Please Help!

I have recently acquired my first Disco, a 1997 ES V8 auto.

The problem I have is as follows - just after starting the car the following items stopped working all at once:

1. Stereo
2. Electric seats
3. Cruise control
4. Cigar lighter socket
5. Auto box gear selector back lights

Everything else works fine, and I cannot trace any blown fuses, although surely this lot cannot all be on one fuse?

The first time it happened the seats and stereo did operate briefly, then it went back to the dealer who said they had fixed it (not Landy specialists). I then spent a few days happily driving around, even towing a small trailer, with no problem. This morning the same has happened, and I have no idea what to try. As an additional problem, it seems to affect the alarm, as I have to lock the car using the key (ie no interior sensors) to stop it sounding after a few minutes!

If anyone has any ideas, or can recommend a good auto electrician in West Sussex, I would be very gratefull!

Ta!

Back to the dealer again? If no joy ask 'em what they found the first time and eliminate it from the list. Have you checked the appropriate relays? And are there any aftermarket gubbins that could have inline fuses that are blown and having a knock on effect?

There is a section in the Haynes manual that says there are various relays etc on the passenger side of the car? Wondering if it could simply be a poor earth? Are these located under the passenger seat in the same way that the CD player is under the drivers seat? There are no aftermarket gubbins at all, however the off side front fog light is smashed - if that shorted maybe it would have some effect? When i get off the PC I am going to have a rumage......

TBH dunno about relay whereabouts on a '97, but have you taken the bulb out of the smashed fog? Worth 2 mins work.

I'm sure someone older and wiser will be along in a bit...

Actually, sod the bulb, there's got to be some correlation between the items listed as not working 'cos they're all close(ish) together...look for worn / trapped wiring? Have read something about heated / elec seat wiring causing mischief somewhere on here.

Removing the damaged fog light made no difference, but I have found an american website saying there is one relay that powers up all items that run on the first part of the ignition key. It seems that this may be at fault, although nothing has been proven yet.

I have dropped her back to the dealer so he can sort it out, meaning that the daughter and I had a lovely 10 mile bike ride home (she is 8!). Every cloud and all that.....

SORTED!

The dealer ended up fitting a whole new fuse box under the dash - said there had been water in there, and when the rear wiper motor went pop it melted the back of the fuse box. Touch wood its still working. Just need a new wiper motor......