1999 Defender TD5 Extreme Electrical Problems

[HowardSmall]

Yesterday, while driving, the fuel gauge, temperature gauge and speedo stopped working. I cannot find a fuse for this and have checked the connections to the instruments and am stumped as to the cause.

Then, today, to make matters worse, I turned on the hazard switch to hear a loud buzzing noise that stopped after some seconds. Since then there are no hazard or turn light. I am guessing a relay has died but can't find which one.

Can someone please point me in the right direction?

Thanks

Howard

[Dorian]

Hi Howard,
Have not had this problem in my defender (yet), but this sounds similar to the problems I had in my D2, ended up being dirty earthing bars.
Given you have multiple problems, I'd be checking / cleaning your earthing points.
Apologies but I wouldn't know where to look for theses point in your vechicle.

Cheers Glen

[shack]

Yesterday, while driving, the fuel gauge, temperature gauge and speedo stopped working. I cannot find a fuse for this and have checked the connections to the instruments and am stumped as to the cause.

Then, today, to make matters worse, I turned on the hazard switch to hear a loud buzzing noise that stopped after some seconds. Since then there are no hazard or turn light. I am guessing a relay has died but can't find which one.

Can someone please point me in the right direction?

Thanks

HowardI'd second the earthing comment,
the first ones to check will be on the firewall behind the coolant tank, then in the ecu box at the bottom. There is also a strap that goes from the chassis to the cab near the starter motor, then one on the left chassis rail that runs to the back of the motor/bellhousing.
There is also a separate earth for the fuel gauge sender back near the fuel tank, but it's hard to get too.

The one on the left chassis rail usually let's go on the midway crimp as it's a very poor design.

But it's probably one of the first two I mentioned.

Cheers
James

[HowardSmall]

Thanks Guys. Turned out the instrument problem was the fuse. Annoying part is that I removed EVERY fuse and tested them with a multimeter and it did not identify any as faulty. And the service manual I have showed fuse 15 as the relevant one but the fuse block cover showed this is a headlight fuse (which pulling it proved it is).

The flasher problem was a combination of hazard switch and flasher unit.