charlieworth Posted February 3, 2018 Share Posted February 3, 2018 Hi, recently bought a 1995 defender with a 300 TDi engine. It does have some electrical problems though, as follows. It has a push button start, which the previous owner said was an Immobilier, so when you turn the key you then have to press this button to start it. Works ok though but I have no lights at all in the ignition, no main beam or indicators and no wipers or radio. The side lights work as does the heater and the horn. The previous owner said it all worked fine but thinks the alternator is faulty, does this sound right. I have ordered a few relays just to check this and will try them soon but could it be the alternator? Any advice greatly appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
western Posted February 3, 2018 Share Posted February 3, 2018 Go through the fuse box & ensure each fuse is intact [replace as required] & test that each fuse holder has 12v feed in & is allowing the power to go out to each circuit, a test bulb with 2 wires soldered on & probes or croc clips should so if there is 12v across each set of terminals. as for the ignition on a push button sounds like the previous owner has bypassed the immobiliser system. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlieworth Posted February 4, 2018 Author Share Posted February 4, 2018 So I have checked power at the fuse box and I am not getting 12v to the fuses that control my lights, indicators, wipers. Any pointers as to where I go next? Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
western Posted February 4, 2018 Share Posted February 4, 2018 there are some large fuses in engine bay near the heater unit IIRC check those as well, sounds like 1 or more have 'popped their clogs' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neil110 Posted February 4, 2018 Share Posted February 4, 2018 The big fuse box, correction, the box with the big fuses in it, is just below/behind the air filter on a 300, looks like a black box, about the same size as a couple of cigarette packets Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlieworth Posted February 4, 2018 Author Share Posted February 4, 2018 I have just changed the 3 large fuses (60amp x 2 and 30amp x 1)in the fuse box in the engine bay, even though they looked ok, that’s not the problem as no different, I have also checked them for 12v supply and they are all ok. As I said in my initial post someone had said the alternator, could this be right? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cackshifter Posted February 4, 2018 Share Posted February 4, 2018 I can't see how the alternator wouldn't affect everything. There are some junctions on the bulkhead under the air filter, they might benefit from inspection, but best way is to pick something like the headlights and track it through, so try taking off the steering column shroud and see if you have power in and out the light switch, then the dipswitch, then the fuses and so on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mutley Posted February 4, 2018 Share Posted February 4, 2018 I think you will find that the alternator puts charge/power back into the battery.....The battery puts power to the electrical equipment via the fuse. Usually!?! As yours is a push button start do any other wires come off this? If so might be worth tracing them and check connections are ok plus check your earth, this is often a missed simple fix. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve b Posted February 4, 2018 Share Posted February 4, 2018 The live to the ignition controlled fuses comes through the ign. module at the other end of the key so it could be module failure or the wire has come off , it's a bit odd that the FIP solenoid is live as that is ign. controlled too , obviously. cheers Steve b Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlieworth Posted February 4, 2018 Author Share Posted February 4, 2018 Have ordered a new relay, the pink one that sits behind the steering column in the hope it’s that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
western Posted February 4, 2018 Share Posted February 4, 2018 Pink relay is for dim dip headlights, if yours is dead it won't give you normal dipped headlight, you can disable dim dip by making/fitting a jumper wire to the relay socket to connect the 2 blue/red wires together. it won't affect any other circuit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlieworth Posted February 9, 2018 Author Share Posted February 9, 2018 As an update, with some progress. Found out the car had an Immobilier fitted on a start button, the button wired direct to the starter solenoid and battery. Car started every time, vesy easily but could not solve the electrical problems I had, so I decided to remove the Immobilier and put the connections on the ignition barrel back to standard. The good news is that the electrical problems are solved, the bad news is that the car now won’t start using the key, it turns over but won’t fire up, whereas previously you turned the key and pressed the button and it burst into life. I removed the Immobilier and all wiring but could there still be something stopping the car from starting or what else could it be if it now only turns over but previously worked fine? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peaklander Posted February 10, 2018 Share Posted February 10, 2018 (edited) Check that you have re-connected the fuel cut-off solenoid. This is located on the fuel injection pump and is a single wire connected to an ignition controlled supply (white wire I think) off the ignition switch. Edit: I should add that if your vehicle has an alarm / immobiliser then it's a little more complex and the solenoid isn't fed directly but from the immobiliser system. You could eliminate this to test by temporarily wiring direct to it. Edited February 10, 2018 by Peaklander Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlieworth Posted February 10, 2018 Author Share Posted February 10, 2018 It was indeed a disconnected fuel cut off solenoid. Making progress, car runs, indicators, wipers and radio all working again, last problem is no main beam. Side lights ok, high beam ok, all fuses and relays ok? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bowie69 Posted February 10, 2018 Share Posted February 10, 2018 Headlight stalk most likely, they melt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mutley Posted February 10, 2018 Share Posted February 10, 2018 Ah you'll soon be able to drive it and brake it properly!....... Then there will be times it will brake for no rhyme or reason, spring leaks, whipers come on when you change gear, door wont shut and so on and on it goes!!! Oh the joys of owning a Land Rover! 🤣🤣 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlieworth Posted February 10, 2018 Author Share Posted February 10, 2018 Yes one problem remaining, using the headlight stalk the side lights come on first but then no main beam? Is it time for a new switch? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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