Hi All,

Strange thing happened with our light switch the other day. Turning on the park lamps to check the caravan lights, the steering column stalk switch felt a bit 'rough' but the lights worked OK. Next day, doing the same exercise, the park lights didn't come on in the first position but did when I put the headlights on. As it was a foggy morning, we left the headlights on and headed off.

A hour or so later (and thankfully after the fog had lifted) I noticed the side lights on the 'van no longer on. Turns out, the headlights were still on but the park lamps dead in all switch positions.

So, esteemed gurus of matters LR, am I up for a horrendous bill for a whole new switch assembly or is this something others have encountered before and solved? (Easily and very cheaply, he asks, hopefully...)

Thanks,
Ian

Have you checked the FUSE/S ?????? or is that too obvious?????

The extra load of the towed vehicle may have been too great a load.

I got a new switch to my door from TRS in adelaide for $120, took me 30 min to install.
Just check all fuses 1st, under dash on LHS.
Extra load of trailer lights can make all sorts of things happen, remember Lucas, anything is possible.

Hi Guys & Drs,

Thanks for your replies. Should've mentioned - yes, I did check the fuses. The left and right side park lamp circuits are run off separate fuses, so it would be unlikely for both side to fail due to blown fuses at the same time (but not impossible, due to the influences of the Prince of Darkness...).

I did a bit of fiddling with the switch yesterday arvo and it seems to have come good again, at least temporarily. Next step will be to try to get access to the mechanism without have to remove the steering wheel (and Airbag) and give it all a dose of contact cleaner.

Good to know the switch is not too expensive, thanks Big Guy. On RAVE it looks like the switch mechanism is one big assembly that includes both the lights/indicator stalk and the wiper/washer stalk. Is that what you replaced or does it break down into smaller modules? Is your Disco an airbag model?

This vehicle has towed caravans extensively over the last 200,000km so I suppose in total the switches will have been carrying a bit more current on average for a long time and I shouldn't complain too much if they are wearing out after only 13 years and 300K+ km.

Thanks again for your help.
Ian (and "Daphne" Discovery)

To be precise, it was for a 93RRC, had no airbags and was a single unit.
That does not mean the Disco is same but TRS had a box full and plenty more in their paddocks.

I have a similar problem in my Disco,, bought a whole unit, second hand, but I have to remove the wheel to do it. Was going to try and just replace the one light switch component, but there's no way I can really get in there,,, the screws are tiny
So I removed the airbag, but then couldn't get the wheel off,,,so make sure you've got a pulled of some description handy,,
I'll try again on the weekend,, and will take some pics if I can,,

The auto sparky replaced mine and he managed to do it without taking off the steering wheel

I avoided the no tail lights issue by using the headlights and turning on the rear fog lights,

Cheers Charlie

__________________
'51 S1 80"
'59 S2 88" CR
'66 S2A 109" GS
'79 S3 109" Ute
'96 Disco V8
REMLR Member 217

Chops, proven steering wheel removal method....


Remove airbag and put it somewhere safe where it oughtn't fire/deploy!
Loosen steering column nut (19mm?) about two turns.
Then go mad on the steering wheel rim like Fred Flintstone banging on his front door - all the way around it. Use loosely clenched fist, hitting the wheel with the heel of the balled fist - hard. The wheel will break away from the spline. Remove the nut/washer after marking the relative position of wheel and column.

Do your bit on the switchgear, then replace the wheel, tighten the nut and replace the airbag.

Easy peazy.

Cheers and hth.

Pete

__________________
Roger, 93 RR Vogue SE
Delilah, 03 TD5 D2a auto

Thanks all, for the info and advice. Finally got around to removing the steering column covers and giving the switch mechanisms a good dose of "switch contact cleaner and lube". The action is much smoother again and it seems to be working reliably, so I'll leave it alone for now.

I also know now where I can get a replacement switch assembly if I need it and have the info I need to fit it, thanks AULRO-ers.

Happy Travels,
Ian ( Daphne says thanks, too!)