Disco 2 Electrical issues

Hi peeps,
Anyone have any ideas why my front wipers come on when I turn the lights on?
(for those who don't know) it's been parked up for over a year as I'm rebuilding it, so water could have got in somewhere. Didn't get a chance to check the fuse box under dash as I ran out of time.
Tia
Steve

steve24v said:

Didn't get a chance to check the fuse box under dash as I ran out of time.

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Hi, that's a good point to start... though even if you can't see anything obvious the only way to rule it out 100% is to replace it with a known good one from same modell(facelift or not)

sierrafery said:

Hi, that's a good point to start... though even if you can't see anything obvious the only way to rule it out 100% is to replace it with a known good one from same modell(facelift or not)

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Hi thanks for replying. Are they easy enough to take out?

Not a killer, undo the nut at the top then you can lift and turn it a bit to reach the first connectors and it will become easyer and easyer as you continue... disconnect the battery first then after the swap and battery reconnection turn ignition on 2(dont crank it) and let it on 5 minutes as the IDM has to regain digital data comms with the BCU... then you can crank it

Can they be cleaned out if it has got water in/corroded contacts? If not I will try to source one this week ready to swap.
Thanks again

Depends on how bad it's affected by water ingress if that's the case, there are cases when corrosion is only on surface, others when it ruined the pcb, others when the fault is invisible being between the two boards, and so on, no clear pattern ... insert small coins to those clips all around then you can open it easy and see

OK cheers, will take it out first then see. Thought it was a sealed unit. Wipers didn't come on when I checked the lights about a month ago so hopefully it's only slight corrosion

the symptom looks more like an earth issue but there is no common earth for the lights and front wipers so the IDM is the first suspect as a common failure, once ruled out you can chase other problems

Finally got the IDM out (connectors put up a fight), nothing looks corroded or any signs of water ingress from what I can see.
Suppose the next step would be to find a known good one?
Tia

So, first thing, problem is sorted.
Second thing, I give permission to send me abuse.
Them 2 little earth's behind the nearside headlight in front of the air filter need to be tight. Don't know why I didn't tighten them when I connected them up.
Thanks for the help

Recent prob for me, the engine would cut out if the headlamps were turned on??
Same as you. bad earth, the ones behind the battery by the main earth.

hughdavies said:

Recent prob for me, the engine would cut out if the headlamps were turned on??
Same as you. bad earth, the ones behind the battery by the main earth.

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At least its an inexpensive easy fix. I was expecting to be chasing the problem for ages as I have a leaky roof somewhere, so thought the electrics would be corroded