Turn key to start car... Wipers came on when applying brake pedal... Locked in park.... Also Both front and rear Wipers come on when you turn on light switch...... Brake lights work?

Was able to get out of park and into neutral by by pulling the wiper stalk back to activate washer fluid? Car starts and does run fine.

Ignition barrel kinda sloppy lose... could this be some kinda steering column ground fault/short?

Thanks... John

1997 Land Rover Discovery
185,000 miles. All Stock No Mods.

 

The most common issue is water behind dash or either side kick panels, lots of relays to get wet. Check grounds too, make sure they're not corroded which makes for grounds looking for other paths wet or dry.

 

The battery to frame ground looks good. Are there others? Was thinking stop light switch but the light switch activating the wipers is weird.

Have a Tuesday appointment with the"Stealer"

Have managed to keep it out of there for a decade but this one has me stumped.

Any more thoughts?

 

There are lots of ground points all over the vehicle, one I had trouble with is back by the rear tail lights on the drivers side. I believe another is behind the dash, or maybe it was by the drivers door kick panel...I start getting my cars mixed up sometimes.

 

There is a ground terminal behind both kick panels and on either side of the dash supports at the tunnel. There are a few more in even tighter spots up under the dash and a couple at the mid and backside of the trans hump. The kick panels take maybe a minute to remove..... easy check for busted ground studs, water ingress and smoked relays.

 

Took it in to Dealer. They found 3 grounding cluster points way up under dash that were rotten out and corroded. Total for repair $525 Parts and labor. Not to bad as Rover Repair can go. Thanks to all for your help.

John

 

As long as another Rover was saved it's all good. Enjoy!

 

I'd take a look at why they were so corroded to begin with. You may wind up back at the same point otherwise. Any leaks in the windshield seal? Or clogs in the sun-roof drain lines? etc.