Defender 90 300TDi flickering lights

Hi all recently all the lights on my 96 300tdi 90 have started to flicker. Literally every light on the car. Brake, reverse, interior and even dash lights. I'm not too clued up with electricals but I've tested the battery with a multi meter and it's reading 14.9v whilst idling. Even if I up the revs to 1.5-2k the light still flicker???? Is this a bad earth somewhere or something else???

Cheers guys

Schneebly said:

Hi all recently all the lights on my 96 300tdi 90 have started to flicker. Literally every light on the car. Brake, reverse, interior and even dash lights. I'm not too clued up with electricals but I've tested the battery with a multi meter and it's reading 14.9v whilst idling. Even if I up the revs to 1.5-2k the light still flicker???? Is this a bad earth somewhere or something else???

Cheers guys

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As you say, more than likely a bad earth.
Get underneath and check the earth connection from battery to gearbox. Check connections to battery while you're at it. Go under your Landy from passenger door to find earth to gearbox connection. Unbolt it, clean connections with emery paper until back to bare metal then bolt back together.

Al2O3 said:

As you say, more than likely a bad earth.
Get underneath and check the earth connection from battery to gearbox. Check connections to battery while you're at it. Go under your Landy from passenger door to find earth to gearbox connection. Unbolt it, clean connections with emery paper until back to bare metal then bolt back together.

Click to expand...

Cheers I'll try that tomorrow

Al2O3 said:

As you say, more than likely a bad earth.
Get underneath and check the earth connection from battery to gearbox. Check connections to battery while you're at it. Go under your Landy from passenger door to find earth to gearbox connection. Unbolt it, clean connections with emery paper until back to bare metal then bolt back together.

Click to expand...

Okay so I've cleaned the earth connecting to the transmission but no change in the light flickering. I then tightened the connections on the alternator as one was loose but that didn't change anything. Think I'm going to take the serp belt off and try without. I don't know much about auto electrical. So I'm pretty stumped. But if anyone has any advice it will be much appreciated.

Schneebly said:

Think I'm going to take the serp belt off and try without.

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No serpy = no water pump either = less than a good idea IMO.

14.9V sounds a bit high too - what's the voltage across the battery with everything off ?

It will be an earth issue - electrical "nonsense" of this nature is ALWAYS an earth issue... Clean all the earth points - locations are in RAVE, and coat them all with vaseline as you re-assemble them.

An additional earth strap ( or two ) does no harm, and might protect your hand brake cable from doom if it were to end up as the only return path .

Disco1BFG said:

No serpy = no water pump either = less than a good idea IMO.

14.9V sounds a bit high too - what's the voltage across the battery with everything off ?

It will be an earth issue - electrical "nonsense" of this nature is ALWAYS an earth issue... Clean all the earth points - locations are in RAVE, and coat them all with vaseline as you re-assemble them.

An additional earth strap ( or two ) does no harm, and might protect your hand brake cable from doom if it were to end up as the only return path .

Click to expand...

Okay so I'll check all earth strap now and of course I wouldn't run the engine long without the belt connected

Cheers

Disco1BFG said:

No serpy = no water pump either = less than a good idea IMO.

14.9V sounds a bit high too - what's the voltage across the battery with everything off ?

It will be an earth issue - electrical "nonsense" of this nature is ALWAYS an earth issue... Clean all the earth points - locations are in RAVE, and coat them all with vaseline as you re-assemble them.

An additional earth strap ( or two ) does no harm, and might protect your hand brake cable from doom if it were to end up as the only return path .

Click to expand...

Disconnected the serp belt then started the truck and no light flickering?? I'm confused?!?!!

Schneebly said:

Disconnected the serp belt then started the truck and no light flickering?? I'm confused?!?!!

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The voltage regulator in your alternator is f****ed - rebuild kit is about £25 on the bay - or a new alt is about 100 - this is why I commented on the 14.9V at tickover - too high, but not knowing what your DMM is, it's hard to comment on the accuracy of the thing, which is why I asked about battery voltage with engine orft

Disco1BFG said:

The voltage regulator in your alternator is f****ed - rebuild kit is about £25 on the bay - or a new alt is about 100 - this is why I commented on the 14.9V at tickover - too high, but not knowing what your DMM is, it's hard to comment on the accuracy of the thing, which is why I asked about battery voltage with engine orft

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Ahh I got you, the alternator is only a couple months old so warranty should cover it. Thanks for your help buddy all the best