Thread: Defender Tdi dash warning lights

Don't get me started. The only alternative I see is to completely chuck the whole unit and start again with a piece of aluminium drilled for individual warning lights (from memory VDO sell them). I've been very tempted many times, but never have the time.

The amount of redundant wiring in our dashes is truly staggering. One day I'll get the time to rip the whole thing apart and do it properly.

Originally Posted by Dervish

Don't get me started. The only alternative I see is to completely chuck the whole unit and start again with a piece of aluminium drilled for individual warning lights (from memory VDO sell them). I've been very tempted many times, but never have the time.

The amount of redundant wiring in our dashes is truly staggering. One day I'll get the time to rip the whole thing apart and do it properly.

Take photos of the process for us!!

I will Top priorities will be to clear out all the needless wiring and make it so the gauge pinnacle can be removed completely by disconnecting a few electrical connectors (and the speedo cable).

I actually drew up a design to replace the whole binnacle - not just the warning lights - with aluminium in Sketchup. I'm not sold on it yet, but you can fit an extra 52mm gauge with the wasted space on extra warning lights gone.

Thank god Im not alone! I removed the binnacle and went WTF!!! Now I know 2/5ths of bugger all when it comes to electrics but that isn't right.

A mate made his own waring light unit out of aluminium and made his own little coloured lenses with symbols. I didn't see the process at the time mind you.

Id love to clear out the junk in there. Dervish, post up what you have if you can, id be very keen to see (looking at your avatar, I'm guessing you know electrics)

Now my next questions. I have attached a pic of my warning light front panel, so we are all on the same page. Where there are blank spaces there are actually symbols and bulbs in there.

Far right under the "heated rear window" symbol is another battery symbol
Middle under the "glow plug" symbol is a vertical thermometer
Top left next to the "trailer" is the "Park Brake" words
Bottom left next to "fog lights" is a picture of a engine with a lightning bolt through it.



When I turn my ignition on (position II) I get my low oil pressure light, the "parking brake" words (not the parking brake symbol??) and the "glow plug".

that is all???

When I turn the engine over (position III) the brake system check lights up and so does the little vertical thermostat. They both go out as soon as the key is returned to ignition, i.e. the engine is now running. It says in my owners manual that I should have the brake system check light coming on with ignition??? Im not getting the battery charging light either, but that could be the dodgy circuit board at this stage?

For some reason, LR have a bulb and wiring fitted to the "heated rear screen symbol" and my 110 is a truck cab (ute)! I have never seen it lit up since day one.

Until tonight I had never seen the little vertical thermometer before??

any thoughts?

looks like the little thermometer is oil temp warning light and the engine with lightning bolt through it is engine immobiliser

You are definitely not alone with the desire to upgrade the warning light system. There is a mob in the UK who sell an upgrade but from memory it was over $300 without postage
I would pay good money for the schematics and instructions to do it
Regards
Phil

Originally Posted by Phil B

You are definitely not alone with the desire to upgrade the warning light system. There is a mob in the UK who sell an upgrade but from memory it was over $300 without postage
I would pay good money for the schematics and instructions to do it
Regards
Phil

Any idea who made it or where to get it?

I can't find the site but it was on eBay UK
Phil