Wiring Gremlins! Help please.

The problems all started when I unscrewed the instrument panel to get
access to my heater switch to clean them out a load of cr@p that had
accumulated there. I didn't detach any of the wiring I just pulled it
out slightly.

Since then I've had the following problems, in order of when they first
started:
1) Brake light randomly flashes on - I've checked all the connections
on reservoir etc, and the fluid level - all ok;
2) Side / head light light intermitterntly doesn't work, but lights do.
3) Side / head light light only on in reverse, with lights on.
4) Side / head light light not on, all rear lights not working, but
breaklights do.
(I have my land meter light wired to the side / head light light, which
also isn't working, so it looks more like a wiring / current problem
than just the bulb going).

I'm hoping I've just detached an earth or something, but has anyone
else had this problem and can guide me to an obvious problem as I need
to get it sorted (at least the lights) before I go down to Malvern on
Sunday?

I'm going to check the bulbs at lunch incase I've just had a huge bulb
failure, but I think the problem is going to be somewhere within the
instrument panel.

Your help is greatly appreciated !

Cheers,

Gavin.

Embo wrote:
> The problems all started when I unscrewed the instrument panel to get
> access to my heater switch to clean them out a load of cr@p that had
> accumulated there. I didn't detach any of the wiring I just pulled it
> out slightly.
>
> Since then I've had the following problems, in order of when they first
> started:
> 1) Brake light randomly flashes on - I've checked all the connections
> on reservoir etc, and the fluid level - all ok;
> 2) Side / head light light intermitterntly doesn't work, but lights do.
> 3) Side / head light light only on in reverse, with lights on.
> 4) Side / head light light not on, all rear lights not working, but
> breaklights do.
> (I have my land meter light wired to the side / head light light, which
> also isn't working, so it looks more like a wiring / current problem
> than just the bulb going).
>
> I'm hoping I've just detached an earth or something, but has anyone
> else had this problem and can guide me to an obvious problem as I need
> to get it sorted (at least the lights) before I go down to Malvern on
> Sunday?
>
> I'm going to check the bulbs at lunch incase I've just had a huge bulb
> failure, but I think the problem is going to be somewhere within the
> instrument panel.
>
> Your help is greatly appreciated !
>
> Cheers,
>
> Gavin.
>
We might be able to help if we all knew what model Land Rover you are talking
about ....

--
Karen

"Sometimes I think I have a Guardian Idiot - a little invisible spirit just
behind my shoulder, looking out for me ... only he's an imbecile" - Jake Stonebender

Good point !

Sorry, it's a 200tdi Defender CSW !

Gavin.

Further Information:

Bulbs all ok !
Fuses all ok !
No sign of loose wiring behind the dashboard.
Intrument lights come on with side / head lights, but the actual
'indicator' light receives no current to it at all.

Is there a relay that could be sticking?

"Embo" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Further Information:
>
> Bulbs all ok !
> Fuses all ok !
> No sign of loose wiring behind the dashboard.
> Intrument lights come on with side / head lights, but the actual
> 'indicator' light receives no current to it at all.
>
> Is there a relay that could be sticking?
>

No help at all but I had a 1993 Granada Scorpio, unbeknown to me the
previous owner had left the lids loose on both fuse boxes which are located
at the bottom of the windscreen just under the bonnet lip and thus got
soaked through. Corrosion set in and before long those thousands of copper
tracks were nicely corroded and a mush of copper oxide set in. The results
were stunning.

I only learned of this the day after a freak downpour. I opened the Drivers
door and the rear wiper came on.... closed it to go check and it went
off.... opened the door to get in thinking I was going mad..frigging thing
came on again. Spooky!

Good luck withit though and do let us know what it was when you find it!

Lee D

On 25 Aug 2006 05:05:34 -0700, "Embo" <[email protected]> wrote:

>Further Information:
>
>Bulbs all ok !
>Fuses all ok !
>No sign of loose wiring behind the dashboard.
>Intrument lights come on with side / head lights, but the actual
>'indicator' light receives no current to it at all.
>
>Is there a relay that could be sticking?

did you put all the screws back in properly?. not sure about
defenders, but i had trouble with my car after removing some bits. i
found that some stuff all earthed through one of the fixing screws in
its corner and i hadnt put all the screws back (no point till i knew
i'd fixed it i thought!) so wasnt getting earthed properly.

Well I've managed to fix the problem, although I'm not really sure what
the culprit was. It looks like a combination of fitting a new bulb to
the dashboard light (although there was no current going to the dead
one?) emptying a rear light of water (earthing perhaps?) and generally
unplugging / replugging and checking all the connections did it in the
end, but only after I'd spent a few hours on it, stormed off in a huff
then came back to it a few hours later did it work................?????


So if any of these things made a difference, or if I've just got a
random problem that fixed itself I just don't know, but the lights now
work, which is just as well as we got caught in a big storm on the way
back from Malvern !!

Cheers,

Gav.

"Embo" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> The problems all started when I unscrewed the instrument panel to get
> access to my heater switch to clean them out a load of cr@p that had
> accumulated there. I didn't detach any of the wiring I just pulled it
> out slightly.
>
> Since then I've had the following problems, in order of when they first
> started:
> 1) Brake light randomly flashes on - I've checked all the connections
> on reservoir etc, and the fluid level - all ok;
> 2) Side / head light light intermitterntly doesn't work, but lights do.
> 3) Side / head light light only on in reverse, with lights on.
> 4) Side / head light light not on, all rear lights not working, but
> breaklights do.
> (I have my land meter light wired to the side / head light light, which
> also isn't working, so it looks more like a wiring / current problem
> than just the bulb going).
>
> I'm hoping I've just detached an earth or something, but has anyone
> else had this problem and can guide me to an obvious problem as I need
> to get it sorted (at least the lights) before I go down to Malvern on
> Sunday?
>
> I'm going to check the bulbs at lunch incase I've just had a huge bulb
> failure, but I think the problem is going to be somewhere within the
> instrument panel.
>
> Your help is greatly appreciated !
>
> Cheers,
>
> Gavin.
>

Sounds like the "Prince of Darkness" strikes again.

Check all the ground (earth) connections. I've installed star washers to
help alleviate these problems. Local dealer also recommended this procedure.
They also informed me that the MKII were notorious for having starter
difficulties that resulted in various TSB's to include star washers.

Good Luck.

"Jack" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> "Embo" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>> The problems all started when I unscrewed the instrument panel to get
>> access to my heater switch to clean them out a load of cr@p that had
>> accumulated there. I didn't detach any of the wiring I just pulled it
>> out slightly.
>>
>> Since then I've had the following problems, in order of when they first
>> started:
>> 1) Brake light randomly flashes on - I've checked all the connections
>> on reservoir etc, and the fluid level - all ok;
>> 2) Side / head light light intermitterntly doesn't work, but lights do.
>> 3) Side / head light light only on in reverse, with lights on.
>> 4) Side / head light light not on, all rear lights not working, but
>> breaklights do.
>> (I have my land meter light wired to the side / head light light, which
>> also isn't working, so it looks more like a wiring / current problem
>> than just the bulb going).
>>
>> I'm hoping I've just detached an earth or something, but has anyone
>> else had this problem and can guide me to an obvious problem as I need
>> to get it sorted (at least the lights) before I go down to Malvern on
>> Sunday?
>>
>> I'm going to check the bulbs at lunch incase I've just had a huge bulb
>> failure, but I think the problem is going to be somewhere within the
>> instrument panel.
>>
>> Your help is greatly appreciated !
>>
>> Cheers,
>>
>> Gavin.
>>
>
> Sounds like the "Prince of Darkness" strikes again.
>
> Check all the ground (earth) connections. I've installed star washers to
> help alleviate these problems. Local dealer also recommended this
> procedure. They also informed me that the MKII were notorious for having
> starter difficulties that resulted in various TSB's to include star
> washers.
>
> Good Luck.
Just had a thought does the motor have those nasty Rists wiring connector
blocks they are prone to burnt contacts worth splitting them and have a look
for signs
Derek

Lee,

That was a common problem, even with the newer ones (bug eyes). After a good
jetwash mine used to switch on main beam....

No indication of this amazing failure - apart from being flashed a lot!

--
Neil