Bad day.

[Andy.]

Well I started off removing the ols switches for the extra lights. Plug them back in when I had removed them from the fuse panel and the two spots on the A bar did'nt work. So I thought I must of connected them up wrong :?:

Tried several times until I saw smoke  :shock:

Quickly turned all off. All the lights still worked apart from the front spots and now the indicators, the fuse for these just kept blowing. The smoke came from around the stalk area so I removed to have a look, big mistake that is now in pieces and I need a new one. Saturday afternoon, no where open and I'm now without lights and indicators untill I get a new stalk  

Also I removed the dash shroud the reveal a wire which has burnt, as there are sections where the plastic coating has burnt. This is connected and used for I think the lights on the switches to let you know they are switched on. The wire is'nt all bad just random places but would be an absolute pain to replace. It follows the wiring loom down behind the dash to a larger wiring loom then comes out and goes into a flat grey connector, I think it's only the earth wire for the fog switch  :?:

Not happy at all, and probably won't be able to get a new stalk ordered until Monday and have it untill Tuesday/Wednesday.

[Digsit]

Sounds like a nightmare Andy :?

[Andy.]

Certainly is, I know this burnt wire should be replaced but I can't see how  :?: Before the stalk went the rear fog switch did work, I've tried to cover the bare wire where I can.

Can't really do much more until I get a new stalk and see where I am with things.

[Budgie]

Havn't you got any scrap yards around you that are open on a Sunday?
There must be one with a Disco in it.  :?

[Andy.]

Affraid not  :(

Chances of having a Discovery of my year in as well. I had to some time ago buy a replacement wiper stalk and I remember from that time they were specific to certain year models.

I gonna leave this wire and patch it where I can see bare wire. It has at some points melted onto touching wires but I think by pulling them apart I'm exposing the bare wire.

I remove everything and try it when I can put my lights back on again.

[Matt_H]

if it's that difficult to replace it there is a much easier way to fix it...

find a place that you can easily cut the wire.  Cut the required length of heat shrink and thread one peice onto each 'half' of the wire leaving about 1 inch at each end.  Using yuor favourite heat gun shrink the heat shrink in place.  Cut a 2" piece of heat shirnk and feed it onto one of the wires.  Trim the ends of the wire, push each end into each other then twist the strands with thumb and finger.  Now tin your soldering iron, dab it on the wire keeping the soldering iron still on the exposed wire feed sodler into the joint from the other end - the solder will naturally flow towards the iron (if it's the right temp) let the joint cool then slide your 2" piece of heat shirnk over - heat.. job done :-)

The way I've described of doing a joint is the proper correct way of doing it and done properlly with heat shrink will be no thicker than the normal wire.  If you have to do multiple wires stagger all the joints so they are not next to each other.

Hope that helps
Matthew

[Andy.]

Easier said than done, it's getting to it and then using a heat gun on the shrink once in place, plus have have neither a solder or heat gun.

Cheers anyway.

[Matt_H]

hmm.if you don't have any of those perhaps it's time to leave the electrics alone  :shock:

It's a shame you aren't nearer here else I'd do it for you!

Erm, you don't have to shrink the heat shrink in more than a couple of places to bodge it, a lighter will do it but you'll still need to solder the wire back together - dont use those stupid scotch block things - that's asking for trouble.

If the wire insulation has melted and it's anything other than earth then replace it striaght away.. Also if it is earth and it has melted it may have melted otehr cables aroudn it :-(

Matthew

[muddyweb]

The stalks on a 200 Disco are very similar to a lot of the Austin vehicles of the time (due to the fact that they were nicked from the parts bin to make the vehicle)

Have a look at Maestro / Montego / Metro / Freight Rover stalks... the dismantlers will be full of them.

[ChrisW]

The stalks on a 200 Disco are very similar to a lot of the Austin vehicles of the time (due to the fact that they were nicked from the parts bin to make the vehicle)

Have a look at Maestro / Montego / Metro / Freight Rover stalks... the dismantlers will be full of them.

I know for a fact it's identical to the Metro stalk - can't say for sure about the others tho.

[Jake]

Another one of 'those' 5 min jobs that turns into the biggest nightmare ever!!
Hope you get it sorted out soon Andy
 :?

[Bulli]

Andy, were you running the wire as a trigger for a relay? Check around carefully as it is going to ground somewhere...under dash/bonnet fire isnt worth risking.

[Andy.]

Right the wire which has seemed to of melted comes from the dash rear fog light and is black coloured. It appears to come from the connection for the little orange bulb on the back of the push switch.

Also there has been fitted two extra wires for the additional switches in the fuse panel for the extra lights, persumably for the switch lights for these.

I got some other switches which I wanted to put in instead of the ones there and thought it would be a simple case of just swapping the connections over  :?:

The smoke came from under the steering shroud when I was trying to get the two front spots to work, after removing all the shroud and trying again all the lights except the two front spots still worked until I tried the indicators which just kept popping the fuse. The hazzard button worked OK and when I lock the Discovery the indicators work along with the alarm.

So I thought it was the stalk which had gone, proceeded to dismantle this which I don't think you are supposed todo, anyway it's now it pieces awaiting a new one.

So can't really check anything else until I can put my lights back on.

Anyone know of any dismantlers which are fairly local to me (Leeds) which I can try  :?:

[datalas]

The stalks on a 200 Disco are very similar to a lot of the Austin vehicles of the time (due to the fact that they were nicked from the parts bin to make the vehicle)

Have a look at Maestro / Montego / Metro / Freight Rover stalks... the dismantlers will be full of them.

I know for a fact it's identical to the Metro stalk - can't say for sure about the others tho.

For what it's worth the 200 Series is basically a montego that's put on weight, at least in terms of the interior.  Door handles (on the insides) switches on the doors, indicator stalks, central locking relays etc are all identicle.  This also applies to the later Austin Metros and I believe some of the earlier Rover Metros, the Maestro and probably some of the Freight rovers as Tim says.  There is also a chance that some of the Sherpas (a freight rover by an different name) parts are the same.

The Rover 100 (the rebadged metro) and Rovers of the similar age share the parts bin with the 300 series although by this time some parts were starting to be changed (the 200 series is a montego that's put on weight)

And then (some) people complain because the D3 looks like a volvo inside, better than a granny runaround :)

[Bush Tucker Man]

Anyone know of any dismantlers which are fairly local to me (Leeds) which I can try  :?:

Not too sure about your end of Leeds, but there's there's 2 next to each other on Thorpe Lane & McGregors up at The Falls in East Ardsley.


What about PRB in Wortley, or isn't there a scrappers next to Simmonites??

PRB phone-number is; 01132 796093

[Andy.]

Right result  :D

Went down to a local scrappers and found a Montego estate, cannot believe that they used the exact same stalks, anyway got one for a fiver connected up at home and now have lights and indicators back  :D

[muddyweb]

Good to hear !


Lots of the LR bits are shared with the Austin Rover vehicles... the RR, Discovery and even some of the 90/110 bits can be found if you look in the right places...  much cheaper than a new part too ;-)

[Andy.]

Yes Tim it was un-canny how similar the switches inside of the Montego were to the Discovery.

So all lights again now working, I think I've a rear fog bulb out and the front two spots still dont work  :?:

I think it's best left now and get someone who knows what they are doing take a look before I blow anything else  

Any volunteers  :?:

[muddyweb]

Yes Tim it was un-canny how similar the switches inside of the Montego were to the Discovery.

Now you know, you'll be spotting all sorts of things....  it isn't unheard of for early 200 Discos to have light clusters with the Austin Rover badge on, instead of the LR Oval.

A lot of people criticised the company for using existing parts...  saying that it was a cheap way out....   well... it's helping the owners now ;-)

[Range Rover Blues]

A lot of people criticised the company for using existing parts...  saying that it was a cheap way out....   well... it's helping the owners now ;-)

Mate's just bought a TVR and we playes 'spot thge manuafacturer' for an hour.  Ford/Rover/Fiat etc. and that's just under the bonnet.

[Andy.]

Certainly is.

I found that general scrap yards have very few if any Discovery's in unless you go to a proper LR scrappers. This way in the future at least I now I can source some parts from other vehicles.

[Bush Tucker Man]

Mate's just bought a TVR

Oooh-Oohh :D

Did I hear that magic abbreviation?????

Photos please :D  :D  :D

Next question, which model (please don't tell me it's a Griffith, I'll be sooo jealous )

[Andy.]

Anyone local to Leeds who knows how to wire up auxillary lights free next weekend, its either that or blow up the Discovery myself or pay to get it done  :?:

Of course if anyone does fancy it tea or bear can be supplied, and I know it's Billing next weekend so I don't rate my chances  :(

[Bush Tucker Man]

Anyone local to Leeds who knows how to wire up auxillary lights free next weekend, its either that or blow up the Discovery myself or pay to get it done  :?:

Of course if anyone does fancy it tea or bear can be supplied, and I know it's Billing next weekend so I don't rate my chances  :(

I'll let you know.

I've even got a soldering gun :shock:  (& I'm not afraid to use it :lol: )

Masham Steam Fair though


**Free every evening, bar Monday

[hobbit]

Shame you aren't nearer to me mate

[Andy.]

Tis a shame Kev  :(

You not visiting Bradford then, as you could pop across  

[Big Rich]

Now you know, you'll be spotting all sorts of things....  it isn't unheard of for early 200 Discos to have light clusters with the Austin Rover badge on, instead of the LR Oval.

My disco being one of them.  

Rich

[hobbit]

Not really mate, too much on the series wagons to do, not enough good weather to ignore it, sorry

[Andy.]

No worries Kev, know what you mean you have to make the most of the good weathered weekends.

[Range Rover Blues]

If you're free weekdays then bring it down, I'm about 40 minutes from Leeds.  Weekends are a bit precious at the moment so I might get in trouble.