Discovery 3 / LR3 (L319) – MY2005-2009

Land Rover LR3 (L319)
Land Rover LR3 (L319)

Land Rover LR3

Engines

Click the links below to see common problems specific to the engines available on this vehicle.

Problems

Mechanical

  • Front air struts are susceptible to failing around 100-150k miles; check for cracking and replace preventatively if they are cracked badly
  • Seepage from the front differential may be caused by a breather that has pressurized the differential and blown out the seals. A humming or whirring noise while driving often indicates impending failure. There is an updated breather available, and you can check for it by looking for the updated cap in the engine bay.
  • Suspension bushings (especially lower control arms) tend to wear out around 75k miles, often identified by a “clunking” noise
  • TSB – Oil may leak from the steering supply and return hose O-ring seals. If there is a leak, owners should clean the areas around the pinion housing, casting, yoke plug, gaiter, and pipe connections. They should then replace the O-ring seals and top up the power steering fluid, then start the car and rotate the steering from lock-to-lock three times.
  • “Chirping” noise from under the hood may be caused by the plastic idler pulley on the serpentine belt; Land Rover released an improved part that solves this
  • Parking brake shoes may squeal when applied or released – Land Rover released improved parking brake shoes that solve this
  • Knocking noise from steering column may indicate that that lower steering shaft should be replaced

Electrical

  • Air suspension malfunctions may be caused by corrosion in an electrical connector near the front passenger-side wheel
  • Electrical issues in the front doors may be caused by the door harness rubbing against the lower edge of the door panel
  • Corrosion in the rear wiper arm may cause it to stop working; an updated part is available
  • The electronic parking brake can fail, and it is an expensive fix
  • A false low coolant warning may occur because the float in the coolant reservoir has absorbed coolant and sunk. Repair involves replacing the coolant reservoir.

Body & Cosmetic

  • The sunroof drains may clog, especially those in the A-pillar, leading to water leaking through the mounting holes for the trim panels and collecting in the footwell. This may cause miscellaneous electrical issues. Check for dampness in the carpets and stains on the headliner.
  • Dashboards are susceptible to cracking in warm climates; usage of a sunshade when parked is highly recommended
  • The plastic trim on the bottom of the windshield can lift and allow ingress of water, which can cause numerous electrical issues
  • The tailgate release may fail, making it impossible to open the tailgate
  • The bolt that connects the liftgate arm to the body may back out
  • The rubber texture on the steering wheel can rub off on drivers’ hands, especially when it is hot

Certain Vehicles

  • Vehicles with rear A/C: Corrosion in the A/C pipes and fasteners that run underneath the vehicle is common
  • Vehicles with the AJ41 engine: A clunking noise when throttle is released and applied may be caused by a bad powertrain control module – it should be reflashed
  • MY05-08: Land Rover released a “special service message” (#34304) in which vehicles may suffer failure of the front and/or rear axles due to metal flakes from the axle coating contaminating the oil/grease, which then eats the seals and bearings.
  • VINs between 5A000360 and 9A513325: TSB – The Hitachi air suspension compressor may fail and cause DTC C1A20-64. It should be replaced with the AMK compressor, Land Rover part # LR044360. Leaks in the air suspension system put additional strain on the compressor and can cause premature failure.
  • VINs between 5A000360 and 9A513325: TSB – The Electronic Torque Managed (ETM) rear differential motor may become “energized” while the motor brake is still partially engaged. Symptoms include diagnostic trouble code P186D, illumination of transmission malfunction indicator lamp, DTCs P080A and P0806, the warning message “Transmission Fault Stop Safely,” and lowering of the dynamic suspension. Fixing requires replacing the rear differential motor and downloading new software to the rear differential control module.
  • VINs between 9A000002 and 9A510177: Land Rover released a “non-code action” in which owners may have exceeded the trailer nose weight limit or not removed the quick released ball when not in use. This can cause premature wear of the quick release ball or cause the self-adjusting mechanism to not operate correctly. This may lead to the tow ball becoming loose and rattling, and in extreme cases, the trailer can disconnect from the vehicle.