Secret functions and useful tricks – Discovery 3 / 4

Reversing lights by radio remote control:
If you are outside the vehicle, you can switch on the headlights by pressing the headlight symbol. But it is quite unknown that you activate the reversing lights by a second pressure. Then you have light in the back!

Switch off the interior lighting permanently:
The interior lighting always switches on when a door is opened. This consumes quite a lot of electricity, which can be annoying especially when standing for a long time without recharging in between. Therefore the interior lighting can be permanently deactivated by a long press of about 3s on the middle button in the headliner (front) for the interior lighting. This is also confirmed in the information display between the speedometer and tachometer.

Service Interval Reset without diagnostic device
The service counter can be reset as follows: Switch on the ignition without starting the engine; open the hood; open the driver’s door; press the brake pedal and the accelerator pedal simultaneously for 60s (this seems very long, wait patiently), then switch off the ignition; switch on the ignition again without starting the engine – now the service should be reset.

Unlocking the upper tailgate from the driver’s seat
On the Discovery 3, the tailgate can be unlocked from the driver’s seat by pressing both the lock and unlock buttons simultaneously for approximately 4 seconds. If only the switch on the tailgate is defective, this function can also be used to open the trunk. Therefore this info is often very helpful, because the switch at the trunk is broken, unfortunately. On the D4 you can simply press the button on the remote control.

Unlocking of the lower tailgate with defective switch
On the inner side of the lower tailgate there is a small gap just below the position where the holding ropes are suspended. If you reach into this gap with your finger, the locking mechanism can be easily released by switching (upwards). However, this must be done on both sides.

In this gap the lower tailgate can be unlocked (both sides)

 

Downhill speed with HDC
When Hill Decent Control is activated, the maximum speed at which the vehicle can be driven can be regulated using the cruise control buttons.

Unlock the vehicle if the remote control is on strike
Both the D3 and the D4 have a classic key integrated in the radio key. With the D4 you have to remove the silver cap on the key and then you will find a small key. This can be inserted into the keyhole on the driver’s door and unlock the vehicle.

Lowering the landing gear by remote control
As an aid when coupling trailers, the vehicle can be lowered and raised by remote control. For this purpose the hazard warning lights must be switched on and all doors of the vehicle must be closed. The vehicle can then be raised by simultaneously pressing the headlights (or Land Rover button) and unlocking. The vehicle can be lowered by simultaneously pressing the headlight button and opening the trunk.

Removing the key on the D3 without applying the parking brake
On the D3 automatic, the ignition key can normally only be removed when the electronic parking brake is applied. If you do not want to apply the brake, you can also remove the key from the lock by holding down the parking brake and releasing it.

Single door unlocking or total unlocking
The Discovery 4 has two options for unlocking when unlocking with the radio key. Either it unlocks only the driver’s door at the first press or it unlocks all doors simultaneously. You can switch between these options by pressing and holding the remote control’s lock/unlock button for about 3 seconds. The vehicle acknowledges the change with a flashing of the turn signal system.

Anti-Trap Protection Windows
The windows have anti-trap sensors that will stop window movement if an obstruction or resistance is detected during closure. If an obstruction is detected, the window will stop and then lower. If it is still necessary to raise the window, the anti-trap protection can be overridden by attempting to close the window at intervals of less than 10 seconds. On the third attempt the window will move up with increased force to try and move the obstruction.
Note: If the obstruction cannot be overcome, one touch operation will disabled.

Secret menu:
In the information display (navigation display) you have the possibility to call up a secret menu. To be honest you can’t do much in this menu except to display some version numbers, but maybe it’s still interesting for some people. To enter the menu you have to press the lock button in the upper left corner and keep your finger pressed for a very long time (about 30s). Then this menu opens:

 

Secret menu in LR4

 

Headlight cleaning:

The headlight cleaning system is automatically activated when the headlights are switched on and the windscreen washer system is activated. However, the windows are only activated every 5th cleaning and 10 minutes must elapse between two cleaning procedures. If you switch to a driving program of the Terrain Response System, the cleaning system is activated every 3rd cleaning procedure.

 

Switching off passenger seat belt warning
Switch on the ignition, insert & remove seat belt latch 9 times within one minute. It helps to hold the release button down. To engage the warning, repeat this procedure.

Towing a Discovery with automatic
We have our own contribution which you can find here.

Battery change at Discovery
We have our own contribution which you can find here.

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All information as always to the best of our knowledge and belief, but without guarantee!