Defender - Dash lights & gauges

[VladTepes]

A couple of questions - the battery gauge (charge indicator ?) has condensation in it - should I care ?

The illumination of the dash instruments is sh*thouse. Has anyone come up with a 'fix' for this or replaced standard instruments with aftermarket ones ?

[lewy110]

Mine does that. Must be a landrover design feature.

I agree about the lights at night, I cant even read the trip meter.

[VladTepes]

Yeah the trip meter is the main issue for me, too. But a brighter speedo would also be nice.

The patheticness (I doubt if that's a word ! ) of Defender dash lights is obvious after sitting in any modernish 4wd from another manufacturer - eg my mate's 97 Jackaroo. This really shouldn't have been that hard for LR to do right. Why didn't they use Disco instruments? (I asssume these are fine ? ).

[Phoenix]

Don't know how the 110 or defender dash works, but in the series three, the illumination is just from a little light globe, like in a torch.
I had to replace a blown one, and it is 200% brighter than the old one, a huge improvement.

[Defender200Tdi]

The problem with the Defenders is the wiring can't cope with any extra current draw, so fitting higher wattage globes is out. The poms seem to be solving this problem with LEDs to replace the globes. The results I've seen on other forums (fora?) look pretty good, but I don't know where to get the right LEDs in Australia. Maybe getting them sent out from the UK wouldn't be that expensive??

www.ultraleds.co.uk (http://www.ultraleds.co.uk)

The 501s are apparently the correct fit for Defender dash lights, and can be had in various configuration - either single or multiple LEDs.


Paul style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif

[VladTepes]

So how many would you need to get ?
Wide angle or standard type ?
Simple replacement of existing bulb/s or is more required ?

I know nothing about this auto leccy stuff, as you have gathered :oops:

[Defender200Tdi]

There's a fairly good discussion about this here (http://www.lrenthusiastforum.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=UBB7&Number=221362&page=&view=&sb=&o=&vc=1) Vlad. Maybe if we could find enough interested people, we could do a bit of a bulk order to save on the freight costs from the UK?


Paul style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif

[Larns]

Try what Phoenix suggested first, it's quite common for the 110 dash bulbs to blow an be left with only one or two to illuminate the whole dash.
If that's not the problem Paul's onto the goods with the LED idea, I have seen them in Auto 1, they had quite a selection. you could also try Autobarn, as they tend to stock all that LED crap that people litter their car with.
Let us know how you go.

Cheers Larns

[VladTepes]

Since it also concerns the dash gaugues topic - I thought I'd link in this thread too - concerning adding a tacho on a Tdi Defender.

http://www.aulro.com/modules.php?name=Foru...ighlight=gauges (http://www.aulro.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=904&highlight=gauges)

I am still on the lookout for a tripmeter thingy (like the rally guys use - but not that expensive) which has the two meters. One for total trip distance and one for 'stage' distance. Anyone help me with this?

Alternatively I am looking for a replacement speedo for my Tdi Defender, preferably one with odometer and trip-meter.

What are the legalities of replacing an odometer ? Given that it won't show the true distance travelled, can it be wound forward ?

I can't find the VDO Australia website - anyone ?

[landrovermick]

Hey vlad this site looks ok. It appears VDO has been sold but this site has links to the products in the VDO range

http://www.continentalimports.com/vdo_line.html

Mick

[LandyAndy]

Hi Vlad
My Bro recently fitted a VDO electronic speedo to his 2A.Exact fit for a series,so if a Defender has the same dia speedo a direct fit.Has digital odometer numbers,2 trip meters(I think) and analouge needle.Easy to calibrate regardles of tyres or diff ratio,to calibrate push a button drive 1km push the button again,real handy if you have a larger set of off road only play tyres.Works off magnets on tailshaft or wherever you want to fit them (diff,wheel etc)
Cost him $350 all up.
Landyandy

[rar110]

Vlad,

call SGESCO Instruments at Archerfield. I've found them to have good prices on VDO guages.

RAR110

[VladTepes]

Thanks :!:

Now - where did I put my wallet ?

Oh, here 'tis...

What the ? It's empty style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif

[Redbak]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'>The poms seem to be solving this problem with LEDs to replace the globes. The results I've seen on other forums (fora?) look pretty good, but I don't know where to get the right LEDs in Australia. Maybe getting them sent out from the UK wouldn't be that expensive?? [/b][/quote]

LED's only take about 1.5/2 volts and minute milliamps to fire them up,
so a 12V transformer would be required. You would have to add up the
total current required for X number of LED's to source the transformer.
Or in theory you could just wire up 8 LED's in series and connect direct to 12V.
Not sure how you go with pos/neg as they are after all, diodes.

Davo

[LandyAndy]

Hi Davo
You are correct in regards the voltage of LEDs,but a little off track with the 12 transformer.Resistors are used,and all are different,they have coloured bands to rate them,see your local Dicksmith shop,you need to bring the voltage down from 13.8volts.
They go on the positive leg(the longer of the 2).
No Im not a electronics geek,my missus used to be in the circuit board industry!!
Landyandy

[Scouse]

Originally posted by VladTepes
A couple of questions - the battery gauge (charge indicator ?) has condensation in it - should I care ?LR mod was to drill a vent hole at the top of the guage housing. Just be careful that you don't go drill down too far to affect the internals of the guage.
Of course, if you fit LEDs, this will also solve the problem as they run a lot cooler than normal globes (maybe no heat at all).

[Defender200Tdi]

VDO is now SiemensVDO. Their web page is here (http://www.sso.siemensvdo.com.au/html/default.asp).



Paul style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif

[Mudnut]

I seem to have the opposite problem with mine. At night all I can see is reflections from the insterments throughout the cabin, on all the flat glass. Is it possible to put a dimmer (easily) on the lighting?
Thanks,
Ken

[sclarke]

Originally posted by LandyAndy
Hi Davo
You are correct in regards the voltage of LEDs,but a little off track with the 12 transformer.Resistors are used,and all are different,they have coloured bands to rate them,see your local Dicksmith shop,you need to bring the voltage down from 13.8volts.
They go on the positive leg(the longer of the 2).
No Im not a electronics geek,my missus used to be in the circuit board industry!!
Landyandy

Close.....

LED's are interesting devices.... they can handle any voltage within reason, but the thing they cant handle is current.
They are designed with a mA rating on them (milliamp) most are around 30mA so what you need to do is what landyAndy said. Put a resistor inline. This can be calculated on the "OHMs Law" formula.
But Landyandy was right. Dicksmith have or had charts that told you what rating resistor you need.....

http://www.dse.com.au/cgi-bin/dse.fileread...logs/SUP1000051 (http://www.dse.com.au/cgi-bin/dse.filereader?43a8bce8030ddc562742c0a87f9c0726+EN/catalogs/SUP1000051)

and for the LED formula.

http://www.dse.com.au/cgi-bin/dse.fileread...logs/SUP1000058 (http://www.dse.com.au/cgi-bin/dse.filereader?43a8bce8030ddc562742c0a87f9c0726+EN/catalogs/SUP1000058)

Hope that helps......

[Defender200Tdi]

I fitted leds to mine some time ago. One of the best mods I ever did.

http://www.aulro.com/albums/album37/P7100038_Small.jpg

http://www.aulro.com/albums/album37/P7100039_Small.jpg


Paul https://www.aulro.com/afvb/

[rick130]

now that is purrdy Paul.
In fact it's downright sexy.

Maybe I should visit Jaycar when next in the big smoke.

[CraigE]

Try this link
http://www.ledshoponline.com/index.html
I bought some festoon leds when I put in the overhead console as the LR wiring will not power more than the 2 standard globes. Benefit of lower power draw and a lot cooler. The standard 5w festoons got really hot, really quick. Downside is cost. This site has all the globes you will need.

[JDNSW]

Originally posted by rick130
now that is purrdy Paul.
In fact it's downright sexy.

Maybe I should visit Jaycar when next in the big smoke.

Try www.jaycar.com.au - no real need to visit the big smoke.

[VladTepes]

Originally posted by Defender200Tdi
I fitted leds to mine some time ago. One of the best mods I ever did. Paul https://www.aulro.com/afvb/

Very nice - maybe you could write it up as a step-by-step project for the stupider amongst us (amongst me!).


Also perhaps someone electrically minded could do a 'how to use a multimeter' tech story.

[JamesH]

Very impressed with Paul's set up. Like the way he has an amp meter where the clock used to go. In the Defender I can live without the tacho and turbo boost gauge (OK, Ive heard this is useful) but do like to see charge rates and oil pressure.

[sclarke]

in replaced my clock with a voltmeter also.

where the ciggy lighter is i'm going to put my boost and pyro gauge there.

[DEFENDERZOOK]

<span style="color:blue">where exactly do the volt meters actually get wired up to....?</span>

[Reads90]

Vlad
I should have shown you the other night. I have blue LED dash lights in the 90. got them because the misses thought they matched the car , and it was after i had a VW passat which has blue dash lights and we both liked them

[sclarke]

Mine just gets its 12v feed from the Aux circuit... Ie Ignition on. i found a connector that had the 12v on when the ign circuit on.
Might not be dead accurate as the voltage of the battery will be slightly higher due to loss, but its an indication.

[VladTepes]

Originally posted by Reads90
Vlad
I should have shown you the other night. I have blue LED dash lights in the 90. got them because the misses thought they matched the car , and it was after i had a VW passat which has blue dash lights and we both liked them

I saw them mate - very nice - but am more after an idea of how to go about doing it / fitting them etc.

[Defender200Tdi]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'>I saw them mate - very nice - but am more after an idea of how to go about doing it / fitting them etc.[/b][/quote]

Vlad

I cheated. I just bought them complete from one of the guys on the LR4x4.com forum. They came set up as replacement glodes, just plug n play. As easy as changing a globe, and a choice of colours.

Paul https://www.aulro.com/afvb/