Disco 1 300tdi weird electrical problem

Hi all, i have a problem with my 300tdi electrics
I recently swapped out the the dash as mine was split, broken and generally s@&t along with the rest of the interior so that has all been stripped out
I’ve also changed the starter motor as mine was sticking on
After putting the dash back together it will not turn over or start, i have no indicators, lights, hazards, wipers or radio
I have an oil and battery light on the dash but thats it, also noticed that without the key in the ignition if i try to flash the headlights the oil and battery light flash on the dash
I’ve checked all fuses inside the cabin and in the engine bay, changed relays etc but am at a total loss, i suspect it could be the alarm messing about, but am guessing really, it is a land rover alarm
Any help greatly appreciated as it’s driving me mad

Have you missed an earth connection somewhere?

J

Not that i can tell easily, i have checked as best i can but am losing daylight now so will try checking again tomorrow

goreden said:

without the key in the ignition if i try to flash the headlights the oil and battery light flash on the dash

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This is an earth fault. Either one is missing, or there is an extra caused by damage - trapping wires when installing the dash etc.

A wander lead with a croc clip one end, and a DMM probe on the other, long enough to reach round the car is a marvellous way of finding missing earths IMO, for very little outlay...

Good luck with it, sadly I'm fully aware of the proclivities of LR electrical stuff - 'specially when the prince of darkness is involved ...

Disco1BFG said:

This is an earth fault. Either one is missing, or there is an extra caused by damage - trapping wires when installing the dash etc.

A wander lead with a croc clip one end, and a DMM probe on the other, long enough to reach round the car is a marvellous way of finding missing earths IMO, for very little outlay...

Good luck with it, sadly I'm fully aware of the proclivities of LR electrical stuff - 'specially when the prince of darkness is involved ...

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Cheers fella, will investigate further tomorrow
It’s just that i’m s@&t with electrical stuff

goreden said:

Cheers fella, will investigate further tomorrow
It’s just that i’m s@&t with electrical stuff

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Welcome to the club!

goreden said:

Cheers fella, will investigate further tomorrow
It’s just that i’m s@&t with electrical stuff

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I understand AC stuff pretty well, but DC, 'specially in 90's rovers is strange to my mind ; -ve switching and other such weirdness was out of my comfort zone... The diags in RAVE, and the ETM are good when they "click" in your head - but more or less gibberish until they do.... Stick with it, you'll get there..

Also, watch some South Main Auto Repair vids on the tube - the guy is a complete master of electrical trouble shooting, and explaining it too

IGNORE DO

Problem solved, the little bracket that holds the negative battery lead to the body had broken hence the lack of an earth
Can’t believe something so simple could create so many electrical problems and i didn’t check that first, but at least it’s fixed now

goreden said:

Problem solved, the little bracket that holds the negative battery lead to the body had broken hence the lack of an earth
Can’t believe something so simple could create so many electrical problems and i didn’t check that first, but at least it’s fixed now

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Glad you found it Even better, you put the fix on here

IMO, it's worth adding an extra earth cable ....

marjon said:

Have you missed an earth connection somewhere?

J

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Well spotted that man!!!!!

Stanleysteamer said:

Well spotted that man!!!!!

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Indeed well spotted, i wish I knew what i was talking about, like you guys