Land Rover Defender Brake Light Mystery, Help Needed!

Hey there! I had a similar issue with my 2007 Land Rover Discovery 3 diesel at around 145K km. The brake warning light came on, and I initially thought it was the DSC/ABS control unit. Got it checked at the garage, and turns out it was just a faulty wheel speed sensor. One of the sensors was covered in brake dust and giving incorrect readings to the system. The fix was pretty straightforward, they cleaned the sensor housing and replaced the worn sensor. It wasn't a major repair job at all, much simpler than replacing the entire DSC/ABS unit, which is rarely the actual problem. My advice would be to get it checked soon though, even if it's a minor issue like mine was, you don't want to risk any brake-related problems. Just make sure they properly diagnose it before replacing any expensive parts. Best of luck!

Thanks for sharing your experience! That's really helpful to know it was just a wheel speed sensor in your case. I had mine checked yesterday and it turned out to be pretty similar to what you described, just lots of grime buildup affecting the sensor readings. Would you mind letting me know roughly how much you ended up paying for the repair? Also, has everything been working fine since then, or have you noticed any other brake-related issues pop up?

Hey again! Happy to give you an update! Actually, I need to correct my earlier response, while I initially thought it was just the wheel speed sensor, it turned out to be more complex. The mechanic found that the DSC/ABS control unit was defective, which is quite rare. The total repair cost was 1000.00 €, a bit pricey, but worth it for safety. Since getting it fixed, my Discovery 3 has been running perfectly, no more brake warning lights or any other brake-related issues. It's been super reliable, and the brakes are working exactly as they should. It's such a relief to have it sorted properly! I totally understand wanting to know about long-term reliability. My advice would be to keep an eye on the brake fluid levels and get regular brake inspections just to be safe. These Land Rovers are tough vehicles, but preventive maintenance really pays off in the long run. Let me know if you need any other info! Always happy to help a fellow Land Rover owner.

Thanks for the detailed follow-up! Just wanted to share that my experience turned out way better than expected. Finally got the courage to visit a mechanic, a different one this time. Funny enough, it was just a brake fluid sensor acting up due to some dirt and corrosion. The mechanic cleaned it thoroughly and replaced the faulty sensor. Only cost me about 200 bucks, which was such a relief after worrying it might be something major! Been driving for a couple of weeks now and everything's working perfectly, no more warning lights! The mechanic also showed me how to check the brake fluid levels myself, which was pretty cool. Definitely learned my lesson about not putting off these warning lights, even though my initial hesitation with mechanics made me drag my feet a bit. Really appreciate everyone's help here. Sometimes the simplest solution is the right one! Take care!