By SG on Wednesday, April 18, 2001 - 03:55 am: Edit

Less than 24 hours after making the final (partial) payment to the credit union, things went downhill. (How do these vehicle sense that? Must take some pretty powerful software....) Doing just 5 mph on the way home, I hit a pothole that started the hazard flashers going.

Pulled the flasher switch. Even with that disconnected, the flashing continued. Pull the lighting fuse near the battery...that turns the lights off, but a realy is still clicking - even with the key off. So I dive into the rat's nest of relays and wiring in the passenger footwell.

Track the source to the 'multi-function unit relay' not to be confused with the 'multi-function unit' which is under the bonnet. Darkness, a cold rain and a 7mm nut designed to be inaccessible to human hands dealyed the extraction....

Sooo...has anybody taken a MFU relay apart? The case has clips/retainers, so it is designed to come apart (in theory). Not really sure what to look for once I get it to bits. The electrical troubleshooting manual didn't even have a schematic of it.

Cheers

By Ron on Wednesday, April 18, 2001 - 04:14 am: Edit

Don't you just push the button under the hood?

Ron

By ken on Wednesday, April 18, 2001 - 06:12 am: Edit

Push the inertia switch located under the hood. Then put the key in the ignition and turn to on position and then off, then remove key and open driver door. This is how you disengage the intertia functions. the disco thought that you were invloved in a accident.

By wisker on Wednesday, April 18, 2001 - 06:22 am: Edit

I had the exact same thing with my '95. I tried the suggestions above to no avail. The only thing that stopped it was pulling the relay. It's setting on my desk as I type this. What's the repercussions? My lights don't blink twice when I engage the alarm. The alarm still works, my flashers work, my turn signals work. I have no plans of reinstalling the relay.

Last ditch suggestion,
wisker

By SG on Wednesday, April 18, 2001 - 07:57 am: Edit

Thanks, all...I'll try.

First off, I thought the inertia switch killed the fuel pump relay immediately.

Secondly, I called the local dealership to enquire about price/availability of the MFU relay given a 'worst case scenario'. (I'm pretty good about taking things to bits and can *usually* get them back together without too many left over and obviously unnecessary parts.) They don't even *list* it. "Gotta call Land Rover on that." I thought I was.... :-(

Anyway, I'll try the inertia switch routine and then finagle the relay....

"Modern technology is bigger hammers."

Cheers

By SG on Wednesday, April 18, 2001 - 03:11 pm: Edit

Well, I though I'd add an update.

Got home with daylight left, tools of destruction laid out in preparation for a relay-ectomy.

Tried the inertia routine first. The impact switch *was not* triggered. Did the key/door routine, twice. Lights still flash.

Then I let out with a bellow WORKGODAMMITYOUBLOODYPIECEOFENGLISHENGINEERING!!!! followed by several good pounds on the wheel and dash. Amazing! Discipline, often a useful masintenance technique with my 88" actually *works* on these modern beasts!

Cheers

By tlcharb on Wednesday, April 18, 2001 - 05:56 pm: Edit

if it's a green box,it is a alarm ECU.

By Chris Browne on Wednesday, April 18, 2001 - 11:26 pm: Edit

Sandy, I've said it before, You're a genius....

By Gabe R on Thursday, April 19, 2001 - 07:29 am: Edit

Smae problem here... I just pulled over and turned my '97 off completely... key out and all... still flashing... then I turned key without starting in hopes that the electronic components would go through a "routine" reset as electronics do whenever they are first powered up.... solved. Apparently something reset itself (don't know what yet) and lights stopped flashing. Tried testing hazards and they work fine. Try that next time... don't rush, do it one step at a time... it worked for me.
GABE
'97 Disco SD

By Bill Gill (Bluegill) on Thursday, April 19, 2001 - 11:23 am: Edit

When you bang a bump hard and lights start flashing and relay box starts clicking, all you have to do is pull over, turn off engine, pull key out, restart, and flashing/clicking should stop. Happenned to me a bunch of times.

By SG on Thursday, April 19, 2001 - 04:40 pm: Edit

Not this time...restarted three times, hoping the relay would reset. Opened door after two of the tries. Relay continues. Disconnected battery, hoping that would reset it. Nope, still clicking. Disconnected battery overnight. The next day, I tried the inertia switch which had not been tripped. Two more routines of key/ignition/door failed to clear it. Only a good cussin' out and a well placed blow or two worked. Go figure... anyway, all is well now.