05/06 car. I have read here before that people recommend genuine LR brake light bulbs, and I saw no real reason for that, as generally speaking, a bulb is a bulb, right?

For the last week or two, I knew I had a brake light out and was getting round to it. Yesterday, I found out both in the tail lights were now kaput. So I popped the lights out and changed them for two random ones (each of different makes) from by bulb box. All working again.......

Today, the gear change is all up the wall, hanging in gears and not changing up correctly. This afternoon, the dash lights up like an Xmas tree with transmission fault, etc.

After searching here - daft as it may sound to everyone except old hands here - it seems my no name bulbs might be the fault.

So I have two questions:

1) I get auto electrical stuff. Would someone mind explaining why genuine/OEM ones matter? And the relationship between the brake light bulbs and the gear change please? I am assuming that the computer knows when the brake is applied to gear down and uses bulb current to help or something?

2) Is getting my trousers taken down at Land Rover essential? What is the OEM brand? Can I just stick some good quality ones in there? If so, which ones? Also, can I upgrade to LED bulbs or will that cause similar issues?

Thanks for any advice. Get a 2005-2009 RRS (FAH500210) sat nav/dash mat here - the one that wasn't there when you bought the car.

Spiffing wheel centre caps available

I wouldn't say they have to be genuine, just a decent brand (e.g. Osram, Phillips etc. - I think the genuine ones probably are Osram?).

The way it works is that electrical noise from an arcing bulb/switch will upset the BCM (Body Control Module). The BCM is connected on the CANBUS which links all the ECUs together so the effect spreads. The ABS module also has another feed from the brake switch, and a mismatch between the two feeds is also not welcomed.

LED bulbs work very well (with no resistors required). The odd issue has been reported (radio reception etc.), but I have these - http://www.hids4u.co.uk/380-Ultimate-Canbus-92-SMD-LED-Bulb.html (the red version) - and have nad no issues at all. They aren't cheap, but cheap LEDs seem to cause more problems (in general), so quality is important. They're nice and bright and give a great effect.  Visiting from DISCO3.CO.UK
2006 Discovery 3 TDV6 Auto HSE Zambezi Silver

Thanks for that, I'll bail out now and get some decent ones from the local car spares shop. Get a 2005-2009 RRS (FAH500210) sat nav/dash mat here - the one that wasn't there when you bought the car.

Spiffing wheel centre caps available

Everyday is a school day. Interesting post LFW.
Many members have tried spurious bulbs, only to find they experience the same sort of faults you are having Stuart.

It's partly the reason why LED lights are now commonplace, apart from the obvious efficiency benefits.

If the bulbs don't do the trick, don't forget the switch.  Visiting from DISCO3.CO.UK
2006 Discovery 3 TDV6 Auto HSE Zambezi Silver

So I have been a day or two with a lit up dashboard and changing gears manually.

Today I fitted two Osram bulbs, and the difference was like night and day.

Dash lights have gone, iffy gear change has gone, and the car has some guts back. Even the black smoke I asked about months ago >>here<< has gone. The car is back to its old self. I can only assume I had a brake bulb out all these months, and the second one going compounded the problem. My fitting old/used/Ring/unknown ones caused faults, fitting new Osram ones seems to have fixed all the cars issues in one go.

Cost: £2

On one hand, what an amazing fix if it prevails. On the other what a truly dreadful bit of design that brake light bulbs - that there isn't even a warning light for - can impact a cars performance to such an extent. Get a 2005-2009 RRS (FAH500210) sat nav/dash mat here - the one that wasn't there when you bought the car.

Spiffing wheel centre caps available

I believe it's also related to the use of a 12V system for the engine management for safety reasons; it's something that can affect many "premium" vehicles.  Visiting from DISCO3.CO.UK
2006 Discovery 3 TDV6 Auto HSE Zambezi Silver

Thanks muchly for the help LFW.

I bet there are some garages out there making a few quid from stuff like this. Change some bulbs and sting the punter with a big bill for "diagnosis" and similar. Get a 2005-2009 RRS (FAH500210) sat nav/dash mat here - the one that wasn't there when you bought the car.

Spiffing wheel centre caps available

Had a customer come to me after spending over £400 on diagnostics at their local garage, and getting nowhere with it

In this case, the sidelights were coming on when the brakes were applied, so it was easier to track down than yours. They didn't believe me when I said it was a brake light bulb

I experienced the same issue, changed a brake light bulb then got all kinds of error messages coming up

I rang my local specialist, Famous Four in Louth and when I mentioned the errors started after a bulb change they asked me if they asked me if the new bulb was a bit more of a tight fit than the old one. Indeed it was. Advised to try another brand bulb and be careful inserting, if it doesnt go in easy try the other way around.

Anyway, i tried 2 brands of cheap bulbs from different garages before I found some that fit perfect, and all the error messages went away. I kept a couple of the bulbs in stock

thankfully an easy solution and the first thing to try if you start getting errors after a bulb change...... cheers
bogie

2020 RRS 3.0 HST
2008 RRS 4.2V8 HST

Lost for Words wrote:

I wouldn't say they have to be genuine, just a decent brand (e.g. Osram, Phillips etc. - I think the genuine ones probably are Osram?).

The way it works is that electrical noise from an arcing bulb/switch will upset the BCM (Body Control Module). The BCM is connected on the CANBUS which links all the ECUs together so the effect spreads. The ABS module also has another feed from the brake switch, and a mismatch between the two feeds is also not welcomed.

LED bulbs work very well (with no resistors required). The odd issue has been reported (radio reception etc.), but I have these - http://www.hids4u.co.uk/380-Ultimate-Canbus-92-SMD-LED-Bulb.html (the red version) - and have nad no issues at all. They aren't cheap, but cheap LEDs seem to cause more problems (in general), so quality is important. They're nice and bright and give a great effect.