Series III SANTANA Warning light question

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Djacobsen · #1 Post by **Djacobsen** » Tue Nov 30, 2021 10:06 pm

Hello everyone, I have had my Series III Santana 2.25 Diesel 88 for a few years now and it's been a wonderful vehicle to go bombing around in. Even starts first time in the winter after sitting outside (long story don't ask) for 6 weeks in the cold with only a few seconds of glo plugs... yeah I know, I don't believe it iether.
Anyway.... driving home in the rain on the highway at 75km/h dumb and happy this past Sunday night and a warning light on the dashboard starts to illuminate...dim and flickering at first. Intermittent for a bit, but now it just stays on quite bright.
I've always seen this strange light on the dash but never paid it much notice. Firstly because whatever it is, is not obvious or intuitive... at least to my limited gray matter.... and secondly because it never lit up. So I did the only reasonable thing I could do, I ignored it. But now.... now it's a different story because I have this bright light on the dash trying to warn me of some impeding doom and thousands of dollars in repairs .... and I am clueless... it is worth mentioning the old girl still runs like a Swiss watch and starts immediately... I can't notice anything odd or different.

Now I am pretty familiar with my old Landy.. but working through all the possibilities in my mind.... and I still come up empty. Even tried the mighty Google.... all I found was another picture of this strange light but still no explanation.
Granted my searching skills are average at best if you listen to anything my kids say...
So I'm attaching a picture of said strange funny looking light in the hopes that someone out there in the Land Rover universe knows about these infernal Spanish Land Rovers and sheds "cough" some light on the subject :lol:

Any reasonably plausible explanation will be appreciated.

Cheers
D

Seekerbeta · #2 Post by **Seekerbeta** » Wed Dec 01, 2021 3:11 pm

check your alternator/generator. i know my charge light started dim and then got brighter as the regulator went out on it.

Djacobsen · #3 Post by **Djacobsen** » Sat Dec 04, 2021 10:56 pm

Thank you, but my alternator has a separate warning light in the instrument cluster on the left of the dash with the fuel gauge and water temperature gauge.. that one is fine, no problems there... like I said.. very strange light with no easy explanation

JeffRover · #4 Post by **JeffRover** » Sun Dec 05, 2021 6:39 am

Maybe it means you need more coffee? Or more likely Tea, as its a British made vehicle.

I tried a google imagine search and came up with noting as well.

red90 · #5 Post by **red90** » Sun Dec 05, 2021 8:01 am

I have the Santana Series 3 owner's manual, but it does not show a light in that location. I'd post the manual or screenshots, but apparently they do not do attachments here.

You can download here and see if this matches you dash or not. https://pdfcookie.com/download/manual-u ... ld7nrqngl4

Can you take a bigger picture of the dash. There should be a turn signal light there. What exact year is the truck?

Djacobsen · #6 Post by **Djacobsen** » Sun Dec 05, 2021 8:28 am

I have this half shot for now, I will head down to the garage in a minute, I looked through my pictures and I actually don't have a good one of the entire dash. Also judging by the look of some of the knobs it's no longer "stock" :lol:
But it's a 1983 Santana

Djacobsen · #7 Post by **Djacobsen** » Sun Dec 05, 2021 8:31 am

And just to clarify that first picture with the red lines drawn on it was taken off the web after a very long Google search. I did not have a good picture of mine handy on my phone. The one I just uploaded is actually my dash.... I'll look through the manual in a bit, gotta feed the family breakfast first.👍🏻

Djacobsen · #8 Post by **Djacobsen** » Sun Dec 05, 2021 8:33 am

JeffRover wrote: Sun Dec 05, 2021 6:39 am Maybe it means you need more coffee? Or more likely Tea, as its a British made vehicle.

I tried a google imagine search and came up with noting as well.

🤣😂👍🏻 very well could be...

red90 · #9 Post by **red90** » Sun Dec 05, 2021 10:32 am

Apparently 78-83 is a different model but they did not change the model name.

I think you will need to trace the wiring.

Djacobsen · #10 Post by **Djacobsen** » Sun Dec 05, 2021 2:07 pm

Yup... I might have to get in there and follow the birds nest... :shock:

But here are the dash pictures.
Indicators / amp / oil / water / charging / lights on-off / glow plugs and hi beams all accounted for.. this one is just odd

red90 · #11 Post by **red90** » Sun Dec 05, 2021 5:37 pm

Brakes? Are there any sensors on the brakes, either fluid level or differential pressure?

Djacobsen · #12 Post by **Djacobsen** » Mon Dec 06, 2021 9:29 am

red90 wrote: Sun Dec 05, 2021 5:37 pm Brakes? Are there any sensors on the brakes, either fluid level or differential pressure?

Nope, the brakes are as basic as it gets on old Land Rovers. 4 wheel drums, no wires or sensors. No proportioning valve etc... about as basic as a lawn mower. Nothing connected to the master cylinder reservoir that I can see...

DO NOT LISTEN TO THIS NONSENSE!! I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT!!🤣😂😜....... Red90 is 100% correct normal Series III Rovers use a differential switch. After actually taking a close look I followed the lines to the differential switch. mine is located on the left frame rail if you stand in front of the Rover, lean over the radiator, and look down behind the battery.!

red90 · #13 Post by **red90** » Mon Dec 06, 2021 3:31 pm

The pressure differential warning actuator would not be at the master. Normally it is on the bulkhead. They were used on normal Land Rover Series 3s. Follow the brake lines.

https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/land-rove ... series-iii

Djacobsen · #14 Post by **Djacobsen** » Mon Dec 06, 2021 8:57 pm

red90 wrote: Mon Dec 06, 2021 3:31 pm The pressure differential warning actuator would not be at the master. Normally it is on the bulkhead. They were used on normal Land Rover Series 3s. Follow the brake lines.

https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/land-rove ... series-iii

Thanks for that, I'll poke my head in there on the weekend!
Who knew it would be so hard to identify one silly light eh?

Rob · #15 Post by **Rob** » Tue Dec 07, 2021 12:16 pm

Just thinking out loud... I assume that the amber indicator is a low fuel indicator as I recall the series diesels having such a warning light... that being said, could the red indicator be a water in fuel warning? If there's wires coming off of the inline fuel filter that would be a good indicator. I'm interested to find out what the answer is to the mystery so please be sure to share your findings.

Cheers, Rob

Seekerbeta · #16 Post by **Seekerbeta** » Sun Dec 12, 2021 9:40 am

if your local im totally willing to come by on my days off and help trace. i like treasure hunts like that.

Djacobsen · #17 Post by **Djacobsen** » Tue Dec 14, 2021 7:58 pm

Rob wrote: Tue Dec 07, 2021 12:16 pm Just thinking out loud... I assume that the amber indicator is a low fuel indicator as I recall the series diesels having such a warning light... that being said, could the red indicator be a water in fuel warning? If there's wires coming off of the inline fuel filter that would be a good indicator. I'm interested to find out what the answer is to the mystery so please be sure to share your findings.

Cheers, Rob

Rob, I will take a good look at this one for sure, this seems the most plausible explanation so far! It does kind of look like a fuel tank does it not?
I have just been very busy with the bloody aggravation that is my old Jaguar (I know, sucker for punishment) I just have not gotten to the Landy in the last few days

Djacobsen · #18 Post by **Djacobsen** » Tue Dec 14, 2021 7:59 pm

Seekerbeta wrote: Sun Dec 12, 2021 9:40 am if your local im totally willing to come by on my days off and help trace. i like treasure hunts like that.

Delta, near Sungod. Really good of you offer! I hope I can find it soon as to not inconvenience anyone else!

RobinS · #19 Post by **RobinS** » Wed Jan 26, 2022 5:45 am

Did you ever find out what the mystery lamp was for? I found several Santana dash pics but no explanation of the lamp function.

Djacobsen · #20 Post by **Djacobsen** » Sun Feb 06, 2022 5:01 pm

OK... so first off I have to apologize to anyone who was remotely interested in following this discussion..🤔. Life kinda got in the way etc etc etc... I have not been near my trusty old GOAT until today...

I gingerly lifted the instrument cluster out and followed the wires. Red90 you were 100% correct. it goes to the pressure differential switch on the frame where the brake lines split. So it seems that funny-looking drawing on that warning light is a BRAKE PEDAL... I guess if I had a few beers and squinted I could see that it might look like a brake pedal 😂🤣😂🤣

Djacobsen · #21 Post by **Djacobsen** » Sun Feb 06, 2022 5:16 pm

RobinS wrote: Wed Jan 26, 2022 5:45 am Did you ever find out what the mystery lamp was for? I found several Santana dash pics but no explanation of the lamp function.

Yeah... apparently it's a BRAKE PEDAL.... go figure... I would never have guessed. followed the wires to the pressure differential switch.

Djacobsen · #22 Post by **Djacobsen** » Sun Feb 06, 2022 5:23 pm

On another note... This old Land Rover has been parked since Nov 28th... I have not been anywhere near it until today. Turned the key, 5 sec of glow plugs, and the old diesel fired right up as if I drove it earlier this morning. When they are in tip-top shape they really are very good old cars. It makes you forget the weeks of fighting and cursing to get it going when you first bring them home.

The Rover-Landers of BC

The Rover-Landers of BC