 
lose any remaining assistance available.
Electronic brake force distribution
In addition, your vehicle is equipped with 
Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD), 
which balances the distribution of braking 
forces between front and rear axles, in order to 
maintain maximum braking efficiency under all 
load conditions. For example; under light loads 
EBD applies less effort to the rear brakes to 
maintain vehicle stability, conversely reducing 
front braking effort when the vehicle is towing 
or is heavily laden.Driving in wet conditions
Driving through water or even very heavy rain 
may adversely affect braking efficiency. Always 
dry the braking surfaces by intermittent light 
application of the brakes, first ensuring that you 
are at a safe distance from other road users.
Brake pads
Brake pads require a period of bedding in. For 
the first 500 miles (800 km), you should avoid 
situations where heavy braking is required.
Remember! regular servicing is vital to ensure 
that the brake pads are examined for wear and 
changed periodically to ensure long term safety 
and optimum performance.
If the brake warning light comes on when 
driving, and the parking brake is fully released, 
a fault with the braking system is indicated. Be 
prepared for increased brake pedal travel and 
then stop the vehicle as quickly as traffic 
conditions and safety permit and seek qualified 
assistance before continuing. DO NOT pump 
the brake pedal - the braking system may lose 
any remaining power assistance available.
CAUTION: DO NOT rest your foot on the brake 
pedal while travelling, as this may overheat the 
brakes, reduce their efficiency and cause 
excessive wear.
WARNING
•NEVER place additional floor matting or 
any other obstructions under the brake 
pedal. This restricts pedal travel and 
braking efficiency.
•NEVER move a vehicle without the engine 
running because braking assistance will 
not be available. The pedal brakes will 
still function, but more pressure will be 
required to operate them. 
						

							Brakes
121
PARKING BRAKE 
Unlike most other vehicles, the handbrake 
operates on the rear propeller shaft, and NOT 
on the road wheels. This may result in slight 
movement of the vehicle after the parking brake 
is applied.
To engage the parking brake, depress the 
button and pull the lever up fully.
To release, pull the lever up slightly, depress 
the button and lower the lever.
When parking on a slope, do not rely on the 
parking brake alone to hold the vehicle.
Always ensure the parking pawl of the gearbox 
has fully engaged by carefully releasing the foot 
brake and allowing the vehicle to ‘rock’ into ‘P’ 
(park).
CAUTION: DO NOT apply the parking brake 
whilst the vehicle is in motion (except in an 
emergency) as this could result in loss of 
vehicle control and damage to the 
transmission.
WARNING
ALWAYS use wheel chocks when jacking the 
vehicle. Even with the parking brake applied, 
vehicle movement is likely due to tolerances 
in the transmission.
ANTI-LOCK BRAKES
CAUTION: ABS cannot overcome the physical 
limitations of stopping the vehicle in too short a 
distance, cornering at too high a speed, or the 
danger of aquaplaning, i.e. where a layer of 
water prevents adequate contact between the 
tyres and the road surface.
The fact that a vehicle is fitted with ABS must 
never tempt the driver into taking risks that 
could affect his/her safety or that of other road 
users. In all cases, it remains the drivers 
responsibility to drive within normal safety 
margins, having due consideration for 
prevailing weather and traffic conditions.
The ABS is designed to operate only with the 
tyres specified in ‘Technical data’ (see 
‘WHEELS & TYRES’, page 227) and genuine 
Land Rover parts. The manufacturers cannot 
accept any responsibility for inefficient 
operation of the system caused by 
modifications to the vehicle, or the fitting of 
non-approved components. Always consult 
your Land Rover dealer for advice.
The driver should always take account of the 
surface to be travelled over and the fact that 
brake pedal reactions will be different to those 
experienced on a non-ABS vehicle.
NOTE: On each initial start up a faint whirring 
sound can be heard, this is part of the brake 
system self check and is not a cause for 
concern.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Always apply the parking brake fully 
whenever you park.
DO NOT rely on the parking brake to 
operate effectively if the vehicle has been 
subjected to immersion in mud and water 
(see ‘Off-Road Driving’ section). 
						

							Brakes
122
The purpose of the anti-lock braking system 
(ABS) is to allow efficient braking without wheel 
locking - thereby allowing the driver to retain 
steering control of the vehicle whilst braking.
Under normal braking conditions, (where 
sufficient road surface friction exists to reliably 
bring the vehicle to a halt without the wheels 
locking), ABS will not be activated. However, 
should the braking force exceed the available 
adhesion between the tyres and the road 
surface, then ABS will automatically come into 
operation. This will be recognisable by a rapid 
pulsation felt through the brake pedal.
In an on-road emergency situation full braking 
effort should always be applied even when the 
road surface is slippery. The anti-lock braking 
system constantly monitors the speed of each 
wheel and varies braking pressure to each, 
according to the amount of traction available, 
thereby ensuring that the wheels do not lock.
WARNING
DO NOT pump the brake pedal at any time; 
this will interrupt operation of the system and 
may increase braking distance.
DO NOT place non-approved floor mats or any 
other obstruction under the brake pedal. This 
restricts pedal travel and therefore impairs 
braking efficiency.Warning light
The anti-lock braking system 
incorporates a monitoring system, 
which checks that all the electrical 
components are in working order, as soon as 
the starter switch is turned on and also 
continuously during your journey.
The warning light on the instrument panel is an 
important part of this system. The light should 
illuminate for approximately 3 seconds when 
the starter switch is turned to position ‘II’ and 
then extinguish.
If the light illuminates while driving, or remains 
illuminated for more than 3 seconds after the 
starter switch is turned on, a fault has been 
detected by the self monitoring system and full 
ABS control may not be available - consult your 
dealer at the earliest opportunity.
The normal braking system remains fully 
operational and is not affected by partial or full 
loss of the ABS. However, braking distances 
may increase. 
						

							Brakes
123
Additional operating information
While anti-lock braking is designed to operate 
equally effectively in ‘off-road’ driving 
conditions, on certain surfaces total reliance on 
the system may be unwise - remember, in 
normal circumstances, anti-lock braking 
operates only after one or more roadwheels has 
reached the limit of its grip. It cannot reliably 
compensate for driver error or inexperience on 
difficult off-road surfaces.
Note the following:
•Under ABS control, heavy braking on a dry 
road may produce tyre noise and slight 
marking of the road surface. Neither need 
cause concern.
•On soft or deep surfaces such as powdery 
snow, sand or gravel, and on extremely 
rough ground, the braking distance required 
by the anti-lock braking system may be 
greater than those achievable with a 
non-ABS system, even though improved 
steering would be experienced. This is 
because the natural action of locked wheels 
on soft surfaces is to build up a wedge of 
surface material in front of the wheels, 
which assists in stopping.
•The driver should always take account of the 
surface to be travelled over and the fact that 
brake pedal reactions will be different from 
those experienced on a non-ABS vehicle.
•When maximum braking is required on 
loose or bumpy surfaces, full braking effort 
should be applied.•If the vehicle is stopped on a very steep 
slope where little traction is available, it may 
slide with the wheels locked because there 
is no wheel rotation to signal movement to 
the ABS. To counteract this, briefly release 
the brakes to permit some wheel 
movement, then re-apply the brakes to 
allow the system to gain control at a suitable 
speed.
•Before driving off-road read and thoroughly 
understand the ‘Off-road driving’ section of 
this handbook. 
						

							Traction Control
124
Trac tion  Co ntrolELECTRONIC TRACTION CONTROL
The purpose of electronic traction control is to 
maintain forward or rearward momentum of he 
vehicle when one or more wheels are spinning 
while others have good grip, e.g. if one wheel is 
on ice and others are on tarmac. The system 
works by applying the brake to a spinning wheel 
in order to transfer torque to the remaining 
wheels.
NOTE: Traction control can operate up to 
speeds of 62 mph (100 km/h).
Warning light
The instrument panel has a traction 
control warning (TC) which 
illuminates for a minimum of 2 
seconds whenever the system is active and also 
illuminates as a bulb check (for approximately 
3 seconds) when the starter switch is turned to 
position ‘II’.
If there is a fault with the system, the warning 
light will illuminate continuously and remain 
illuminated when the vehicle is stopped, in 
which case you should contact your dealer at 
the earliest opportunity.
NOTE: Faults with the ETC system will 
invariably cause the Hill Descent Control 
warning light to illuminate too. In most cases 
the ABS and brake system lights will also 
illuminate. 
						

							Hill Descent Control
125
Hill Descent ControlHILL DESCENT CONTROL
Hill Descent Control (HDC) operates in 
conjunction with the anti-lock braking system 
to provide greater control in off-road situations 
particularly when descending severe gradients.
To select HDC
HDC can be selected with the vehicle in any 
gear, but will only operate when the transfer 
gearbox is in low range, gears are engaged with 
the vehicle travelling at less than 31 mph (50 
km/h).
Press the switch (illustrated above) to select 
HDC.
If low range gears are engaged, the HDC 
information light (GREEN) on the instrument 
panel will illuminate (if low range gears have 
NOT been selected, the light will flash and the 
warning chime will sound continuously).
To deselect HDC, press the switch a second 
time (the information light will extinguish and a 
single warning sound will chime).Hill Descent Control in action
During a descent, if engine braking is 
insufficient to control the vehicle speed, HDC (if 
selected) automatically operates the brakes to 
slow the vehicle and maintain a speed relative 
to the selected gear and the accelerator pedal 
position.
When driving off-road, HDC can be 
permanently selected, to ensure that control is 
maintained whenever low range gears are 
engaged. ABS and traction control are still fully 
operational and will assist if the need arises. 
NOTE: With HDC selected, gear changes can be 
carried out in the normal way.
If the brake pedal is depressed when HDC is 
active, HDC is overridden and the brakes will 
perform as normal (a pulsation might be felt 
through the brake pedal). If the brake pedal is 
then released, HDC will recommence operating 
if necessary.
In extreme circumstances, the HDC system 
may cause brake temperatures to exceed their 
pre-set limits. If this occurs, the HDC ‘failure’ 
warning light (AMBER) will start to flash and 
the warning chime will sound continuously. 
During this time HDC will function as normal.
To avoid further cause for brake temperatures 
to rise, engage an appropriate low gear for 
steep descents and avoid descending hills at 
higher than the minimum descent speed. If the 
‘failure’ amber warning light continues to flash, 
the HDC system will gradually fade out (see 
‘HDC fade-out’, page 126) and the HDC 
information light may extinguish.
H2656 
						

							Hill Descent Control
126
HDC fade-out
HDC fade-out gradually decreases the HDC 
brake intervention with the effect that the rate of 
hill descent will increase. If this occurs the HDC 
information light will flash and the warning 
chime will sound for the period that HDC takes 
to fade. HDC will be disabled completely once 
the descent is complete. 
If required (e.g. the angle of the descent levels 
out significantly), fade-out may be achieved 
deliberately by deselecting HDC while the 
system is operating.
If a fault with the HDC system is detected, or if 
the braking system reaches a pre-set 
temperature due to extreme conditions, HDC 
will automatically fade out.
Warning lights
HDC information light - GREEN
The light illuminates briefly as a 
bulb and system check when the 
starter switch is turned to position ‘II’ and also 
when HDC is selected. 
If HDC is selected when the operating gears 
(LOW range) are engaged, the light will 
illuminate continuously.
If HDC has been selected but the systems 
operating criteria are not met (i.e. gearbox still 
in high range or vehicle speed too high), the 
information light will flash and the warning 
chime will sound continuously.
If the light flashes while HDC is active, normal 
functionality may cease and HDC ‘fade out’ may 
be induced.HDC ‘failure’ light - AMBER
The light illuminates briefly as a 
bulb and system check when the 
starter switch is turned to position ‘II’.
If the light illuminates at any other time, either 
a fault has occurred which affects the 
functionality of the system, or over-use of the 
system has been detected, in which case HDC 
may ‘fade out’.
NOTE: System faults which cause the ‘failure’ 
light to illuminate after the initial system 
checks, or whilst driving, will be accompanied 
by the warning chime sounding 3 times. 
						

							Active Cornering Enhancement
127
A ctiv e C ornering E nha nce men t
ACTIVE CORNERING ENHANCEMENT*
CAUTION: If the warning light illuminates RED 
a system fault has occurred that may result in 
serious damage to vehicle components. Stop 
the vehicle and switch off the engine as soon as 
safety permits. Seek qualified assistance 
immediately.Active Cornering Enhancement (ACE) is a 
patented feature unique to Land Rover. The 
system is designed to eliminate vehicle body 
lean at low cornering speeds and reduce body 
lean at higher cornering speeds, while 
maintaining a soft, car-like suspension for 
straight line travelling. On uneven surfaces and 
rough tracks, the ACE system will adjust the 
suspension according to the vehicle speed and 
roughness of the surface to provide improved 
passenger comfort.
The ACE system automatically compensates in 
off-road conditions to provide maximum 
articulation and improved traction.
The system is entirely automatic in operation 
and cannot be influenced by the driver in any 
way. However, the functionality of the ACE 
warning light in the instrument panel is very 
important and drivers should be aware of the 
information overleaf.
H2605 
						

							Active Cornering Enhancement
128
Warning light 
The warning light illuminates RED 
when the starter switch is turned 
on (to position II). After two 
seconds, the RED illumination changes to 
AMBER and, after a further two seconds, the 
light extinguishes. This process is a system 
check that takes place every time the vehicle is 
used. Provided the ACE system is operating 
correctly, illumination will not occur at any 
other time. 
If illumination occurs while driving, a fault 
with the system is indicated, as follows:
•If the light shows RED (a flashing red light, 
which changes to constant illumination after 
two minutes, and is accompanied by a 
warning chime): 
This indicates a system fault that may result 
in serious damage to vehicle components 
and reduced ACE performance. You must 
stop the vehicle as soon as safety permits 
and switch off the engine. DO NOT 
CONTINUE DRIVING! Seek qualified 
assistance immediately. 
•If the light shows AMBER (constant 
illumination): 
This indicates a system fault that will result 
in reduced ACE performance, but will not 
leave the vehicle in a dangerous condition. 
You may continue driving, but reduce 
speed, take additional care, and consult a 
Land Rover dealer at the earliest 
opportunity. 
						

							Self-levelling Suspension
129
Self-levelling SuspensionSELF-LEVELING SUSPENSION*
When the engine is running, the self-levelling 
suspension system (SLS) operates 
automatically on the rear of the vehicle to 
maintain a level or efficient vehicle height 
regardless of vehicle load.
AUTOMATIC OPERATION
If the height of the vehicle is reduced by 
additional loading (passengers occupying the 
occasional rear seats or the attachment of a 
trailer, for example), the SLS system 
automatically increases air pressure to the 
springs to compensate for the additional weight 
or changed attitude of the vehicle. Similarly, if 
loads are removed and the vehicle height 
increases in consequence, the system will 
reduce air pressure to bring the vehicle back to 
a level attitude. 
Extended mode
Off-road, if the vehicle becomes grounded and 
traction control is induced, the SLS system 
automatically pumps more air to the rear 
springs to raise the body clear of the 
obstruction, thereby enabling the vehicle to be 
freed. This is known as Extended mode and 
will cause the off-road warning light to flash. 
Once forward motion is regained, the 
suspension height will automatically return to 
its previous setting and the warning light will 
extinguish.
MANUAL OPERATION
The SLS system can also be manually 
controlled to either:
•Raise the rear of the vehicle by 40 mm 
(approx.) to increase ground clearance and 
improve the departure angle for off-road 
driving. Note that this function operates 
ONLY below a speed of 18 mph (30 km/h) - 
above this speed, the vehicle will 
automatically return to its standard ride 
height.
•Lower the vehicle in order to ease loading, 
or to enable various heights of trailer hitch 
to be connected more easily. 
The SLS system will assume automatic 
control - adjusting the height of the vehicle 
10 seconds after a road speed of 3 mph 
(5 km/h) is reached, or immediately once a 
road speed of 7 mph (12 km/h) has been 
achieved. This feature can only be used in 
conjunction with the remote suspension 
control handset. Consult your Land Rover 
retailer for further information.
WARNING
DO NOT operate the SLS while driving on the 
road, or when the suspension has been 
manually lowered below standard ride height 
- any sudden or unexpected change to the 
vehicles height or attitude could cause an 
inexperienced driver to lose control, or 
disturb the load/weight distribution within the 
vehicle. 
DO NOT select off-road height while towing.