Was just about to post the same question as mine showed HDC inactive last night after car siting for a few days.....it also managed to go completely flat over the space of a couple fo hours the week before whilst having privacy glass fitted........

Looks liek a new battery for me also....and drive it more (shame that!)

I have been getting the HDC inactive message on start up for about 3 months now but its only really effected me once when i was listening to the radio whilst polishing car and the battery went flat so i just jump started it and its been fine since but still the HDC inactive has been coming on. So..... With the cold coming this past week i noticed the car struggling for half a second to turn over before starting so obviosly its now time to swap the battery so i booked it into my local Land Rover specialist yesterday and they fitted a Genuine Battery for £138 inc vat. (they said the old one was knakered). Big differnece on start up and the HDC inactive message has not returned.

I manged to use the HDC today when driving on the back roads which are very hilly in Queensbury (Bradford - W.Yorks) and the Rangie just coped perfectly with the snowy conditions. The police had shut some of the roads due to the snow, there were several cars crashed into side of road / wall and cars were struggling up the hills even though there was only an inch of snow if that ! This is my first FFRR and i bought it this summer so i was very impressed when it just flew up the steep snowy hills past the other cars.

Cant wait for more snow!! Playtime ! 2003 Range Rover HSE 3.0 TD6
Java Black, Cream Leather Heated seats all round, Sat Nav, Rear TV's.
2013 Range Rover Autobiography 4.4 SDV8
Black, black and piano black. Rear entertainment system. 22 inch turbines

stan wrote:

check the obd port flap is closed..the battery needs to be a 110amp 920 cca type like the varta/bosch 020..did they turn the steering wheel fully left lock and then fully right lock. this sets the steering parameters ..

I have just started getting the Engine Failsafe Program Activation, followed a few minutes later by the HDC and Air suspension Inactive - plus the usual ABS and Miscellaneous Warning Lights. It only happens at first start in the morning and at about 3 ~4 minutes into the drive. I had the (6 months old) battery disconnected for two weeks when I was on vacation because when I leave it connected, it is dead when I come back (I put this down to the fact that the workshop which services it has put in a permanent feed to the ignition switch to overcome the fact that it won't release otherwise because of a problem with the steering lock electronic unit - which apparently they don't make any more for the L322).
Appreciate any tips on this as changing a battery every 6 months is a pain. Is there any way to check what is causing the drain down, or if it is delivering proper charge.
Last - interesting comment about making sure the flap on the OBD socket is closed. What is the significance of that relative to this problem.

 Those who know me know who I am
Those who don't, don't matter

The flap has electrical connectors for some models so being closed makes a circuit...

The battery needs to be very well charged for the L322 to start and not bring up warning messages, Ordinarily if your battery is starting to fail, even by 5% then ordinarily it's a steep downward decline from there... Now, if you have a drain on your battery. You have a choice! Put up with the messages or repair/resolve what is draining your battery... Knowing that in your case a battery may only last a year or so

That's my predicament Craig , battery replaced not that long ago, draining if left for a couple of days, no clue how to find the drain!

this post by 'nicedayforit' should help you mr Tee, [7th post down]

http://www.fullfatrr.com/forum/topic22998.html

Cheers stan, just need to see if I can pinch a meter from any relatives!

Hi Guys.
I have the same problem on mine, on first start up after my RR 3.0 TD6 Vogue is cold.
With regards to it being a drop in battery voltage, it is very common for this error message to come up on first start up from cold, or after your vehicle has been left for a few days.
Mine is used only twice a week, the rest of the time she is locked in my garage.
Now for the brain teaser. She is left on constant charge with an expensive smart charger attached, and I still get the HDC inactive error on first start up.
I looked into this further and as stated it is contributed to low voltage but there is another answer?
Land Rover issued a technical bulliten many moons ago regarding this HDC inactive.
There is a fault with one of the inboard ECU's and onlys shows fault when the engine & system is cold, as soon as your engine fires up the fault is gone. Mine does excactly this.
If you do an extensive search on google you will find this Technical bulliten issued by Land Rover UK.
I hope this helps.
Regards,
Mark (Kent)

For the above:

Technical Service Bulletin No. LM206-002, 04 January 2005

Subject/Concern: Range Rover (LM) - HDC Inactive Message after Engine Start in Low Temperatures.

Models: Range Rover (LM) 2002 - 2006 Engine: TD6

Markets: All

Section: 206-09

Section: Brakes

Summary: In low ambient temperatures the "HDC INACTIVE" message may be displayed during and/or shortly after cranking the engine.

NOTE: HDC functionality is NOT effected, this is a message display error only.

Cause: Low batter voltage during engine cranking triggers the message display.

Action: Should a customer express concern regarding the above, refer to the Service Instruction detailed in this Bulletin in order to replace the anti-lock braking (ABS) electronic control unit (ECU)

Brilliant Weejock, thats the one thanks for the post.
Regards,
Mark

Most likely battery. ABS ECU too sensitive to voltage. Ran a little test to day, as my 3 year old Varta is not holding enough juice to avoid the HDC call each morning.

Car not used overnight, so stuck my Ctek MXS7 on it in recond mode. A few hours later I had the green light (really). So unplugged and started the car, no HDC warning. Bet you anything you like that tomorrow morning will bring back the bong!

Oh, about 6 degrees C outside today. .
Experience is the only genuine knowledge, but as time passes, I have forgotten more than I can remember
Volvo V70 P2 2006 2.4 Petrol 170bhp Estate SE
MG Midget Mk1 1962

Previous: L322 Range Rover TDV8 3.6 2008; L322 Range Rover TD6 3.0 2002; P38A Range Rover V8 1999

Joe,
I have a CTEK attached to mine on constant trickle and on start up HDC Inactive, LOL
Now I know its a known fault, I don't worry.
Mine was recently serviced, no fault codes, so I just live with it.
It only happens on initial first start up, if I switch off and re-start no error message.
Kind regards,
Mark

Ah, so for you it is the ECU  .
Experience is the only genuine knowledge, but as time passes, I have forgotten more than I can remember
Volvo V70 P2 2006 2.4 Petrol 170bhp Estate SE
MG Midget Mk1 1962

Previous: L322 Range Rover TDV8 3.6 2008; L322 Range Rover TD6 3.0 2002; P38A Range Rover V8 1999

Yep must be the ECU, After reading the info LR issued it's not a problem for me.
Although I could be a weak battery on start up, even though it's on trickle, if the cells are weak it could still throw up a fault.
At some point I will need a new battery, so I will await and see if it still does it.
Kind regards,
Mark

Might be worth checking the tightness, or otherwise, of the battery connections.