Interior lights and Central Locking problem

Hi there peoples!
I am new to this site and have just bought a TD5 and hope you guys can help me fix a problem with it before I take out a mortgage and take it to am main dealer!

Basic problem, when I unlock the car or open any doors, the interior lights won't function. They will operate manually so there is no problem with power fuses etc.

the Locking system works fine otherwise but I assume that they are connected and the problem is a technical one.

I read in My Haynes manual that the alarm, lights, wipers and more stuff is all controlled by a CPU that only Landrover can re-programme. Is this correct, is there a way in which I can re-programme it to sort the lights or am I barking up the wrong tree?

I hope someone out there can help and look forward to receiving a reply.

Yours Hopefully
]
Gordon

There is a control unit that operates the lights etc, IIRC it should switch on the interior light when you unlock the car with the central locking, or open a door with the car previously unlocked.

Simple things first - have you got the switch on the front interior light in the right place?

Otherwise, the system has a battery save feature, this switches off the interior lights if you leave one of the doors open for a long time, the lights then don't operate until the car is locked/unlocked again. Its just a theory but if there is a faulty door light switch thats not telling the control unit the door is closed again, it could still be in the power save mode.

Might be worth a try to disconnect the battery, say for 5 mins then re-connect, see if the control unit resets itself, cannot guarantee that it will work but will do no harm - just check your radio code first.

Thanks for the very swift response, I have checked the obvious forst, switches all ok, Tried locking car, tried in the dark thinking the sunlioght sensor was to blame. I can't find any plunger type switches anywhere, so wondering where to look for that, I will try what you suggest with the battery though, I assume that it will set the alarm off so will try in the morning!.
Thanks again
Gordon.
PS other than that dead chuffed with Discovery

Hello again, Tried the battery tonight, no luck.
Any more ideas?
Is there any way I can buy a lead and software and program the thing myself or are you rolling around on the floor in hysterics now? !!!
Are there any micro switches on the doors/locks or is it all on the CPU?
Help!!!

Hopefuly
Gordon

As far as I know there is no lead you can buy to access the diagnostics, you will need a main dealer or independant with the correct software - called testbook I think.

I had a look on RAVE (Landrover workshop manual) and this is the description of how the system works -

Interior Lamps
Interior Lamps Description
Interior illumination is provided by front, rear and load space lamps, ignition
switch illumination, vanity mirror illumination and also includes an electrically
operated interior rear view mirror (if fitted).
The front, rear and load space lamps and the ignition illumination operate from
a direct feed from the battery, independent of the ignition switch position. The
vanity mirrors and the interior rear view mirror operate with the ignition switch in
position I or II.
The Body Control Unit (BCU) is programmed to operate the interior lamps and
the ignition illumination for a predetermined period after a door has been
opened or an unlock request is made with the handset.
Power is supplied to the interior rear view mirror when reverse gear is selected.
This changes the mirror from its dipped to normal state for clarity of vision.
On Korean vehicles only, an additional link harness is used to provide a power
supply from the rear interior lamp to the front interior lamp and infra-red sensor.
Interior Lamps Supply
Circuit supply
A feed from the battery positive terminal is connected on an R wire to the
engine compartment fusebox where it passes through fusible links 1, 3, 7 and
8. Fusible links 1 and 7 are connected in series.
A feed through fusible links 1 and 7 is connected to the contacts of the auxiliary
circuits relay.

Looks like you need a diagnostics session.

hi
i have exactly the same problem have you had any luck with it.

Hi Roy,
The advice was to take it to a main dealer and have the ECU re-programmed.
I have not done this yet as scared they'll just run up a whacking great bill!

I will book it in soon and I'll let you know how it goes

Gordon