Member Since: 01 Feb 2014
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 5
Instrument cluster - intermittent power loss
Hi all,
I bought an 07 plate Discovery 3 in January 2014, so I've had it about 17 months.
About 6 months ago I noticed the instrument cluster (speedo, rev counter etc.) would lose power for a split second - I'd notice the dials all go back to zero, and then come back up again by the time I'd looked. This has got gradually worse until now it can be out for entire journeys.
No fault codes are being registered when I've taken it in to the garage. I haven't been able to spot any patterns, e.g. it can be when cold or hot, it can suddenly go on/off without hitting a bump or anything.
I took the instrument cluster out myself yesterday and nothing seems to be loose on the back. It was dead again after I plugged it in, but then an hour later I went to the petrol station and it was working fine again, i.e. back to square one.
I noticed that when I plugged it back in I got the flashing red immobiliser light but then nothing came on when turning on the ignition - so I'm thinking now maybe it is getting power after all and the unit itself has an internal fault.
So...to get to my questions, does anyone know the process of replacing an instrument cluster? Is it a DIY job or will it need the right software to copy over profiles etc.? Of course I'd like to have some confidence that I've correctly diagnosed the issue before I cough up for a new unit but unless people keep spares hanging around I don't have many options.
Any help much appreciated. Couldn't find anything on here about power failures or in wider Google searches.
22nd Jun 2015 10:16 am
jonmiller
Member Since: 01 Feb 2014
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 5
Wow, looks like I managed to confound the experts on my first try.
I guess I'll ring round some garages and see if they have a spare unit to try out.
25th Jun 2015 10:28 am
Robbie
Member Since: 05 Feb 2006
Location: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Posts: 17932
It does sound like a bad IPC but remember to check all the power and particularly the grounds to the unit before purchasing a new one. They have to be coded to the vehicle with the CCF information ported from the BCM, so a suitable diagnostic tool is required.
Land Rover - Turning Drivers into Mechanics Since 1948
Member Since: 01 Feb 2014
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 5
Appreciate the reply
I called my local indy today but they don't have any spare units for me to try out - that was kind of wishful thinking really. Would like to be able to try out the solution before parting with cash but I might have to try one from eBay and just stick it back on there if it turns out not to be the root cause after all.
Sounds like I'm going to need someone professional to do the installation anyway.
Appreciate the info.
Jon
26th Jun 2015 1:54 pm
gavinEd
Member Since: 12 Oct 2013
Location: Edinburgh
Posts: 87
Jon,
My D3 has developed the same fault as yours. Did you ever get to the bottom of the problem with yours? What was the solution? Any advice welcome.
Thanks,
GavinDiscovery 3 HSE Auto (2007)
VW Golf TDI (2010)
Jaguar Sovereign 4.2 (1984)
Discovery 3 S Auto (2005), now sold
1st Jul 2015 7:45 am
MGCarr
Member Since: 15 Jul 2014
Location: Lancashire
Posts: 703
Try these people, I have used them a couple of times for instrument cluster repairs and they can sort them out without needing recoding.
1997 Defender 90 for the kids and I to have a go at some competitive off road RTV and Tyro trials, daughter picked up her first trophy over the August Bank Holiday.
Previous Land Rover history
1996 P38 4.6 V8 Autobiography
1996 Discovery TDi 300
1972 Range Rover 3.5 V8
LWB Hard Top Series 3
LWB Truck Cab Series 2A
Not been without a Land Rover for over 40 years - I must need therapy!
1st Jul 2015 10:56 am
jonmiller
Member Since: 01 Feb 2014
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 5
I'll take a look.
I got my local indy specialist to take a look yesterday and the only fault code coming up was about the steering alignment sensor being out, so they reset it. Since then the instrument cluster has been fine on about 6 drives totalling a few hours. Who knows, maybe that's fixed it...but I don't think so.
1st Jul 2015 11:12 pm
olanguedoc
Member Since: 30 Sep 2015
Location: Montreal
Posts: 5
I think i have the same issue...
The only code i have is.. Tire Pressure fault - Default System.
I am loosing power in the cluster... Flasher still works... etc.
Could it only be a bad connection?
30th Sep 2015 5:22 pm
jonmiller
Member Since: 01 Feb 2014
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 5
I finally got round to using the ClusterRepairsUK guys above - only sent it at the end of last week and got it back Tuesday this week. Put it in yesterday and so far so good but I'm reserving judgement until it's been at least a week given the intermittent nature of the fault.
I used the Haynes manual to get the cluster out. Wasn't too bad, you just need to be brave to know you're pulling off the right bits. Basically you pull the steering wheel fully out, pop off the top shroud, pop off the side trim bits either side of the wheel, then you can just about get at the screws that hold the cluster in place and tease it out.
2nd Oct 2015 2:54 pm
olanguedoc
Member Since: 30 Sep 2015
Location: Montreal
Posts: 5
Was it only a bad plug in the back? Like a loose power connector?
The problem is that i am in canada....
2nd Oct 2015 3:49 pm
mjpreston1
Member Since: 22 May 2012
Location: United States
Posts: 1
any update on this? I am having the same issue, had the fuel level senders replaced at dealership suggestion(but by local mechanic) but that hasn't done a thing...Is the wiring to the unit easy to trace through to its ground?
4th Feb 2016 7:35 pm
olanguedoc
Member Since: 30 Sep 2015
Location: Montreal
Posts: 5
Yep. Fixed on mine. My mechanic is a pro in electronics. He bought a used cluster et replaced some chips in the back. It was definitely the cluster. It was a real light show.
4th Feb 2016 7:43 pm
SteveyB
Member Since: 22 Jan 2016
Location: Livingston
Posts: 47
Instrument cluster
My Disco 3 has developed the problem off intermitent power failure to the instrument cluster, some times for a few seconds some times a few minutes. I notice the indicators don't work either during these periods. Anyone had any experience of this problem ? If the indicators are going out too do you think it is more likely to be a power supply problem rather than an actual problem with the instrument cluster itself ?
12th Feb 2016 11:32 am
SteveyB
Member Since: 22 Jan 2016
Location: Livingston
Posts: 47
The intermittent power loss to my instrument cluster seems to have got worse so it looks like I'm going to have to bite the bullet and remove it and send it of to one of the specialist repair places. Does anyone know if the car will run with the instrument cluster removed ? Just wondering if I can use it for my short commute to work whilst the cluster is away being repaired.2007 HSE - 96k miles
New belts + tensioners.
V8 Brake upgrade.
EGR blank and remap.
Autobox flushed +new filter.
Diffs and trans box oil changed.
6th Jun 2016 9:25 am
mronions
Member Since: 22 Feb 2016
Location: Darlington
Posts: 69
Mine was doing this until recently. I had to ignore it for a while due to other commitments and it's gone away for the time being, coincidentally at the same time I got a new battery.
While it was acting up I contacted a cluster repair outfit where you can send off your cluster for a refurb. IIRC they quoted around £130 for a full refurb and they wanted it for 3-5 days. The downside is that - as far as I understand - the immobiliser is part of the cluster so the car is a non-starter without it, hence you can't just buy a full replacement without having it coded to your car.
Feedback on the indicators though; they do still work outside the car when the cluster is dead, you just don't get the clicks and flashes in the cabin. Very unnerving regardless.***GONE*** 2007 XS Manual in Wet Weekend (Stornoway Grey) ***GONE***
EGRs blanked and deleted | RLD wheel protector | RLD aerial mount
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