Out of the blue my 57 plate ('08 MY) 3.6L TDV8 is throwing up a load of error messages on the dash when the ignition is switched on:
HDC Fault - System unavailable
Transmission Fault - Limited gears available
Park Brake Fault

In addition the suspension seems to be stuck between Access and Normal heights and the suspension height change switch is flashing. It has done around 123K miles.

For all these things to suddenly appear together seems odd?

Over a year ago just after we bought it we had the gearbox oil changed and it started cattle-gridding sometimes so the garage (well-known independent LR specialist) put additive in and that cured it. However, over the last month or two we have noticed cattle-gridding again starting to appear. And also occasionally a sort of intermittent brief creaking/groaning noise from under the gearshift area but it does not happen all the time. Not sure if this is relevant.

The car runs and is driveable but slow to pull away presumably because it cannot change into lower gears.

I don't have any code readers or other diagnostic equipment although I am a capable mechanic and a good friend is a mobile mechanic with all the diagnostic gear they have.

I could also take it to a local Bosch garage across the road who say they have 'LR dealer level diagnostics'.

My concern is that either of the above might now know how to fix whatever is wrong.
The final option is the LR main dealer (but probably quite expensive). Maybe that goes with the 'ownership profile? LOL

Does anyone have any experience of similar symptoms of any ideas what might have happened?

Thanks, Nick Previously a 2008MY Tonga Green Vogue SE 3.6 TDV8

Nick, check your battery level. A lot of unexpected (and unrelated) fault messages are cause by a potentially duff battery. Got - 2017 SDV8 Autobiography in Loire Blue
Had- 2008 TDV8 Vogue SE in Java black
Had - 2007 S/C in Stornoway Grey

Agree it's most likely battery related - if the current one is >5 years old, then buy a new one - if newer, may be worth getting it tested.

The 2007 TDV8 also seemed to suffer from an unusually high number of alternator failures - so also worth keeping an eye on that.

Thanks to both. Current battery is about a year old and the old one altbough not good did not lead to such messages. However I will try putting jump leads on and see if it makes any difference and report back. I had thought of diconnecting the battery and cleaning the terminals so will do that as well

thanks, Nick Previously a 2008MY Tonga Green Vogue SE 3.6 TDV8

My cars the same vintage as you Nick and I’m on my 3rd battery in the time I’ve had the car, about 6 1/2 years or so. Got - 2017 SDV8 Autobiography in Loire Blue
Had- 2008 TDV8 Vogue SE in Java black
Had - 2007 S/C in Stornoway Grey

I'm going to sound like Mr bleedin' obvious here, for which I apologise, but I would advise getting some diagnostics/codes read and anlysed before laying out cash. If the results point to low voltage, then investigate the charging and battery.

If it isn't possible to read the codes, then investigate the low voltage scenario (battery voltage when engine not running, battery voltage with engine running etc.).

Sudden multiple failures normally point to a single root cause and you're going to need some data to get to it.

Good luck!

Stu, the issue with a potentially rogue battery, is that the fault codes won’t refer directly to a low voltage issue, however past experience has shown that getting several (unrelated) errors at the same time usually point that way.

Clearly, none of would advocate rushing out to buy a new battery without doing some further checks.

Cheers. Got - 2017 SDV8 Autobiography in Loire Blue
Had- 2008 TDV8 Vogue SE in Java black
Had - 2007 S/C in Stornoway Grey

Thanks for the further advice chaps. I have tried this evening to disconnect the battery negative for a minimum of 2 minutes then reconnect - no improvement. I also tried jump leads to a known good big battery - no improvement.

While sitting in the car trying these things I noticed that I was able to press the 'lower' rocker switch on the suspension and it is now showing in Access position and is not flashing stuck between two heights. However an upward press to Normal does not work and gives a message on the dash that the HDC system is not available. I also noticed that the drive mode selector wheel just behind the gear selector is not lit up in the 'normal' position on the extreme left. Turning the knob results in a message on the sat nav screen saying 'Terrain Response System Fault' Special Programs Off.

So it does look rather as though something around the Terrain Response System or the Transmission Control Module has thrown a wobbly. Do you have any other thoughts?

I will have to take it somewhere to get it checked I think, but which to choose: the garage over the road with 'LR dealer-level diagnostics' - very convenient but they may not know how to fix it. The local independent LR specialist - not sure if they would know either - they didn't diagnose another problem we were having and my mechanic friend and I got to the bottom of it together, or finally, the LR main dealer where they will be able to fix it but probably at vast expense.

I think the first step is to get some codes read and see what the manual says the fix procedure might be.

If you have any ideas or thoughts please let me know. Thanks Previously a 2008MY Tonga Green Vogue SE 3.6 TDV8

hi ya .. try having your electric diff motor looked at ? mine broke and came up with the same faults ...hope it might eliminate your problem

My ediff motor is goosed at the moment , none of those faults appear apart from traction control message fault , IMO wheel speed sensor is the culprit , needs code reading but all those faults can be attributed to one gone u/s

I had the same symptoms earlier this year.
You need to get the codes read. Ignore any that with a 'U' though. Mine turned out to be fuel rail pressere too high. Cured by a good dose of injector cleaner as I noticed it was idling a bit rough. Presumably the regulator valve, which is part of the high pressure fuel pump, was sticking.
The point is until you read codes, you cant know where to start. I can be something simple.  2007 Vogue TDV8 in Zermatt Silver with Charcoal

Does it start alright when you turn the key. I had exactly this fault and it turned out to be worn contacts in the ignition barrel ! Seems that they where failing to send power to the various ecu's involved when you start up.

Thanks for further replies. Yes it starts OK. It is now with the Bosch garage over the road getting the codes read. We will see what they reveal.
One other thing is possible, but seems unlikely, and that is the connector to the right hand (drivers side) MAPT sensor in the high pressure side of the inlet manifold. We have been getting occasional 'Engine System Fault' indications and limp mode, for many months. Turning the ignition off and on always allows you to continue without any loss of function.
With my mechanic friend we traced the problem to an imbalance between what the turbo said it was delivering and the MAPT sensor reading. You can avoid the problem by feathering the throttle so not giving the car long enough with steady state throttle to make the comparison. Anyway, I found that by putting electrical contact grease on the connector pins for the MAPT sensor the problem went away for weeks at a time. Therefore, the day before all these faults started I did a more 'vigorous' mechanical inspection and adjustment of said connector to improve the contact quality between the sensor pins and the connector.
It is just possible I suppose that I made things a whole lot worse!
Will report back with codes from garage, and their verdict. Previously a 2008MY Tonga Green Vogue SE 3.6 TDV8

'Turning the ignition off and on always allows you to continue without any loss of function. '... do the faults go away as in you dont have limited gears, tc fault or handbrake fault ? I'm still going with ignition switch, a known fault on our model.

No, the comment about cycling the ignition only referred to the problem with the 'Engine System Fault'
The garage now say thst although there are a lot of codes related to the transmission etc. the one they are starting with is things like high resistance to the MAPT sensor although the person I spoke to was not sure which side but he photographed the codes and I am pretty sure the code relates to bank A which is the drivers side. Seems likely at least in part that I may have messed things up fiddling with that sensor connector plug. They have ordered a new MAPT sensor (at £49 +VAT). I am going to talk to the mechanic there in the morning to tell him about what I did with the plug. Unfortunately it is on such a short length of wire and fiddly to work with that there is only a limited amount one can do with it but I might be able to recover the situation. Previously a 2008MY Tonga Green Vogue SE 3.6 TDV8