Odd Electrical Problem !

**deeflet** · 11th October 2009, 08:58 PM

Greetings

I have a 1995 Discovery that has/is slowly developing some weird electrical problems.

I started noticing an intermittent 'blip' in my headlights when I touched the brake pedal. This now shows up with both the headlights and speedo dipping.

The problem also occasionally shows itself via the radio. You can be listening at moderate volume to a piece of music but if you turn up the volume, particularly when something a little more gutsy (bass/drums etc) comes along, the radio will turn itself off and then back on again a few seconds later.

Sometimes you can make the radio do the same thing (off/on) by operating one of the windows whilst it is on, or even by opening a door (and hence turning on the internal light).

I know all of this is a bit strange, but the most frustrating part is my inability to replicate the problem reliably. I had the vehicle at an auto electrician recently for a brake switch issue but could not demonstrate any of the above.

Any thoughts/observations would be much appreciated.

Regards - David

mike 90 RR · 11th October 2009, 11:30 PM

I'ld check all the earth straps // undo the bolt, clean it, then redo up ... You could always add one from the body directly to the negative side

Mike

**Wello** · 12th October 2009, 06:45 AM

As above, check earth straps to the engine and body.

I found out mine wasn't tightened up properly after an electrical fault caused my handbrake cable to be the earth point and arc'd out, causing a small but smelly flash fire under my center console. It also caused the cable to weld in place, which is not real handy for taking the handbrake off as my driveway is steep.

**German Grüner** · 13th October 2009, 01:23 PM

David,
I think it is the ground contact from the dash. There are a couple of black cables (the ground cables from each dash part) that come together to a connection box in the lower side panel from driver´s side. This box directs all connections to a screw/nut ground fixing. As it is a common problem I made a special "tech tip" in my local club forum. May be helpful if You look the images (taking in mind that our Discos are LHD).
landroverclub.com.ar :: Ver tema - Disco1- Problemas de masa del tablero

The most common is, if You undo and redo the connections, the trouble disapears. (10 minutes!)
The worse contact problems are inside this white box connector. Dont forget to unconnect it, please.

Regards

**deeflet** · 28th October 2009, 10:06 PM

Thanks guys!

For the benefit of others who may me reading this thread, the answer turned out to be the earth strap.

I disconnected it from its two earthing points. The one closest to the front R/H wheel is a little difficult to get out. I then cleaned the tabs with emery cloth as well as cleaning up around the attachment points. I then reconnected the strap - but found a more convenient location for the end that had been down near the wheel - and the problem seems to have been rectified.

A well spent 15 or 20 minutes (plus all the other stuffing around in the preceding few weeks!!!).

**thrower78** · 3rd January 2010, 06:33 PM

Hi all,
I am having the same issue or simillar, I have just installed a new sterio all works as it should and all wiring and earthing of the sterio and amps is all good. But when I open the doors or turn on the internal light it all turns off and turns back on as soon as I close the doors.

Where do I find these earth straps you talk of?? are they in the engine bay? in the cab under dash? Does anyone have some pics? Or is it just the cable going from the negative side of the battery?

Thanks this sound like what the problem is

Andrew

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