Freelander 1 - location of R217 reverse relay

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B Shirriffs

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2
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Moray
Hi, the reversing lights on my 2002 GS won't come on. Have checked bulbs, fuses, switch on gearbox. The secondary symptom is no rear wiper when reverse is engaged (works fine on my other hippos) Next thing to check is R217 - the reverse relay. My problem is that it is not located in any of the fuse/relay clusters - does anyone know where R217 is located on a freelander 1? - thanks in advance, Brian
 
Hi, the reversing lights on my 2002 GS won't come on. Have checked bulbs, fuses, switch on gearbox. The secondary symptom is no rear wiper when reverse is engaged (works fine on my other hippos) Next thing to check is R217 - the reverse relay. My problem is that it is not located in any of the fuse/relay clusters - does anyone know where R217 is located on a freelander 1? - thanks in advance, Brian

Welcome to lz! :)

Try a search in the freelander section, most common problems will have been covered.
If not, try posting a fred about it in there.
 
Hi, the reversing lights on my 2002 GS won't come on. Have checked bulbs, fuses, switch on gearbox. The secondary symptom is no rear wiper when reverse is engaged (works fine on my other hippos) Next thing to check is R217 - the reverse relay. My problem is that it is not located in any of the fuse/relay clusters - does anyone know where R217 is located on a freelander 1? - thanks in advance, Brian
Hi Brian - I 'think' it is located behind the R/H side rear inner plastic panel. (drivers side UK)This panel is held on by turn buckle type t shaped jobbies, the back door seal and back sill panel (6 torx), the right had rear door seal and a single slide button. - you can basically remove all the bits and 'yank it out' (that is a technical term lol :))
Behind there - you will see 3 relays on the rh rear wheel arch - plus all the rear loom parts - a huge possibility is the multiplug distribution cover - you will see this quite easily - it is a header socket of about 20 pins (not sure exactly as I didn't count them) - it hangs loose (man ;)) - on this socket is a blanked plug in male cover (with no wires attached)- this has a distribution bus bar inside. Unplug this and check for corrosion !.. I literally had a rear reverse light issue a few days ago - this was the cause !!! - I am sure the wiper power comes through the same block.
There are also (as said the three relays on the arch) - and then three plug / socket units at the very rear near the door hinge - these can be disconnected and cleaned.
Your realy - I would expect - is one of the three on the wheel arch - your issue - is probably the 20 way socket with what looks like a blanking cover - but the cover is a distribution bus !
I think the rev lights are brown green iirc - and at one end of the socket and cover -
All the goodies are behind there though.
My issue was no high level brake light and no reverse - cleaned the header cover from the 20 way socket (may be 18 or 222 or similar - but many wires and about 2" long) and job sorted.
Hope yours is as simple.
A test light works better here than a multimeter - the MM can show 12V or B+ and still no light - as the connection is cr&p - the test light will simply drop out when the rev is applied .
Hope that helps - I should have taken piccies but was in a rush for the IPO (MOT)
Joe ;)
 
I went for the brembos a few weeks ago as well. Sort of a fabric backing to them so i didnt bother with copper grease on the back. After 2 years of squealy brakes they are finally silent and work very well!! Very happy.
 
I went for the brembos a few weeks ago as well. Sort of a fabric backing to them so i didnt bother with copper grease on the back. After 2 years of squealy brakes they are finally silent and work very well!! Very happy.
Hi Kris, where did they fit on the reversing lights ? :eek:
Might be wrong thread ...:D
They would look attractive though
 
Hi, the reversing lights on my 2002 GS won't come on. Have checked bulbs, fuses, switch on gearbox. The secondary symptom is no rear wiper when reverse is engaged (works fine on my other hippos) Next thing to check is R217 - the reverse relay. My problem is that it is not located in any of the fuse/relay clusters - does anyone know where R217 is located on a freelander 1? - thanks in advance, Brian
If your car is a manual, then there is no reversing light relay :) The relay is only used on the automatic variants. If found fitted, it is in the fuse box compartment on the right hand side, as a pair. The other relays are mounted to the lower edge of the fuseboard and aren't relevant.

F2 is the common fuse for both reverse and brakes. If you have brake lights, it is not the fuse.

The commonest two causes are, I'd imagine based on my experience, a failed switch and corroded bullet connectors between the switch and the main wiring harness. Both can be checked with a multimeter using the continuity mode :)

On my 2001 FL1, I had to replace both the switch AND clean the bullet connectors, but all works well now :)
 
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