QuestionHi John,
Hopefully you can help me with this or give me some of your guidance. I have a 1999 Dico II.
Several weeks ago my cruise control went out. I checked the fuse box and saw no problem. I even checked the switch on the dashboard and that is fine too. The only thing I can think of is the button on the steering wheel. Unless the vacuum pump is bad. But I have no idea how to check that or where it is under the hood.
A couple of days ago I was pulling a boat. When I went to go and change a bulb on the trailer that I was pulling I noticed that the dashboard lights and a rear light went out too. I have changed all the rear light bulbs thinking this would have corrected the dashboard problem but it has not. I know that it says for the reverse and parking lights it should be 21W. There were two kinds of fuses inside before. One was 1057 and another was a 1156. I replaced all of them with 1157. Does that make any difference? Could the trailer wiring kit have anything to do with this, or could it have gone bad? I checked all fuses, but I am not sure how to check relay switches.
One more thing that is a bit off of the subject. In the winter time when I start the vehicle and go to drive in less than a minute it does not seem to want to go. It just revs as I step on the gas peddle. Is this usual?
Thanks for taking your time in reading this John. Hope to hear from you soon.
Sincerely,
George
AnswerHi George,
electrical problems are a nightmare for me too! I had alot of trouble this year with electrical harness corrosion and bulb holders shorting out. I'd replace the bulbs with exactly what you had before. From my experience on the Disco I, anything else and you're looking for bizzare electrical behaviour in your dash or console lights. Strange but true. My left rear turn signal bulb burnt out and so did my dashboard. As soon as I replaced the bulb, the dash lights returned.
In your case, it sounds like a fuse. You can buy fuse testing devices at any automotive parts shop or almost every Wal-Mart in North America. Works great and has save me from going to the dealer a few times.
As for your cruise control, always check for vacuum leaks. This is common on older Disco's. Some old mechanics have suggested using smoke to detect vacuum leaks.
As for winter sluggish starts...use a block heater. Up here in Quebec Canada, my Disco is always plugged in during the winter. Some mornings, when its been -22F all night, my engine turns over somewhat easily but I have a hard time moving out. Its the hydraulic oil in the trasfer case thats thick and cold. Give the Disco time to heat up it be better when intially engaged. You may consider changing to a winter gear oil...but with all the heat that eventually is generated...I have my reservations. My transfer case uses 80W-90 and it seems to do well enough.
Best of luck,
JohnMc
