Proud first time owner of a 2003 DISCO 2 - Hello

Picked the "disco bus", as my two daughters have named her, just before Christmas last year. have spent a fair bit of my free time underneath the DB thinking and sorting some of the usual issues. Happy to tackle most things - however have a really interesting recent problem i can't seem to get sorted. Dashboard lights (TC, hand brake, SLS and HDC) are coming on when the horn is sounded... Any ideas or creative solutions greatly welcomed...

Best

GPHDISCO2

GPHDISCO2 said:

Picked the "disco bus", as my two daughters have named her, just before Christmas last year. have spent a fair bit of my free time underneath the DB thinking and sorting some of the usual issues. Happy to tackle most things - however have a really interesting recent problem i can't seem to get sorted. Dashboard lights (TC, hand brake, SLS and HDC) are coming on when the horn is sounded... Any ideas or creative solutions greatly welcomed...

Best

GPHDISCO2

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Welcome to the loonyzone!

I think you may need diagnostics to find out what the problem is with that, sounds like a 3 amigos issue, and some. Try forum search about the 3 amigos.

Evening,

Welcome to the looneyzone.

Have you downloaded the Rave manual ? if not then highly suggest you do, it is a great resource.
Very Bizarre issue you have there. I suppose the easiest answer is, do not use the horn........Sorry , could not resist.

Finally, I have to say it , Make sure you knwo what the EKA code.

Cheers

Welcome! That's certainly an odd problem!!

Do the lights go out when you stop pressing the horn? And does the horn still work properly

I'm guessing its possible that the wires to the horn and to the ABS system are somehow shorting against each other (maybe both rubbing on the same piece of metal?) The ideal way to find out what is going on would be to get the car hooked up to a nanocom and see if the SLABS ECU throws up an error code while you press the horn.

Assuming the horns are in their original place (behind the grill) they should be some distance from any ABS components... but if the previous owner did a lot of off road driving they may have moved the horns to a drier position above the ABS Module.

Wow, thanks folks for the warm welcome and sound suggestions. I have an icarsoft diagnostic tool that let's me turn the 3 amigo's of - have identified several triggers (besides the afore mentioned horn issue..) 1. the SLS, previous owner converted the disco to springs and car still thinks it has bags; 2. I replaced ABS sensor on rear right - my mini diagnostics says there is still an intermittent issue with that. I can turn everything else of and amigo's will usually stay of for about 50 - 100 miles - certainly enough to get the disco through an MOT- However the horn has me baffled, and is an issue. Part of the MOT here in NI involves the inspector hitting the horn - when they do, the dash will light up - and probably cause a fail.. Horn works fine and lights stay on when triggered by pressing the horn - its the 3 amigo's plus 1 (handbrake light!!). When I turn the lights (amigo's +1) of with icarsoft tool the handbrake light on the dash operates normally. Will check out the suggestions made at the weekend and get back to you all. Can anyone signpost me to a clean link to the Rave manual? Thanks again. G

Up-date since last on the forum. Have just replaced in tank fuel pump on my TD5 Disco 2 and feeling very happy with myself - seems to have sorted the non-horn related 3 Amigo trigger...??? Anyways as I reported here in my intro, I have still have an on-going issue with the 3 Amigo's triggering when the horn is sounded. Have checked as suggested kindly by kindly penguin that the horns are in the normal place (behind front grill), and they are. Kindly penguin also suggested they could be shorting out against ABS wiring (both touching the same piece of metal?) Don't have nanocom or access to it - have MOT on 14th June - looking for some ideas on a fix. HELP.

I'd be thinking the ribbon cable in the steering wheel has failed, or you have a bad earth somewhere...

To get it through the test, what happens if you disconnect the horns - either at the horns, OR by taking the relevant fuse out..... if either of those work, then rig up a separate switch and appropriate wiring for the horn which you can use to get you through the test.... and then sort out properly at your leisure....

If it is the ribbon cable, then brace yourself, as they can be a bit expensive - often cheaper at a scrapyard - specially if the scrap man doesn't know their value....

So, update on the above. Turned out the source of all the issues was a broken wire at rear left ABS sensor. Guys at the auto electrics place (Greenaway Belfast), who were great by the way, diagnosed and fixed the wire. All issues resolved. Horn triggering 3 Amigo's, still a mystery, but was obviously related to this (not sure how and guys at Greenaway couldn't explain either) but has been sorted. First NI MOT on the 17th June - fingers crossed. Thanks everyone for the feedback.

G

Further up-date, so brakes, lights etc all good, but failed on diesel leak at the engine and rust on the rear left chassis. Have bought a repair kit for the rust and having a guy weld it up this weekend. Any tips on the Diesel leak greatly appreciated.

G