Partial electrical failure?

Being new to Disco ownership I don't know if this is common or easily fixed (hoping for both) but a number of the electrics in my '98 300tdi seem to have suddenly packed up. Currently it's looking like rear screen heater, rear wiper, interior light (but only when set to come on when door opens), intermittent setting for windscreen wiper, buzzer when keys are left in the ignition and driver door is open. Probably others that I've missed.

I guess some may well be linked and also wonder if the weather (driving through all those big puddles) might have caused something to short.

Help/suggestions appreciated.

JMJH said:

Being new to Disco ownership I don't know if this is common or easily fixed (hoping for both) but a number of the electrics in my '98 300tdi seem to have suddenly packed up. Currently it's looking like rear screen heater, rear wiper, interior light (but only when set to come on when door opens), intermittent setting for windscreen wiper, buzzer when keys are left in the ignition and driver door is open. Probably others that I've missed.

I guess some may well be linked and also wonder if the weather (driving through all those big puddles) might have caused something to short.

Help/suggestions appreciated.

Click to expand...

I am having exactly the same problem! Here is a link to the thread I started a short time ago that other good folk contributed to :

http://www.landyzone.co.uk/lz/f8/iffy-electrics-241413.html

As of yet I still haven't had the chance to follow up any of the suggestions because of either work commitments or bad weather on my time off.

Fortunately the problem doesn't affect the general use of the car, but at this time of year it's a real pain being without rear wash/wipe and heated rear window.

If you read my thread and carry out the suggestions before I can, I would be most interested if you come up with a solution!

sounds like a mfu(multi function unit) problem.
i had the same problems with my 96 disco replaced the mfu and all problems solved.
mfu is on the back of the fuse box. its a black or sometimes a cream colour box thats pluged to the back of the fuse box. if replacing it make sure to use the same colour box as the one that is already there.

Brilliant - thanks both. That's my job for Saturday then.

Toad - will let you know if that cures it.

JMJH said:

Brilliant - thanks both. That's my job for Saturday then.

Toad - will let you know if that cures it.

Click to expand...

I have at last had a chance this morning to have a go at this problem. Some fair weather and time off at the same time has helped. Anyway. I've managed to find and remove the MFU and also managed to track another one down. That is now on order so if I get to it before you get round to doing yours JMJH then I will let you know my findings.

Contacted my Landrover main dealer up here and they wanted £221 + vat for one, i avoided that one needless to say!

try ebay i done a quick search and found this Discovery Range Rover MFU ECU Multi Function AMR1280 VA | eBay
if yours is the cream one like mine AMR 5360 it might be a bit harder to find. it took me a while to get one but i got it after some searching and for a lot less than 221.
but i just found one comes with fuse box too. http://www.ebay.ie/itm/1999-LAND-RO...r_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item4178fb7385

jayf12000 said:

try ebay i done a quick search and found this Discovery Range Rover MFU ECU Multi Function AMR1280 VA | eBay
if yours is the cream one like mine AMR 5360 it might be a bit harder to find. it took me a while to get one but i got it after some searching and for a lot less than 221.
but i just found one comes with fuse box too. http://www.ebay.ie/itm/1999-LAND-RO...r_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item4178fb7385

Click to expand...

Cream ones are a pita to get hold of. Only used for about the last 18 months of production or so. Grabbed 2 when they came up on ebay when I got my 97 plate to try and cure electrical problems, most of which turned out to be symptoms of knackered relays.

jayf12000 said:

try ebay i done a quick search and found this Discovery Range Rover MFU ECU Multi Function AMR1280 VA | eBay
if yours is the cream one like mine AMR 5360 it might be a bit harder to find. it took me a while to get one but i got it after some searching and for a lot less than 221.
but i just found one comes with fuse box too. 1999 Land Rover Discovery Series 1 Interior Under Dash Relay Fuse BOX AMR5360 | eBay

Click to expand...

Thanks for the reply mate, I had spotted these too, but what put me off was the fact they are in the US. I actually managed to track one down in the UK so went for that. Mine is indeed a cream coloured one and I was searching for quite a while before I turned it up. Obviously quite rare!

quattro6999 said:

Cream ones are a pita to get hold of. Only used for about the last 18 months of production or so. Grabbed 2 when they came up on ebay when I got my 97 plate to try and cure electrical problems, most of which turned out to be symptoms of knackered relays.

Click to expand...

Thanks for the reply mate, I do have a cream coloured MFU and yes it was hard to find one, but heres hoping it works. If not I'll be back to you to see if you can point me in the right direction as far as relays go!

jayf12000 said:

sounds like a mfu(multi function unit) problem.
i had the same problems with my 96 disco replaced the mfu and all problems solved.
mfu is on the back of the fuse box. its a black or sometimes a cream colour box thats pluged to the back of the fuse box. if replacing it make sure to use the same colour box as the one that is already there.

Click to expand...

Well it seems you were bang on with your diagnosis jayf12000. I received my replacement MFU this morning and couldn't believe I had decent weather 2 days on the trot to tackle this job. I found it very fiddly getting the unit back into the fuse box because of the limited space and the fact I have hands like 10lb of pork sausage. However, I did get it in and went and re-connected the battery and hey presto I immediately heard the chimes in the car telling me the keys were in the ignition. I thought this sounded really promising so tried all the other things that hadn't been working and again everything sprang in to action! I'd even had problems with my courtesy lights staying on and so had to disconnect them all, but now even they are working as they should.

The only thing I'm struggling with now is bolting the fuse box back in to position. I've managed to get the top bolt back in, but the bottom one is proving a pig, the wiring behind the fuse box is acting like a spring and pushing the box forward whilst I'm trying to get the bolt in and line it up with the hole.

Anyway, thanks for the info. It has improved the car no end in my eyes!

JMJH - I hope this is the answer to your problem as well, because other than the awkwardness of getting in to the back of the fuse box, it's a relatively easy fix, and it has put a smile on my face now for at least a month, or at least until the next problem arises!

Toad said:

Well it seems you were bang on with your diagnosis jayf12000.

The only thing I'm struggling with now is bolting the fuse box back in to position. I've managed to get the top bolt back in, but the bottom one is proving a pig, the wiring behind the fuse box is acting like a spring and pushing the box forward whilst I'm trying to get the bolt in and line it up with the hole.

Click to expand...

Have you tried using a longer bolt with a nut threaded onto it all the way up?

Then you would have the length (fnar fnar) to push the panel back and you could use the nut to snug up the panel once the bolt is securely home?


Dave

thebiglad said:

Have you tried using a longer bolt with a nut threaded onto it all the way up?

Then you would have the length (fnar fnar) to push the panel back and you could use the nut to snug up the panel once the bolt is securely home?


Dave

Click to expand...

Well Dave I need someone like you around all the time, it would never have occurred to me to do something as simple as that. Well done that man!!

Toad said:

Well Dave I need someone like you around all the time, it would never have occurred to me to do something as simple as that. Well done that man!!

Click to expand...

Don't say too much mate until it's worked - then heap on the praises, beer naked women the lot !!!!!!!


Dave

Toad - great that that's cured it. I'll be taking a look tomorrow but reading your comments and other people's I'm convinced I've got the same problem. I hoping it's just a loose connection but I guess that's not so likely and I'll need the new unit. As I have a late D1 (R reg) it will be just my luck to have one of the cream coloured units!

JMJH said:

Toad - great that that's cured it. I'll be taking a look tomorrow but reading your comments and other people's I'm convinced I've got the same problem. I hoping it's just a loose connection but I guess that's not so likely and I'll need the new unit. As I have a late D1 (R reg) it will be just my luck to have one of the cream coloured units!

Click to expand...

Yes I think there is a strong possibility that yours will also be cream, but fear not, when I went hunting for one, I actually found two of them and bought them both just in case I found the first one to arrive to be also faulty! I haven't received the second one yet, but if you find yourself stuck I will happily part with it. It cost me £65. Let me know when you've had a look, and if you need it, and we can make arrangements.

My MFU failed in the winter of 2011/12, I must have overloaded it with both screens, wipers and fogs on, no surprise there with a bit of electronic kit 13 years old and powered up 24/7. The new replacement cost me £138 back then from Rimmer Bros it's over £220 now the last time I looked.

The cream colour MFU (AMR5360) was fitted to 97MY D1 VIN VA 7033237 & VA 534104 onwards.

discool said:

My MFU failed in the winter of 2011/12, I must have overloaded it with both screens, wipers and fogs on, no surprise there with a bit of electronic kit 13 years old and powered up 24/7. The new replacement cost me £138 back then from Rimmer Bros it's over £220 now the last time I looked.

The cream colour MFU (AMR5360) was fitted to 97MY D1 VIN VA 7033237 & VA 534104 onwards.

Click to expand...

Yes Discool, I was quoted £221+vat from the Main Dealer here. However, I thought I would trawl Ebay for one and fortunately for me it has come up trumps. I took the precaution of buying 2 if them so that I had one spare should I find one of them was faulty. I hadn't realised how few of these cream coloured units seem to be about. Thanks for your input!

Toad - many thanks for the offer. As I have a '98, I'm sure it will be a cream one.

I tried the test of the MFU sensor this afternoon but there was no response from the MFU at all. No clicks or beeps so I guess that means the problem is with the unit itself.......

My first port of call will be the garage who sold me the car a few months ago (and with whom I'm not very pleased anyway but that's another story). If I get no joy with them then I'll take you up on your offer, thanks.

Sounds like a fiddly job but not too complicated?

JMJH said:

Toad - many thanks for the offer. As I have a '98, I'm sure it will be a cream one.

I tried the test of the MFU sensor this afternoon but there was no response from the MFU at all. No clicks or beeps so I guess that means the problem is with the unit itself.......

My first port of call will be the garage who sold me the car a few months ago (and with whom I'm not very pleased anyway but that's another story). If I get no joy with them then I'll take you up on your offer, thanks.

Sounds like a fiddly job but not too complicated?

Click to expand...

That's fine JMJH. Once you've plugged the cable into the unit, the unit just then plugs into the back of the fuse box. Tight, but very do-able. My biggest concern was that I disturb other wiring whilst trying to do it! Good luck with the garage.