Handbreak is killing my electrics!

I have a discovery 2.5ltr 1997 argyle and every time i let my handbreak off it makes all the electric stop, speedo, fuel gauge, lights etc and the temp gauge shoots right up any help on this would be great cheers

check ,but probably replace earth lead from battery to chassis to t/box

sounds like poor earthing so the cable is acting as an earth Cable. DO NOT IGNORE I had to completly rebuild a mates wiring harness, after it melted due to someone forgetting to refit the earth cable after a Transferbox swap.. He was lucky that the whole car never went up in flames.

^^^^^ what he said ^^^^

very important ...

I had a similar problem on mine, caused the handbrake cable to become the earth cable, started a fire at the handbreak lever, thankfully the driver put the fire out in time but it still managed to burn through the cable

Thanks alot guys I'll check it out soon as much appreciated.

Had exactly the same problem on my defender , and it was the earth cable. It also stopped my battery being charged as well. It might just need a bit of wire brushing or tightening of the connections , that fixed mine!

I'm goin to be a proper pain now and ask if someone could tell me where the t.box is earthed to save me running a new earth cheers

i was thinking of a defender as long as engine or transmission is earthed well it will be ok chassis ,body and engine /transmission all need earthing to each other

discorob300 said:

I'm goin to be a proper pain now and ask if someone could tell me where the t.box is earthed to save me running a new earth cheers

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300Tdi

1. Battery Neg lead runs through clip at gearbox mount and then earths on Gearbox.

2. Rear loom earths onto chassis just above the hole it comes out of with a bolt arrangement

3. Bulkhead to chassis via earth strap from drivers foot well to air intake bracket

4. main loom to bulkhead via self tapper.

5. Engine to chassis via earth strap on engine block just behind the starter to long bolt on chassis.


200 TDi has the following earthing points

1 engine to chassis at alternator/PAS bracket to left chassis part of left engine mounting

2 battery negative to main gearbox/transfer box joint

3 bulkhead between fuel filter & brake servo [bunch of black wires attached by a screw to bulkhead]

4 various others behing dash

5 front lights -- behind each set of lights to vertical panel of inner wing

6 behind each rear light cover panel in each rear corner.

Seems to be in working order now cheers guys. Although while mootching about for earths i find myself with a disconnected abs unit and yet again more rust! What have i let myself in for!

All sorted cheers guys now for the central locking!!

discorob300 said:

All sorted cheers guys now for the central locking!!

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Ha ha, which one was it Rob?

i had a similar problem with releasing the hand brake,the panel lights would dim,using indicators would cause any lights on to "flash".
anyway i rebuilt my o/s front wheel arch and found a soldered earth terminal on the lead that should have been bolted to the panel and then on to the chassis.
this done and seems to have solved the problem.