Range Rover (P38) – MY1995-2002

Land Rover Range Rover 4.6 HSE (P38)
Land Rover Range Rover 4.6 HSE (P38) – photo by M 93

Land Rover Range Rover (P38)

Although the 1st generation Range Rover had been in the US since 1987, Land Rover had been producing it since 1970 globally. When the 90s rolled around, Land Rover realized they desperately needed something more modern. The P38 Range Rover was their answer – and ended up being the last British-designed Land Rover to ever be sold.

While the 1st generation Range Rover, referred to as the “Classic” after the P38 was released, had been very analog, the P38 was loaded with the best technology on offer in 1995. It debuted the “GEMS” series of the Rover V8 while ditching the old distributor-based Lucas ECU, launched OBD2 in 1996, introduced a new air suspension system, and came packed full of computers. Its interior was a massive step up from its little brother (the Discovery) and its predecessor. Despite all the new luxury, it retained the off-road capabilities for which Land Rover had become famous.

Predictably, all these electronics have become sore points in the two decades since its release. Though not as reliable as the Discovery I, it is put together far better than the more contemporary Discovery 2. The 4.6L is the one to get, as it was the only offered engine that was truly capable of hauling the P38’s considerable weight around. Model year 1999 introduced side-impact airbags, Hill Descent Control, and four-wheel traction control as standard (two-wheel traction control was optional for model years 1995-1998), but also the troublesome “Bosch” engines. In 2001, the 4.6L engine became standard for all trims, and the SE was dropped entirely for the final 2002 model year. Unfortunately, most have a litany of electrical issues. When well-maintained, however, these cars can easily go well over 200k miles and even beyond 300k without an engine rebuild.

Engines

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

MY99 was a split year for engines. Early MY99 vehicles had GEMS engines, and MY99.5 vehicles had Bosch engines.

Desirable Features

  • “Lightstone” interior color – very light cream color that looks especially luxurious when paired with a matching steering wheel that has wooden accents
  • “High-line” stereo – standard on HSE vehicles; includes a subwoofer, additional speakers, and CD changer (which allows you to install a Bluetooth module on MY1999.5 models)
  • Heated windshield
  • Brush guard – especially OEM with headlamp guards
  • 18″ five-spoke “Hurricane” wheels

Problems

All Vehicles

Mechanical

Aside from typical Rover V8 issues and air suspension, the P38 Range Rover is very mechanically sturdy.

  • Electronic air suspension (EAS) issues – see below

Electrical

  • ABS:
    • ABS pump (~$2000 parts and labor)
    • ABS accumulator – symptoms include inconsistent brake pressure and/or brief flashing of ABS, TC, and brake warning lights upon braking. Quick replacement is advisable (especially as it is a very easy repair to do), as a failing accumulator puts more strain on the ABS pump, which is quite expensive to fix (see above)!
  • Climate control:
    • Heater core O-rings (can be replaced without taking apart dashboard) – run heater once thermostat opens and check passenger-side footwell and transmission tunnel for moisture/dampness
    • HEVAC servos – test by cycling temperatures on both driver and passenger side to check the temperature servos, and change the vent output (e.g. floor, face, defrost) to test the servo which controls the vent flaps
    • Dead pixels on HEVAC control panel display
  • Engine fuse box
    • Burnt/melted circuit boards/relays – common issue caused by overloading of the HEVAC blower motor, which scorches relay 7 and sometimes its corresponding fuses (F34 and F43) and the fuse box by association. This allegedly can happen if pollen filters become clogged or if there is a loose wire on the blower motor. Often, this will cause the blower motor to become stuck in its current power setting until the relay/fuse box is replaced, along with other miscellaneous electrical issues (such as false fuse failure messages). You can visually inspect for this by pulling relay 7 and checking for cracking around its slot on the plastic cover.
    • Incorrect relay used for the ABS – the ABS relay in the P38 is not a normal relay, and is designed to handle the 70A circuit which the ABS pump requires. Replacement of this one should ONLY be with an official Land Rover part.
  • BECM – the location of the BECM (underneath the front passenger seat) makes it particularly vulnerable to beverage spills. This can lead to corrosion on the internal circuitboards, especially the upper power board. The power board itself is also prone to relay or transistor failures after years of operations, thanks to dealing with high-amperage circuits. Failure of components on either the power board or the logic board underneath can cause miscellaneous electrical issues. If the issue lies with the logic board, then you will need a brand new BECM (which can cost upwards of $2000 for a shop to order one and program it); however, if the issue is with the power board, you can swap it with one from another BECM, and this is a very simple procedure.
  • Cruise control – the cruise control system is vacuum operated; a P38 with functioning cruise control is a unicorn
  • Window regulators
  • Seat heaters – it is not uncommon for the heating coil that goes across the middle of the seat to break and cause an open circuit
  • Autodim interior rearview mirror – often will go permanently dim
  • Miscellaneous electrical issues are often caused by corroded/dirty electrical grounds, failing alternators, or weak batteries
  • The immobilizer may randomly decide to freak out and prevent the car from starting

Body & Cosmetic

  • Drooping headliner – requires removal of headliner panel and reupholstering of headliner; stapling the fabric down is only a temporary measure and won’t work long-term as the problem is due to degradation of the insulating foam. Dropping the headliner is easier on the P38 than it is on Discoveries; in fact, it only takes about 20-30 minutes, even for an inexperienced person. The headliner is quite wide, and requires 4 yards of 60″-width headliner fabric. Use proper foam-backed headliner fabric and a high-temperature spray adhesive specifically made for headliners (sold at most auto parts stores).
  • Vehicles in warm climates may have warped dashboards
  • Rust on tailgate – check underneath tailgate flap
  • Water in spare tire well

Certain Vehicles

  • Vehicles with heated windshields: Replacement is very expensive (especially for OEM-quality glass), so before buying a car, check that the windshield does not have any chips or cracks. Glass insurance coverage is highly recommended.
  • Vehicles with secondary air injection (SAI): The SAI system is prone to vacuum leaks and pump failures from age. It also makes spark plug changes more difficult due to the space it takes up in the engine bay.
    • To identify if your vehicle has SAI, read this page from Atlantic British
    • SAI cannot be deleted unless you swap the vehicle’s ECU with one from a car that does not have it

Not Problems

  • If battery is disconnected or fully dies, you will need to “set” the sunroof and all windows (by putting them all the way open then all the way closed in one smooth motion) to enable one-touch and anti-trap functions. The message centre will constantly warn you about setting the windows until you do it.
  • ABS warning lamp may illuminate on startup but disappear once vehicle starts moving – this is normal and does not indicate a fault in the system
  • The seatbelt warning sounds like a missile lock alert from a jet fighter. It is not an indication of a fault, as much as it sounds like one.

Electronic Air Suspension (EAS)

Coil conversions are common, though EAS is not very difficult to diagnose and fix (however, diagnostic software is required for recalibration).

My personal belief is that if you want coil springs, you should get a Discovery 1 or 2 instead of a Range Rover. The ride quality of a P38 with EAS is unparalleled by either generation of Discovery, and especially can’t be matched by a P38 with coils (which are either too soft, in which case the car hits the bump stops or bottoms out, or are too firm). The car also relies heavily on its adjustable height for off-road driving. Discoveries, on the other hand, were designed with coil suspension in mind, and the Discovery 2 has a remarkably comfortable and luxurious ride for a big SUV with coil springs.

Diagnosis

Start the car and cycle through the various height settings to ensure the car can change height in the first place (make sure that all doors and the tailgate are closed, or they will interrupt the system). Then, leave the system on the highest setting, open the hood, and get out. The car should be holding its height and not sinking back down. If you check under the hood, the compressor should not be constantly running, nor should it be turning off and then back on over and over again. If it is, or if the car doesn’t hold its height, then there is a leak. The car should be able to hold its height for at least a couple days without sinking.

  • Air springs can crack due to age, but they’re actually fairly sturdy and…
  • Most issues are actually caused by leaking hoses. If leaks persist for too long, then…
  • The compressor can burn out from constantly running.
  • If you cannot find an external leak (for example, by spraying soapy water on the components and looking for bubbles), and the compressor is working as it should, then there’s a good chance that one or more of the O-rings in the valve block needs to be replaced – you should rebuild the entire valve block if you can, as this will prevent any further O-ring failures.

If the car doesn’t show signs of a leak but is still throwing a “hard fault” (where the warning light illuminates and the suspension drops to the bump stops), you may have a bad height sensor. Try clearing the faults with a scan tool like a Nanocom to see if that fixes it, as sometimes this can be caused by simply parking with one wheel in the gutter – the computer sometimes interprets this as a height sensor being “out of range.” If issues persist, pull the fault codes using your scan tool and replace the bad sensor. This requires recalibration of the suspension.

Upgrades

Off-road aficionados should be pleased to know there are numerous upgrades you can do to your EAS-equipped Range Rover.

  • Arnott and others make heavy-duty air springs
  • You can actually permanently lift a P38 while keeping EAS and its adjustable height intact
  • There are modifications you can do to manually engage extended height mode (which normally will only engage automatically when the vehicle detects it is hung up on something)
  • Upgraded air compressors are available, though the factory one in the P38 is fairly heavy-duty already

Other Tips & Tricks

  • MY95 cars are fully OBD2 compliant
  • The OBD2 port is located deep in the passenger footwell, not underneath the steering column or behind the glovebox
  • Unlike Discoveries, the seat leather in the P38 is very sturdy – heavy wear or ripping usually indicates that the car lived a hard life