P38 - No dash lights, and somethings buzzing!

The dash lights will dim when you put the "outside" lights on, but I can't recall mine buzzing while they did so.

No, i mean they've gone off completely. Fascia lights and the one on the clock no existant also. I dont know if its relevant but the main beam buld has blown?

Dave

Is it the pot that allows you to increase/decrease the dash light intensity? Maybe the electronics in that are making the buzzing.

What happens if you thumb the pot from light to dark a number of times? Does the buzz lower/slow?

No Tim, unfortunately it doesnt go up or down.

The buzzing actually comes from, bizarrely, a buzzer placed on the back of the instrument pack. Its in bits as we speak! I thought / hoped that it might be the indicator stalk itself as the buzzing changes in time with the indicators when you've got them on but im thinking that because its all controlled by the BECM its not the same as old systems for 12v in / 12v out, or is it? I've got the Electric trouble shooting manual from land rover but its not alot of use as it doesnt actually say what does what i need to trace back where the feed gets to the instument pack but i have no clue! Any more ideas!?

Dave R uttered summat worrerz funny about:

Remove buzzer and wire it to some blue neon dash diodes. If it fixes it's self the proper dash lights will come on. :-)

Sorry I couldn't think of a real answer :-(

Lee

Lee_D uttered summat worrerz funny about:

Buzzers not for trailer lights is it? Like wot was on my '93 Granny Scorpio to remind you there was a trailer there.

Lee

Not a bad earth connection for the dash lights is it?

Martin

Unbelievably, my faith in Land Rover products has been temporarily restores. Its bloody fixed itself!! I spent a long two hours with the MASSIVE Land Rover Electric Troubleshooting Manual, borrowed from my local main dealer (theres a first - must have been the works car i had with me) and had the joy of taking the dash out, all to no avail. The LRETM is huge and although its great for showing the location of the ECUs (theres bloody loads!) the plugs, sockets wiring looms etc etc it only shows where the wires dissapear into the BECM and dissapear forever! I drew a blank with that and as i put it all together again everything lighted up perfectly - amazing. Its such an amazing vehicle when it works! I'll be watching closely now to see when / if it happens again, which i think it will. At least it gives me a bit of time to investigate further. You joke about wiring up an LED lighting system but I was seriously considering cutting the wire to the buzzer and wearing my head torch all the way to Welshpool on Friday! How i love my truck when it works How i want to set fire to it when it doesnt.

I will sleep soundly tonight, but not until i go and check it once more!

Thank you all for your concern!!

Dave

Dave R uttered summat worrerz funny about:

I uunderstand there are mysterious electrical fires start in many a p38 :-)

And as much as I like the look of the p38 theres one resolution that will work,

Ebay is thataway ====>

Lee D

That could be the AFL motto.

Its still working...................If nobody hears from me for a while i'll be walking somewhere on the Welshpool to Haverfordwest road. Probably with a box of matches in one hand.

I do secretly love it tho!

P.S. Just had minor stress when i came back in the car, and the headlights stayed on for a bit. Apparently they're supposed to. Im hoping that Mrs Dave forgets about my old Range Rover in the garage and lets me keep it...........

Dave

Dave R uttered summat worrerz funny about:

Nearly made an arse of myself at work reminding one of the dudes He'd left the light on on his Mini.

Is it just a BMW thang?

Lee

Golf does it - I just say 'its ok' now, they wonder what i mean, lights turn off - they run away and hide :)

I doubt it. The only BMW thing in my wagon is the engine and that turns off when I tell it to. Im getting vibes that you are not a P38 fan...............

I love the look of them really tarted up but it's experiences like your own that are making me shy away. I could be talked around no doubt but would have to be a diesel to avoid the slipped liners sleepless nights. I'm not sure going from a '97 Disco ES to a P38 would be a step forward either ... how new to they go so to speak?

It was the issue of electickery that made me shy away from a Rover 820 to my First Rangie (of my own) in 1995.... looks like times catching up with me!

Lee

It's the courtesy "get you to your front door" feature. ISTR it's something to do with the sequence when you switch everything off. Lights off, then key out, and the lights stay off. Key out, *then* lights off, and they stay on for ~ 30 seconds after you shut the door. Or something like that. Ah, these wonderful computers!