I read a post a few days ago that someone became suspicious of their dash and looked (or felt) inside to discover that some warning bulbs had been removed or destroyed. I'm not usually paranoid but I noticed today that two screws are apparently missing from my central dash (lower ones) and the cluster can be tipped up as a result. Now, I've seen most of the lights come on initially at start-up, so I think they all work. Should I investigate further? Have only had the truck a couple of weeks but no issues thus far. Am I over reacting? If so, can someone tell me the screw size to fix this panel back in place?

DRW

 

Be afraid, be very afraid...


Just turn the key to the "II" position without starting the truck and see what lights come on.
Check Engine
Service Engine Soon
SRS
ABS
TC
HDC
Oil
Temp
Low fuel
Brake

All of those should come on.
Now someone please correct me if I am wrong but I belive the DII uses the "Service Engine Soon" and NOT the "Check Engine light", so the CEL may not come on.

Those lights will all shut off once the engine starts but should remain lite with just the key on.

 

Yes, all of those come on in position 2, and then some. There's green wagon or towing symbol in the upper right hand corner. I also get a red key-looking symbol under this one. So, seems like most are illuminated as expected?

Again, any idea of screw size to secure console?

Are these trucks really that screwed up, and former owners that unscrupulous?

DRW

 

The trailer one will flash with the turn signals when a trailer is connected to the truck.
The red key is the security thingy.

True Value: True Value(R) Official Site, store locator and find some machine crews that fit.

Yes owners are that sneaky, when there is a problem and they are fed up with the truck and dont want to spend anymore money on it but they cane sell it with warning lights on they break the LED's in the instrument cluster.
A good warning sign of trouble is a flashing odometer, that means the instrument cluster has either been replaced or tampered with and the only way to fix it is with a trip to the dealer.

 

Well, no flashing odometer, and lights seem to come on / go off as you suggested. Guess I'll focus on any real issues moving forward. Thanks.

DRW

 

2 small screws at the bottom that hold the console in place. More than likely it was pulled to replace the light for the odometer... it has a short life span.

Eric

 

These trucks have their own weaknesses, but they are far from "screwed up". Here's why you hear about so many problems:

- You just bought a 10 year old luxury vehicle for a couple thousand dollars. Use your head: why did it depreciate the much? Because its a maintenance pig.
- They are not Chevys. They require more maintenance if you want them to run well. The part costs are higher, so lack of maintenance get expensive quickly.
- They are not Chevys. You won't find 10 to 20 of your exact model in every junk yard to pick used parts off of.
- They are worth so little now that irresponsible people can afford to buy them and trash them.
- They are worth so little now that someone who otherwise maintained theirs see it as basically disposable, to be dumped on a used car dealer when something goes wrong. This puts them into the auctions, and from the auctions they end up being sold through small maybe not so reputable car lots as well as "private sellers" who aren't really private sellers.

I only modified about 3 words of that explanation from when I used it to explain the exact same question about older Porsches.

 

Yeah, no kidding. Out of all the trucks I looked at, I wanted a disco 2 so I was looking at 99-04s, I found only 2 that looked like they weren't abused. The great majority of these trucks were trashed. Even the ones at the dealerships. I went to look at one in the used car lot of a Volvo dealer that was low mileage and clean, or so they said. It had a blown air spring, leaks, broken glass, lights didn't work, nav system didn't work, and this was a truck with 60k on it on a reputable new car dealership's used lot. Dealer maintenance cost is the only reason I see for these things to get so abused. They can't afford the dealer, and can't do it themselves.

I found mine as a 2nd owner trade in. First owner traded it in at the dealer he bought it from and second owner bought it from there and stayed on top of the service. He fixed things when the broke had stayed on top of every service bulletin. I've put thousands of trouble free miles on it by doing the same.

It's the history that counts. Someone said its not how many miles they have, but how they did them. That is especially true with these trucks.

 

You know, one thing you could do for free is just go to an auto parts store like auto-zone or advance auto parts and have them read the codes for free. Don't take their advice if you do have codes but rather write them down and post them here and have the guys on this forum tell you what they mean, and the best course of action to correct the problem.
At least then you know what's going on with your truck, if anything.
It could be as simple as someone forcefully removing after market accessories like guages or a stereo before selling the truck.
Good Luck!

 

darylJ,

I especially appreciate your comments. I've owned some crazy vehicles in my life, and can appreciate (even as I curse) their peculiarities. Just hoping I'll have luck with this new one...

With regard to the latest post, it does look like mine was serviced by a LR dealer from 0-60k miles. After that, a bit spottier. I don't have a dealer close by (maybe not such a bad thing). I think I can find a local guy with LR training as there are some pretty good "exotics" mechanics around, for whatever reason.

I'm particularly interested in purchasing the best diagnostic tool available - seems like the forums and Internet at large are all over the map in this regard. I favor something that can interact with the iPhone since I'm an iPhone geek...

DRW