I have a sudden problem where the instrument panel illumination lights, and the rear and side tail lights and license plate lights have gone out. Brake lights, turn signals, and reverse lights working. Have no idea what went wrong-these lights were working last week. I checked under dash fuses and they are not the problem.


Also, I don't have a owners manual, so I don't know the function of a panel switch, the second down from the group of four left of the steering column, but when I engage that one, it illuminates the tail lights, but not the side lights. What is this switch which illuminates when engaged?

Is there a free owners manual download?

Thanks

 

Theres a plug in the drivers side rear just behind the wheelwell it probably has corosion in it and thats why your having problems or your light switch is going bad.


The switch on your dash is for rear fog lamps

 

Rave manual is in my signature. Free.

Check your fuses.

 

so that second switch from the top on the left side is for rear fog lights, on my Dico 96 SD, this lites the red tail lights. Has my wiring been monkeyed with? What does this switch light on your Disco? I don't think I have rear fog lights or is this a British thing?

Also the RAVE manual does not identify all of the dashboard switches, like an owners manual would...any help with that.

Also the rave does not have wiring diagrams....any help with that? specifially, does the column switch separate the front and rear running lights and the instrument light at the switch or does that occurr further down the circuit?

 

The rear fog lights are seperate bulbs in the tail light cluster, they only work with the headlights on and with the rear fog light button pressed.
It looks like a back wards facing light.
That has nothing to do with your dash lights.
There is a thumb wheel below the instrument cowl, that adjusts the brightness of the dash lights, when it goes bad it can mess with the dash lights.
The dash lights are tied into the tail lights, this is a safety device on most cars.
They assume that you will take it in to get looked at when you cannot see the dash at night.
Look into the grounds at your tail lights as well as check for corroded bulb sockets.

 

Your headlight/blinker switch and/or connection is bad. I can almost guarantee it.

Remove plastic column covers, then remove the blinker switch assembly. Check the plug from the dash harness. If you have black spots, it is shorting and killed your blinker switch. Buy a new blinker switch and either hard wire the plug, or clamp down the female end that's fouling so you don't keep burning switches.

Both my DI's did this. Initially I thought it was the switch itself so I replaced it. It failed again later down the road so I bought ANOTHER one. I accidentally caught the burned plug while tinkering and then realized that I had previously ignored the slight burning smell from the short in the plug.

I apologize if your issue is different; but, I figure twice in a row I must be on to something. Good luck!!

Justin

 

Justin, If my switch was failing would my headlights still work? I will check it today. thanks for offering some ideas!

Does anyone know what my random yellow wire is to? I can't imagine it isn't connected to this issue.

thanks
Stuart

 

Stuart,

Yes. Both times mine went out, headlights still functioned but dash lights and rear running lights would not. Brake lights worked though - which gave me a hint to the switch.

Your description is EXACTLY what I experienced.

Good luck! Hope you find the issue - I hope my info helps!

Justin

 

The owners manual is contained in the RAVE as well as all the electrical information for the entire vehicle. Take another look.

 

I have this exact problem on my D1. Dash and tail lights don't work, everything else seems to. Where is the blinker assembly located? I'm guessing from the remove the plastic covers, around the steering column? And do you need a new relay or did you mean you can just hardwire the harness wires together?
Thanks for the info!