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Jimmyjamesj

Member Since: 31 Jul 2021
Location: Sydney
Posts: 4

2009 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 SW Santorini Black

Instrument Cluster intermittent and lose of power

2009 Defender Puma -
Intermittently instrument cluster drops to zero. Backlight remains on but display and arms drop to zero. At the same time the car loses power, not as far as limp mode, but it feels like a lack of turbo. Could last 3 seconds, could last 45 seconds. Car still drives with little power.
Windows works, Lights work, indicators work.

Seems to be more prominent earlier in a drive, and seems less prominent the longer I drive, but still happens.

Fault Code - P068A-00 - Engine Control Module/powertrain Control Module - Po wer Relay De-energized Too Early.

Have pinched and reseated all relays, checked wiring loom, checked fuses, removed Instrument cluster to ensure connection is clean.

At a bit of a loss. Does it sound like a faulty cluster? (cracked solder), or does it sound like an ECU on the way out?

I've had a good dig around the forum to see if anyone has had this similar issue but nothing combined. If someone has come across this in another thread please link

Any help appreciated. (pic because Defenders are just awesome)

12th Mar 2025 11:09am

landy andy

Member Since: 15 Feb 2009
Location: Ware, Herts
Posts: 5849

2006 Defender 110 Td5 USW Zermatt Silver

Really give the battery connections and main earth points a good check.

12th Mar 2025 11:14am

Linds Hanson

Member Since: 16 Jan 2021
Location: Cornwall
Posts: 505

Sounds like bad contact on cluster connector

12th Mar 2025 2:30pm

Esben Kold

Member Since: 14 Oct 2023
Location: Horsens
Posts: 32

2008 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 SW Galway Green

I had the same symptoms when the big multi wire connector on the back of the cluster was loose.

12th Mar 2025 3:05pm

Jimmyjamesj

Member Since: 31 Jul 2021
Location: Sydney
Posts: 4

Just to close the loop on this one...

Turnout out to be a fully instrument cluster, likely a capacitor dropping charge. replaced it with a second hand cluster and the Defender drives perfectly with no drop outs any more.

Now to figure out why the headlights aren't working

4th Apr 2025 8:33am

Ianh

Member Since: 17 Sep 2018
Location: Essex
Posts: 2230

The soldering on the 2.4 cluster is a known issue that can be fixed , several topics on here about it.

I expect your new used cluster now shows an incorrect mileage and vin number.

4th Apr 2025 4:58pm

Jimmyjamesj

Member Since: 31 Jul 2021
Location: Sydney
Posts: 4

Correct.
I did so much reading on posts here. Very helpful.
I will get the clusters cloned so they match.

4th Apr 2025 10:26pm

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