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StefFriedrich91

Land Rover Defender's Electric Demons Need Urgent Fix

Hey everyone! My 2022 Land Rover Defender (96,786 km, gas engine) is giving me a headache. The engine struggles to start, battery seems weak, and I've noticed flickering lights. There's also a warning light on the dash. My last mechanic visit wasn't great, so I'm hesitant to go back. Has anyone experienced similar symptoms with their Defender? What was the actual problem and did you find a reliable mechanic who fixed it properly? Thanks in advance!

4 comment(s)

JuliHof

I had very similar issues with my 2019 Land Rover Discovery last month. The symptoms matched yours exactly, weak starts, flickering lights, and warning indicators. Turned out the main control unit had a damaged cable connection to the BUS system, which was causing communication issues between different modules. This affected the battery management system and various electrical components. The repair involved replacing the damaged cable harness and reprogramming the control unit. It wasn't a quick fix, my car was at the garage for three days, but it was necessary to prevent more serious electrical system damage. Since the repair, everything's working perfectly, no more starting issues or warning lights. Make sure whoever checks it knows Land Rover electrical systems well. This isn't a job for a general mechanic as it requires specific diagnostic tools and expertise with Land Rover's electrical architecture. Trust me, don't postpone getting this checked out, electrical issues tend to cascade into bigger problems if left unaddressed.

StefFriedrich91 (Author)

Thanks for sharing your experience! That's really helpful, as I've been worried about my Defender's issues. Good to know it was the control unit and cable connection in your case, definitely sounds similar to what I'm dealing with. I'm curious, do you remember roughly how much the repair set you back? Also, has everything stayed problem-free since the fix, or have you noticed any other quirks popping up? I want to make sure I'm prepared for what's ahead. Cheers!

JuliHof

Hey there! Following up on your questions, I got the repair done and it cost me 260€ to fix that pesky cable connection to the BUS system. The mechanic had to sort out the control unit's connection, and I'm happy to report it was worth every penny! Since getting it fixed, my Discovery's been running like a dream, no more warning messages or any of those annoying electrical gremlins. The lights are steady now, and the battery's performing just as it should. It's been about a month, and honestly, it feels like a different car! I was pretty anxious about the repair at first, but it turned out to be a straightforward fix for a specialized Land Rover mechanic. Just make sure whoever looks at yours knows their way around Land Rover's electrical systems, that's really the key here. Trust me, getting it sorted sooner rather than later is the way to go. Your symptoms sound exactly like what I dealt with, and I'm so glad I didn't wait any longer to get it fixed. Let me know how it goes with yours!

StefFriedrich91 (Author)

Thanks for the detailed follow-up! After seeing your messages, I bit the bullet and took my Defender to a certified Land Rover specialist. You won't believe it, they found almost the exact same issue! The cable connection was shot, and they had to reprogram the control unit too. The repair took two days and cost me a bit more, around 300€, but honestly, it was totally worth it. The mechanic was super professional and even showed me the damaged parts. My Defender's running like new now, no more flickering lights, the battery's strong, and that annoying warning light is finally gone! You were right about getting it fixed quickly. The mechanic mentioned that waiting longer could've fried other electrical components, which would've been way more expensive to fix. Really glad I asked here and got your advice. Sometimes it just takes someone else's experience to push you in the right direction! Thanks again for your help, you saved me from a potentially bigger headache!

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