Freelander ABS Warning & Dead Brake Lights: Switch Issue?

Hey there! I've got some experience working on cars (some experience). I had a similar issue with my 2003 Land Rover Discovery with the 2.0L gas engine. The symptoms were exactly like yours! The ABS light was constantly on, and brake lights stopped working. I was pretty worried at first, thinking it was something major. Actually, it turned out to be something really simple. The brake light switch needed adjustment, it had shifted out of position. My mechanic showed me that the switch wasn't making proper contact when pressing the brake pedal. Didn't cost me anything since it just needed to be clicked back into the correct position. Took like 5 minutes to fix! Before jumping to conclusions though, could you share: Have you noticed any changes in your brake pedal feel? Does the ABS light come on immediately when starting the car? Have you had any recent brake work done? By the way, I've also worked on the Freelander before (they share some similar components with the Discovery), so I might be able to give you more specific advice once you share those details.

Thanks for sharing your experience! My Freelander has 135071 KM on the clock and was last serviced about two months ago. The brake pedal feels completely normal, no sponginess or anything unusual. The ABS light comes on right after starting the engine and stays lit. Haven't had any brake work done recently, just regular maintenance. What you mentioned about the brake light switch makes total sense, especially since both issues started at the same time. I'll definitely check the switch position first before spending money on more complex repairs. Good to hear it was such an easy fix on your Discovery! Let me know if you need any other details about what's happening with mine. Really appreciate the help!

Hey again! Thanks for those extra details about your Freelander, that really helps paint the picture. You know, hearing about your brake pedal feeling normal and the ABS light behavior, it's even more similar to what I experienced with my Discovery! Just to share a bit more from my experience, when my brake switch was acting up, I also had normal pedal feel, which really confused me at first. The mileage on my Discovery was pretty close to yours too, around 140,000 KM when this happened. Quick tip from what I learned: before you head to the shop, you might want to try checking the brake light switch yourself. On my Discovery (and your Freelander should be similar), you can actually see the switch right above the brake pedal. Sometimes you can even hear a slight click when it's working properly. Oh, and here's something I didn't mention before, when my switch was misaligned, I noticed the cruise control wouldn't engage either (if your car has it). Did you notice anything like that? Honestly, given everything you've described, I'm even more convinced it's the same issue I had. The fact that both problems started simultaneously is really telling, it's classic brake switch behavior. Keep me posted on what you find!

Thanks so much for the detailed follow-up! You've actually made me realize something, now that you mention it, my cruise control hasn't been working either! I didn't connect the dots before, but that's definitely another symptom to add to the list. I just checked above my brake pedal like you suggested, and I can see the switch you're talking about. Tried pressing the brake a few times and you're right, there's no clicking sound at all. That's probably not normal! Think I'll try adjusting the switch position myself first before taking it to a mechanic. You've saved me from potentially spending a lot of money on unnecessary repairs! Really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience and walking me through this. I'll let you know how it goes after I've had a proper look at that switch. Thanks again for all the helpful advice, it's great to learn from someone who's dealt with the exact same issue!