↓ Advertise on Defender2 ↓

Home > Technical > TD5 Instrument backlighting
Post Reply  Down to end
Page 1 of 1
Print this entire topic · 
NorTD5



Member Since: 07 Nov 2013
Location: Kristiansand
Posts: 26

Norway 2000 Defender 110 Td5 CSW Rioja Red
TD5 Instrument backlighting
I am sure that I have read about this on here before, but a search has not turned up anything obvious...

My 110 TD5 has had no backlights on the instrument binnacle (speedo, clock, temp, fuel and heater controls) since I bought it. After checking fuses etc I took out the bulbs and found they were all blown (well five were obviously blown and I assumed the other visible one was the same. Replaced bulbs, switched on and nothing - not even a flicker. I have read on a forum about problems with the main light switch, and wondered if anyone could advise me on how to check whether it is working. Apart, of course, from the obvious. In Norway all cars are required to have headlights on all the time, so the lights are wired to come on when the engine is on. The switch works well enough that high beam will only come on when the main switch is on headlight position - high beam does not work when the switch is on side or off. All lights are working as they should apart from the rear fog, which I have not investigated yet (bloody cold outside at the moment!)

Any help regarding the switch or other possible causes would be much appreciated...

Mark
Post #288677 8th Dec 2013 6:39pm
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
NorTD5



Member Since: 07 Nov 2013
Location: Kristiansand
Posts: 26

Norway 2000 Defender 110 Td5 CSW Rioja Red
An update to this - I have not actually done anything about it, but after a heavy snowfall and a couple of short trips, the car had warmed enough to melt the snow. Then the three amigos (Park brake, TC and ABS lights) came on, I went over a bump and they switched off and the backlights came on for a moment.
Another bump and all was back to normal, so methinks that I need to get out there, sometime when the weather is better, and look at my earth connections... For now, I have just sprayed silicon on the earth connector and hope it does not get any worse.

Mark

PS. On the bright side, the snowy conditions meant I could check the ABS and TC, and both were working, even when the fault lights were on. An earth fault may be a pain to locate, but it is a damn sight cheaper than ABS problems! Very Happy
Post #299843 18th Jan 2014 8:57am
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
geobloke



Member Since: 06 Nov 2012
Location: Nottinghamshire
Posts: 4410

United Kingdom 
I read the title of this thread and thought bulbs straight off, mostly because until May of last year I had no idea that the heater and fan speed panels on a TD5 illuminate... Rolling Eyes You can forgive me as I came from a 200tdi 90 and they didn't, so I did not know to look for them... Or at least that is my excuse and I am sticking to it. Whistle

Anyway I lost all of the bulbs behind the dash in the space of 2 days driving in the Pyrenees and with all the blooming tunnels down there not having dash lights is frustrating to say the least.

I am afraid the only advice I can give is to check every bulb, fuse and earth you can lay you hands on. It'll be some weird TD5 quirk...
Post #299864 18th Jan 2014 10:07am
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
aus10RRW



Member Since: 19 Oct 2013
Location: Aberdeenshire
Posts: 20

United Kingdom 2014 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Santorini Black
I had a very similar problem, the indy garage I use traced the fault to a faulty wire, that runs from a multi plug at the fuse box, up to the dash. They ran a new wire(with inline fuse) and its all good now.
The garage also said that the wires run from the multi plug, in behind the bulkhead and up to the dash and they are prone to breaking?!
Not sure if this helps but it might be a pl;ace to start looking.
Post #300155 19th Jan 2014 12:50am
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
NorTD5



Member Since: 07 Nov 2013
Location: Kristiansand
Posts: 26

Norway 2000 Defender 110 Td5 CSW Rioja Red
Thanks to you both for the tips - there is heavy snow outside at the moment, but I think I can borrow a friend's heated workshop next Saturday, so I will start investigating then...
Post #300283 19th Jan 2014 2:13pm
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
NorTD5



Member Since: 07 Nov 2013
Location: Kristiansand
Posts: 26

Norway 2000 Defender 110 Td5 CSW Rioja Red
A big snow melt over the weekend added to the mystery of this one, as sometimes the backlights came on, but the fan did not work, sometimes the fan worked , but the windscreen wipers would only work when the fan was on full, sometimes the three brake lights appeared and other times not etc. As the car has dried out again, it is all going back to normal.

Obviously a wiring problem, but sadly for me, not one that is easily visible... The snow has been replaced by freezing rain and my friend with the workshop was having his monthly bender when we were supposed to be in there, so I am hoping for a break in the rain this weekend! Surprised
Post #305636 6th Feb 2014 4:25pm
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
MadTom



Member Since: 10 Sep 2013
Location: Olomouc
Posts: 616

Czech Republic 1999 Defender 130 Td5 HCPU Baltic Blue
One month ago I have repaired wiring loom behind the dash of my 130 TD5 MY2000. Main problem was in headers located above fuse box- multiplugs used for connection of more than 2 wires. They have tiny contacts inside, some of them were coroded, some already burnt and plastic body of the header melted. I have removed the headers and just direct soldered the wires a heatshinked. Another problem was in realy sockets below the dash 2 of the 5 sockets had burnt contacts. So again replacement with new sockets.
After that disapeared some problems - not workin both dip and head lamps and not workind fuel pump.
The work was easy - the dash was completely out of the car, because of repairing some rust on bulkhead. "Drobek" = The Small One - Discovery 2, "Blufínek" = The Blue Thing - Defender 130, and for me at least Ford Mondeo Smile
Post #305660 6th Feb 2014 6:05pm
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
NorTD5



Member Since: 07 Nov 2013
Location: Kristiansand
Posts: 26

Norway 2000 Defender 110 Td5 CSW Rioja Red
Dekuji vam MadTom. Very Happy

It sounds like that little loom from the fusebox to the dash has caused a few problems so I will have a proper look through there when the weather is at least half way decent. How is the off roading down in Moravia? I spent a few years in Prague back in the 1990s, but was sadly lacking a Land Rover to explore with. Still had some wonderful times in some great countryside though, and would love to come back through in a Defender sometime!

Cheers,

Mark
Post #305688 6th Feb 2014 7:16pm
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
MadTom



Member Since: 10 Sep 2013
Location: Olomouc
Posts: 616

Czech Republic 1999 Defender 130 Td5 HCPU Baltic Blue
Offroading here is still possible, especially on some of our highways. Evil or Very Mad And if you are interested in historical city, you can go for sure to Prague, or to my home city Olomouc. It is not so big, so you will need only your own legs to walk through, but also very nice.
For me offroaging is a nice way, how I can go out with my family. 2 years ago we spent some weeks in Monte Negro and Albania. It was very nice, and sometimes locals very a bit surprised, where we came from with 2 small (1 and 4 yeas old) children. Very Happy
Here are some pictures:
http://ok2mtm.rajce.idnes.cz/

And because Discovery2 asi a bit small for us, I'm rebuilding Defender 130 HCPU to a station wagon. "Drobek" = The Small One - Discovery 2, "Blufínek" = The Blue Thing - Defender 130, and for me at least Ford Mondeo Smile
Post #305693 6th Feb 2014 7:28pm
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
NorTD5



Member Since: 07 Nov 2013
Location: Kristiansand
Posts: 26

Norway 2000 Defender 110 Td5 CSW Rioja Red
So I started poking around behind the dashboard, into the fusebox and under the car today. I have cleaned all the earths on the bulkhead, but noticed that disconnecting those did not stop the clock - are the dash instruments earthed somewhere else on the TD5?

I will clean up the ECU earth tomorrow, although it looks fine, but am also going to call in some expert help. The last car I had a good poke around the electrics of was a series three, which was much more manageable. Opening up behind the dash revealed what looked like thousands of wires, with all of the normal ones, plus the extra bits to keep headlights always on, and for the Webasto and the winch. I also found a few wires that were not connected to anything Question and that two white wires coming off the ignition switch had melted the plastic of their terminals Big Cry . I cleaned and tightened the connections on the latter, but am admitting defeat for a DIY fix for the backlights and the other gremlins. A colleague has passed on the number of someone in the local offroad club, so I am going to use him to try and track down a decent auto electrician...

I will let everyone know when it's sorted and thanks fro your help!

Mark
Post #306338 8th Feb 2014 8:35pm
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Post Reply
Post Reply  Back to top
Page 1 of 1
All times are GMT

Jump to  
Previous Topic | Next Topic >
Posting Rules
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum



Site Copyright © 2006-2024 Futuranet Ltd & Martin Lewis
DEFENDER2.NET RSS Feed - All Forums