[Dane!]

First - My SRS light came on yesterday. I fiddled with a relay below the seat a few days ago, I've heard about some things corroding and whatnot. I also did do a very short mild trail the other day, vibrations? Any who, I don't really know anything about the SRS system, my seatbelts still lock but just wanted to know some common problems and their remedies. hoping its not a something to do with the bags themselves.

Second - The Hum and Bad coasting. I feel its coming from the engine, not the drivetrain. The only reason I guess this is because when parked, or in neutral, I can give it a little juice, and it sounds normal until it winds down, then at around 2400-1400 RPMs (rough estimate) a decently loud Hum. I have changed a few things on the motor, belt tensioner, power steering pump, oil pump, new timing gears and chain, and most of the lines. I do have the ACE system but Its performing pretty well. Also, when moving I can shift into neutral from drive and my coast speed dramatically changes. Could warped idler pulleys do this? at a glance I've noticed discoloration in my serpentine belt could this be the stress that's slowing the engine down? I know that my year of the Disco has problems with them warping. I changed the belt not even 5000 miles ago and it shows obvious signs of wear, but I really have not had time to fully examine everything, just quick looks, as I'm attending my first semester of college and working full time.

A Million thanks,
Dane.

 

[Dane!]

I can already see the dollar signs, the anticipation. haha.

 

[Disco Mike]

The noise can be normal. When was the last major service done, like the one I have posted at the top of this section, have you replaced the front drive shaft, and have you ever greased all 6 of your grease fittings?

 

[Dane!]

Yes, the first two things I did when I bought my rover are the drive shaft and the high mileage service list. I recently changed the oil about 200 miles ago, but the major service list was done about 4000 miles ago. I haven't regreased the shafts since last oil change, but will today.

 

[Dane!]

Very informative. Ill try another forum. Maybe the gas mileage thread got a few people more interested in attacking one another. lol.

 

[Bosnian Discovery]

Mike already responded - the hum is likely normal and you're just being paranoid. You also failed to describe the noise in any detail - you just said "hum". There are maybe a dozen things that this car does normally that could be described as a "hum". It could be the power steering pump, the alternator bearings, the idler pulley, or normal V8 engine noise that you're not used to yet. If you seem to think it's the idler pulley, replace it - the whole kit costs $140 from AB and is easy to replace.

As for the coasting? That's normal too. Idler pulleys will have no impact on coasting speed. If the pulley put enough stress on the motor to actually slow you down while driving, do you really think the motor could even turn over or idle? This "phenomenon" is called engine braking and is designed to slow you down without damaging your transmission. Our automatic transmissions will not shift into neutral automatically while coasting as shifting from "D" to "N" while driving is about the worst thing you can do to your transmission. It will remain in gear for as long as it can because the assumption is that you will get back on the gas to drive off. If it shifted into neutral (and behaved like a manual), the transmission RPM would drop below the road RPM and once you gave it gas to get back up to speed the shock to the transmission would be dramatic. Certain cars (early 2000s Lexus) did shift into neutral while coasting in an effort to improve efficiency, but due to the driving habits of the owners this would mean having to shift up from "N" to "D" while at speed. This doesn't sound bad, but look up "transmission failures" in the 1999-2003 Lexus RX300. Many cars needed a full rebuild or replacement before 90K miles. A dealer TSB was needed to reprogram the ECU to do away with this feature. Your car gas gears in the transmission, transfer case, and differentials. All of these will work to slow the car while it is coasting. Do NOT shift into "N". You can however replace your trans fluid and gear oil in the TC and Diffs. The lowered friction will help with coasting speed.

As for the SRS light? Maybe stop fiddling with relays. Most SRS problems in our cars are due to faulty seat belt buckles, namely the electrical connections on the seat belt buckles. Unplug them, clean them, and refit them using dielectric grease. If this doesn't make the problem go away (it should automatically) you will need to find someone with a scanner than can read and clear SRS codes. Most full-function mechanics shops will have something that will clear the codes, but an investment in an Autel AL619 might be in your future as it can both clear LR SRS and ABS codes and will save you so much time and money in the future.

 

[Dane!]

I understand engine breaking. My coasting speed is dramatically off; as if im almost hitting the brakes. The engine yesterday actually did sputter while trying to start it, its definitely being stressed. I have driven my brothers discovery and his coasts infinitely better than mine, I'm not being paranoid I just chose not to ignore my problems at hand.

The relay, I hit it with my shoulder trying to repair my door strap, I took it out to inspect to see if I had damaged the flimsy looking plastic fuse box that was sticking out. Shortly after (50 miles) the SRS light had come on while offroad, Im not sure if being offroad has any connection between the two, but I thought id include it. I did ask for common problems in the srs system, such as corrosion, or something that can be looked at before taking it to a shop and spending money I don't have.

 

[cnfowler]

SRS stands for Supplemental Restraint System. This is referring to the airbags. I read somewhere that the SRS light is designed to come on after a period of time, usually 10 years, as a reminder to have the system checked. Maybe something you did caused it to come on, maybe it didn't. It could just be coincidence. Have the codes read by the proper diagnostic tool and see what you find out.

As far as your deceleration, there are plenty of things it could be. Engine, tranny, transfer case, diffs, brakes (including parking brake), wheel bearings, etc. Check to see if you have a sticky caliper. That's where I'd check first. Bad wheel bearings you could hear. Increased engine drag would probably result in increased operating temps, so that probably isn't it. Start at the easiest/quickest to check and go from there.


Colin

 

[Dane!]

I decided to look up common SRS problems first before I went to get a diagnostic. I found that the yellow plug tends to corrode. I checked mine and it wasn't even plugged in. Turns out when I went shooting my passenger in the back kicked his feet under my seat to get comfortable, and while doing so he had unplugged and damaged the plug. After a quick soldering job, I heat-shrinked everything, put some electrical grease on them and taped it back up to its original resting place.

That could've been dangerous!

Also, for my coasting speed and Hum; Im positive its an engine accessory, specifically, the ACE pump. After I had put in some suggested Lucas power steering additive into it, I think it fried the pump. I ran my truck with a smaller serp belt from my brothers truck to run it w/o ACE and its fine. I will be doing a filter change and a replacement of the fluids, hopefully it will lengthen its life a little longer to where I can buy either a used one or a new one.

thanks for the input.

and for anyone whom has ACE, DO NOT put the additive "anyone" says to put in it, deal with the little whine it makes.

 

[cnfowler]

Glad you were able to work through the issues. Good job.


Colin

 

[Disco Mike]

You really need to quit guessing your self into frustration.
Send me your number and I'll call and what you thru what to test.

 

[Dane!]

I think the pump was on its way, and the extra stress for thickening it did her in . I ran a regular serp belt on the truck and she reacted fine.