Electrics gone weird!

Electrics gone weird! 1995 Defender 300Tdi CSW

I am hoping someone can give me a few pointers as to where to start with this. I have searched and read up on some possibilities which has got me started but I'm a bit stumped as to how to move forwards now to resolve the issue.

I noticed yesterday that the break lights were not working when I plugged the light board in, both light board and vehicle. Checked all the fuses and in doing so must have jiggled something as it seemed to resolve itself. Later that night I went outside and noticed the reversing light was on, no keys in ignition but it was in reverse. The dash lights also were lit up. I went and got the keys and started it and it started fine and all electrics seemed fine. Tuned key off and removed it but engine did not stop and was merrily purring away! Putting the indicators on caused a fizzling and clicking noise from the flasher relay and then the engine stopped. After a bit of searching on here I did some testing and it seems when I remove fuse number 3, rear wipers and indicators, the lights on the dash go out and the engines starts and stops normally. I have checked the solenoid stop and that's all OK.

From this am I right in thinking that it is likely a short somewhere on the indicator / rear washer circuit that is causing the problem? Now here's my question, apologies for the ramble! I am fairly new to auto electrics so would appreciate a few printers as to how I can start to test and locate where on the circuit the problem is?

Cheers

Simon

check the stalk cluster and the ignition switch (not the actual lock bit) the actual switch beyond the ignition barrel.

Dodgy earth?

G

Bad earths can cause all sorts of weird things to happen.

I've had a quick look. Looks a bit like an explosion in a spaghetti factory when I pulled the dash away a bit :-0. The previous owner had two immobilisers fitted, neither of which work so they've just been left in there with lots of random wires!

Both the indicator stork and end of the ignition barrel look ok. I might have to bite the bullet and completely remove the dials. Is there anything I should be particularly looking for?

Cheers

spiders

OxonLandy said:

spiders

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Lol! If there's spiders in there I might have to take it to the garage.... I can't even get them out the bath 😧

8619Simon said:

Lol! If there's spiders in there I might have to take it to the garage.... I can't even get them out the bath 😧

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I've got a daughter like that......spends hours in the shower let alone a bath

Well i mamaged a bit of me time today so decided to try again to track down the dodgy earth connection. I managed to strip out all the old immobiliser wiring today and starting to track down earths. A bit of searching indicated there should be earths behind the rear lighting panels where you get access to the rear lights. I took these off today but couldn't see anything obvious

Am I missing something? Does anyone have a picture of their wiring behind these panels I can compare?

Cheers

I don't have a pic but the earth on my 90 is made by a bolt and nut setup on the top if the wheel arch. The earths in general are created by being connected to the bodywork which is connected to the chassis and therefore the battery. You can easily create a common earth by putting in a bolt with a couple of nuts.

Make sure each of the light earths are clean and the crimps are good.

G

might be werth a quick look at ur trailer socket i had a damaged one on myn and that caused me loads of diffrent faults and ur problems seem to start wene u pluged somthing into it hope this helps if its not id probly start by looking at all the earthing points

earths, earths and earths again. Also,the cause of my lastest smoke out from behind the dash was due to scotchlocks. My rear worklight was wired from the clump of white lives by a scotchlock. the prob was the lock had cut through most of the wire strands turning the remaining strands into a fuse like thickness which got hot, didnt melt away but melted all the insulation on it and surrounding wires My advice, remove them all and solder with heat skrink sleaving.

Scotchblocks, work of the devil!


And lazy sparkies

G

Update.....

Just got in after another cold and frosty few hours crawling in and around the 110. This little escapade is certainly helping me get to know it

Many thanks for the advice, current and also past, as the search and previous posts have been very helpful. I have managed to sort the not stopping issue, it was a fault on the indicator stalk switch, replaced that now and at least it stops when I turn off the ignition I seem to be down to one fault now which is that the reversing light comes on and stays on, even when the ignition is turned off and key removed. As many have said I am assuming this is an earth problem?

I had a look at the tow hitch electrics and there was a loose wire which I have sorted but I might revisit this again tomorrow. The problem I have is tracking down where the earths are. There are lots of black wires in the lighting clusters at the back but they all disappear into the wiring loom into the chassis, there does not seem to be an earth point at the back. Have I missed something here?

If anyone can describe where the original earth points on a 1995 110 CSW are I would be very grateful. I think this has to be the next plan of attack and see if I can pin these down.

Cheers
PS... Found and replaced two scotch block too

SORTED . With a little help from here and a local auto electrician!

Finally tracked it down to multiple damaged wires right where the wiring loom exits the rear chassis and goes up to the rear light clusters. I think they got damaged when the previous owner did the rear crossmember. They were a real pig to get to, jammed up between the chassis leg and the fuel tank.

A frustrating couple of weeks but quite useful as I now know where most of the wires in the beast go and which ones work and which dont .

Whilst I had the tunnel off I also managed to repair the diff lock linkage following another post on here so time well spent.

Snow now forecast for parts of North Wales, happy days, off to do a snow dance

i wasnt to far away from there with my trailer plug answer lol naw you mention it ive had the exact same fault but my fault was easier to find i just followed the smoke lol glad you sorted it out