Range Rover classic electrical problems.

Please if anyone can help with these problems. I have just bought a 1994 Range Rover classic 'soft dash' vogue manual and have found as you do some faults:

Rear wiper does not work, but washer jet does.

Interior light does not work when opening any doors, but works manually by the switch on the soft dash, i have tried fault finding, fuses are fine and switches not corroded.

Slight whine from gear box in low gears (its a manual 5 speed gear box).

Unleaded Fuel smell, very strong, but no leaks.

Need to replace side indicator bulb? Do i go in through the wheel arch?

david_kingscott said:

Please if anyone can help with these problems. I have just bought a 1994 Range Rover classic 'soft dash' vogue manual and have found as you do some faults:

Rear wiper does not work, but washer jet does.

Interior light does not work when opening any doors, but works manually by the switch on the soft dash, i have tried fault finding, fuses are fine and switches not corroded.

Slight whine from gear box in low gears (its a manual 5 speed gear box).

Unleaded Fuel smell, very strong, but no leaks.

Need to replace side indicator bulb? Do i go in through the wheel arch?

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1. First check the live feed to the wiper motor, if ok then check the wiper switch in the consol for a feed when you depress the switch, it should be obvious which wires are the live. If the feed to the switch is there then suspect the switch, about £20 for a new one. If no feed then check the fuse, this should be obvious as it also controls other items that wont be working.
The rear wiper only starts working when the revs are above idle speed.
Last thing make sure that the earth is good and there are no disconected or broken wires at the switch.

2. You need to remove the bulb from the inside of the wheel arch, depending on the type of liner you will have to remove that as well. You can remove some of the clips and pull it to one side as it is quite flexible.

3. Remove each plungers and clean contact area replace with new screws. Check that the wire has not broken or is disconected. Dont forget the tailgate one as well.
If you are sure that all is well at the plungers and the cables suspect the interior delay unit. About £18 from suppliers.

4. Check all the hoses particulaly at the fuel filter, the breather pipes at the fuel filler, the seal on the filler cap. Is the car overfueling, check the spark plugs are they black? Is the exhaust black?

5. Change the oil in the box to see if it improves things.

Fuel smell may be a bigger issue than you suspect. This model RR has a plastic fuel tank, probably a 4 vent model. Cracking occurs with these tanks allowing a small dribble to continually escape. This gdribble gives off fumes. Cracking on top of the tank will be impossible to find unless you strip the load space floor out. Not a big job. Look for fuel stains on the tank. New tanks are not expensive.

thanks guys.