1996 300tdi 110 (ROW)

As the title indicates, my fuel gauge, temp gauge, blinkers (but not hazards), and front/rear wipers all stopped working. I didn't touch anything electrical on the car -- I was simply working on the passenger (left side because this is a RHD) adding sealant. I went to turn the car and the fuel gauge, temp gauge went dead, blinkers wouldn't work, wipers stopped working.

It got very cold while I was working on the car ... about 10F, and I had the rear windscreen heater working earlier in the day when I had gone for a drive.

What do you all suspect? I'm trying to track down what fuse controls any of these but without much luck. Is it a relay? What should I check?

Thanks!

 

Fuses would be a starting point, may even have mega fuses or fuseable links to check. I'm assuming it runs and battery is in working order.

 

where do I check mega fuses and links. No idea what caused the issue other than it getting very cold.

 

You're not really giving a lot of info here. So, l'm assuming it's a 300tdi and in this diagram of engine electronics...it shows you have an engine compartment fuse box...this is where your mega -fuses and fuseable links would be. As you can see in diagram, mega fuses are normally 40 to 60 amp fuses and control feed amperage to multiple areas. So, when one blows...it takes out several components.

https://static-cdn.imageservice.clou...ng-diagram.jpg

 

Thanks. Very top of my first post lists the year/model/engine. It’s a 96’ 300tdi. Ive checked the relays, and the fuses and all seem to be in working order.

What’s odd is the manner in which these all stopped working: it all happened at once…fuel, temp, blinkers, wiper, rear wiper all stopped working at the same time and I can’t quite understand why, unless there is a master relay somewhere Im missing. I havent checked behind the instrument cluster yet because I’m hoping to avoid the hassle of opening that up.

any other tips would be greatly appreciated.

 

I believe this is your engine compartment fuse box, check for proper voltages at this area. It sounds like you've lost voltage, either by a blown fuse or worn wire or poor connection. You need to verify voltages at fuse box, that is your starying point. If you have correct voltages at engine compartment fuse box, then move towards inner compartment fuse panel, above trans tunnel and below dash. Your rear window element may be shorted and that's what blew a fuse to begin with, taking out other items with it. The heat element draws a good amount of amps...so...it can blow a 40/60 amp fuseable link easily.




​​​​You want to see at least 12 volts at the fuses, both sides. Don't just pull them out and look at them, check them with a test light.

 

thanks very much. It was a 15A fuse in the cabin that blew. For reference for anyone else in the future, this was the fourth fuse from the left, top row (if you have a RHD 300tdi).

 

Glad you found the issue. A lot of downloadable information available for defenders online. Not a bad idea to get them loaded onto your phone or tablet. Also, a repair manual comes in handy...keep one in the defender for those times when l don't have my tablet.