Donner's Official Portrait

Click here for Donner’s Official Portrait and the backstory.

A solution for every problem - Defender 90 Warning Light Module AMR2043

Two days before I returned home, my “headlights-on” light on the warning light module (part AMR2043) on my Defender’s dashboard went dark. When I brought the vehicle into my mechanic and he looked at it, other lights on the module failed in a domino effect. The good news is that happened when it did and not during the trip. The bad news, he told me, was there is no replacement available for the module, and that their best hope would be to find one on a junked Defender in an auto-junk yard. But the problem there is that few of the 2,500 1993-1997 NAS (North American Series made for the USA) Defenders like mine make it to these auto junkyards, which is why they sell these days for $65,000 or more.  The Defender, which started production worldwide (except for the US) in 1983 or so, did not make it to the USA until 1993 when 500 Defender 110s were shipped to the USA, and then 1994, 1996 and 1997, when 2,000 Defender 90s were shipped here. (By the way, the author was the first “civilian” to drive the first NAS Defender 90 brought off the ship for display at an auto-show in October 1993, and one of the first buyers weeks later, but that’s another story.) So, with only 2,500 NAS Defenders ever made, with their unique parts, and now all 21-25 years old, some parts are becoming hard -if not impossible- to come by, or so it would seem.  Not one for wanting to abandon a problem looking for a solution to an important subject as my Defender, or abandon my Defender because of an obsolete $300 part, I went to work.

 

Not knowing when my mechanic would be able to get to my Defender, I searched the web for just about every Land Rover supply house in the USA and elsewhere in the world looking for part AMR2043, my warning light module (see below diagram).  Of course, I knew that the overseas houses would not have the part since part AMR2043 was made specifically for the USA (NAS) Defender.  As it turns out, all the US supply houses told me the part was obsolete and no longer available. Not a single one told me what options I had, despite their hyped ads that touted, “We will find the part for you if we do not have it.”  

 

Not one to get discouraged, I contacted Rovers North in Vermont and asked them what people do when they cannot locate a replacement for their warning light module, which is sure to fail at some time. Surely, people just don’t junk their Defenders because of this $300 part, I said. The rep agreed and told me that people get one of the TDI-Defender versions (see AMR 2628 in middle of photo display, below) and do a lot of rewiring. Although compatible replacement modules are plug-ins (a three-minute job to replace), which come with one port in the rear of the module for the 13 lights, that patches into a prewired ribbon in the wiring harness, if a module in not fully compatible (see the differences in the photo below), all of the lights need to be individually wired to the ribbon in the harness, and maybe even the ribbon itself, at least a four-hour job if successful.

 

After talking with Rovers North, I searched the web for AMR2628 and found a number of sites that offer this version. Although they said they have it, I was suspect.  So, I started searching for sites that not only supply parts, but actually rebuild Defenders, thinking they either must have some used ones they remove from Defenders they are rebuilding or have secret sources for getting new ones.  As good luck would have it, my first contact produced success.  My email to XXXX (name to be provided later at their request) returned me with the good news that in their own rebuilding work, they need to have a guaranteed source  new warning light modules if they cannot salvage used ones, and so they just finished getting an outsourced production run of a number of AMR2043s and were just about to publish that information on NAS-ROW and Defender-Source. In fact, Joe, the parts rep, just happened to have one on his desk at the time (see bottom photo) of my call.  Needless to say, I placed an order immediately for one and awarded Joe a coveted OTR patch for his good work.

 

The even better news about this whole exercise for me is knowing that I will be able to keep my Defender up and running indefinitely as long as shops like XXXX and my own mechanic stay in business.

 

ED

 

“There is a solution for every problem, and don’t give up until a solution is found, if the problem is worth solving.” Me.

 

Top: AMR2043; Middle: AMR 2628 (and three alternative manufacturers); Bottom: New AMR2043 from XXXX

 

 

 

Day 19 update

As I expected would happen, once I got home, the long list of Post-Trip To-Do’s (For grammar buffs, Do’s is an acceptable form for stating the plural of To-do) got stalled almost out of the gate, as the chores of living back home started to accumulate and bury me.  I cannot tell you how many times I said to myself, I should have stayed on the road longer, but that would have been procrastinating and postponing the inevitable. Here is an update on several things.

 

First, Donner is completely cured of his on-the-road aliment, the severe colitis. And after a visit to his dermatologist, he also seems to be cured of a pesky bacterial infection that plagued his skin the entire trip, and made sitting next to him for hours a day for 49 days a nuisance for me.

 

Second, Donner’s official portrait arrived and I am waiting for the chance to take it to a framer.  I hope to do that tomorrow. When I get it back, I will post it on the page accessible from the button on the right column.

 

Third, I am also still waiting for the chance to get a haircut, not that there is much there to cut in the first place. Had I gone to Vancouver Island, I would have driven 300 miles out of my way to stop off at Henry’s Barber Shop in Port Hardy, which I visited twice before, but I never got there this trip.  This is probably the longest I have gone without a haircut in my life (three months).

 

Fourth, one of the items on my punch list for my the Defender’s mechanic was to replace the warning light module on the dashboard, which started to fail two days two days (lucky me, huh?) before I got home when the “headlights-on” icon would not light up.  My mechanic told me that when he went to check it out, the entire module failed.  This affected no functionalities, but it would be unwise to drive without those warning lights going off, 13 of them.  He also told me that the part is now obsolete and the only hope would be to find one from a junked Defender. As people know, I do not like to hear that there is no solution to a problem, so I went to work immediately. I will provide details about these two problems and my solution in a posting to follow so those with a similar problem can access it quickly.

 

ED

Status of Defender

It seems that the Defender’s engine skipping, not starting and red check engine light problems were all connected and a simple fix.  The relays controlling the fuel pump went bad, which happens.  Fortunately, I had spares with me so that if this had been diagnosed on the road, I would have been on my way in a matter of minutes. I was 100 percent right in my diagnosis that the problem had something to do with the fuel pump, which itself was brand new. Perhaps new relays should have been installed when the new fuel pump was installed.  I am beginning to think that this has been my problem all along over the last year, and it came and went intermittently until it finally gave out.  Hmmm. In the future, if I install a new device, I will insist on new relays. This should be standard operating procedure on all installations.  If I am correct, that means not only did I spend a ton of money over the last two years dealing with this, and not having the use of my vehicle in the meantime, but this was a time bomb waiting to go off during this entire trip of 10,200 miles.  Lucky me that it happened the day after I got home.  And perhaps this problem was the reason I had to have the Defender shipped back from Utah in 2016, at a cost of more than $5000 for me. Just a thought.

 

But a larger problem was with the indicator light for the headlights. That panel (see #1 in below left illustration) holds several warning lights – handbrake on, lights on, oil, and check engine. When the mechanic took a look at why the “lights on” light was not coming on, the rest of the panel fell apart.  Not surprising for a 24-year old vehicle.  Fortunately, no functionalities were affected, just the indicator lights, but they are needed.  Now the problem comes on finding one to replace mine.

 

“There is a solution for every problem.”

  

 

Defender layout FINAL VERSION

Many of the people I meet on the road observe that the Defender is quite packed, and that everything seems to have a place, both of which observations are 100 percent true. In fact, it is so packed with essential, discretionary and contingency items that I have to resist people giving me things to take along.

Below is a map of the Defender's lower level and roof rack to give you a sense of how packed it is and how everything has a place.  The index merely describes the label for what is where. To see the actual contents of the various bags, boxes, containers and in a few instances installed equipment (air compressor, winch, differential lock controls, etc.)  see my To Take list.

As my trips proceed, some items from the various containers also ride loose in the cab or the rear, and those are not mentioned here. Needless to say, during the course of a day's drive, things get rather chaotic in the rear. But no matter how packed Donner's rear bed gets, he always manages to find a nice comfortable spot for him to take a rest, even if it means resting on top of whatever happens to be in his bed. ( I lost many bananas due to his indifference to what he is lying on.)

For the first several road trips, I weighed each of the containers to make sure that the weight was evenly distributed on the roof rack and in the rear. Since I rarely add something without subtracting something else, the weight of the total contents has pretty much stayed the same over the nine trips. I estimate now that I carry 500 pounds of gear on the roof rack and another 500 inside. I am sure that at least 50% of that weight is for emergencies, and another 20% to avoid having to do frequent resupplying along that way. My hope is to never have to use the emergency supplies and gear, but knowing it is there gives me confidence to go places I might not otherwise go.

If the Defender looks packed in the below map, that's because it is packed. There is literally no space unused except as few inches on the roof rach. I try to keep the stuff inside below the window level, but I am not always successful in doing that with the resulting decrease in rear and side visibility, but so far I have managed.

ED

PS - I have been trying to pull together this map during and after the pervious eight road trips. Finally, I got to it.  I can now use this to organize for the next road trip. I can think of several changes already that I will make to the organization.


Note: Map is not necessarily to scale or to shape.  Colors are used only to delineate the different containers.

HOOD AND INSIDE

 

ROOF RACK LEVEL

 

 

FW: Defender items

List of items needed for Defender....

1- 3000-mile service due, oil filer change, air filter, etc.
2-Vehicle will not start. Battery ok. (First time I let it sit for more than one day.)
3- check engine light went on last two days of trip; engine strated to skip every now and then at same time and did not perform as well
4- - charger (cigarette lighter) in front of console not working; repair or replace
5- driver door not shutting properly so it can be locked. Does lock need to be changed or is something blocking it?
6- Gadget that holds rear gate propped open seems to be missing
7- bracket for side ladder on driver's side needs to be moved somewhat
8- Mechanic removed clogged check valve on wiper pump fluid line. Is this okay without check valve?
9- Wipers on slow mode get stuck for a few seconds when running and wipers do not return to bottom. Repair or replace.
10- Headlight indicator light on dash panel not coming on
11- knob on transfer case shift comes off. Is this fixable?
12- Emergency handbrake loose.

Lucky Me

I have not used the Defender since i got back on Friday. I went to start it today to take Donner to the vet, and it would not start. Lucky me that this did not happen on the trip, even on the last day when it might have been impossible for a tow truck to tow me out from where I was.

I will have it towed to my mechanic on Wednesday.

I cannot believe this is happening.

Ed

Looking back; looking forward

> Ever since I started backpacking in the Shenandoah mountains decades ago, following each trip I would make a list of things to improve for the next trip.My preparedness had improved to the point where in the 90s I made six quite successful backcountry backpacking trips, mostly solo, in Alaska and Russia. Although a completely different kind of trip, that preparedness-mindset carried over to my first long road camping trip, to the Arctic Ocean in Alaska in 2000. And it continued after that into the subsequent seven long road trips that followed, going through the same routine of my asking what I should do to improve for the next trip. And each trip was an improvement over the last. For this last trip, here are some of the improvements that I made.
>
> 1- When my 3.9-liter engine failed on the ALCAN during the 2016 trip, I replaced it with a more powerful 4.6-liter engine.
>
> 2- I planned the first seven camps of the trip in detail and with one change met every target, despite two trip-delaying incidents that occurred.
>
> 3- I replaced my aging iPad with the new one.
>
> 4- I transitioned to using my blog as my journal also.
>
> 5- I started to use a dictation app to write my blog.
>
> 6- I purchased a beaded seat cover to keep the circulation going through my abductor muscles, that worked significantly. Looking back, riding in the Defender for eight hours a day over the previous eight trips essentially destroyed my right abductor muscles.
>
> 7- I purchased a dog gate for the rear window of the Defender to prevent Donner from escaping, as he has been known to do, and to make it more difficult for would-be intruders to gain entry into the Defender from the rear. If you look closely at the Donner, you will see i have panels from dog cages in both side rear windows for the same reason.
>
> 8- I had my eyes tested days before the trip and got my first pair of distance glasses to improve my night-driving.
>
> 9- Because my recent hip surgery took away my full range of motion with my right leg, preventing me from easily getting access to the front of my roof rack the way I used to, I devised an auxiliary ladder system.
>
> 10- I installed an eight- gallon auxiliary fuel tank (52% more fuel) to allow me to cover more distance during the day without having to refuel in to compensate for my the new more powerful engine's higher fuel consumption (about 19% more).
>
> 11- I relied heavily on my Garmin and Google (Maps and Search) to locate campsites and other services on the fly. As the result, I did not consult a single AAA or Woodall's hardcopy directories or papers maps so that the next time I can eliminate a whole container with those sources in it.
>
> 12- I took along more spare parts for the Defender and, as good luck would have it, I was prepared for the one major incident that did take place.
>
> 13- I brought along a small step stool and it came in handier than I ever expected.
>
> 14- I relaxed my hard-and-fast rule about having to tent every night no matter what the price to me, especially on the last leg of the trip when we were officially heading for home.
>
> 15- I decided to stay in a cabin near Washington at the end of the trip for two days to unwind before heading home.
>
> During this trip, I made a number of notes in my journal about ways to improve the next trip. So far, the three biggest improvements will be: (1) Get rid of my Microsoft desktop computer and get an Apple; (2) "process" my gear containers fully now and (3) start preparing those containers for the next trip one at a time as many days before I hope to leave as there are containers to go with me. My guess is that the trip was delayed at least two day because of the many "Microsoft (application) not responding" and "Synchronizing Trash" messages I got and another three days trying to prepare 26 containers simultaneously.
>
>
>

Post-trip to do list

These road trips of mine do not end when I pull into my garage and unload the Defender.  They linger on for weeks, depending upon how much time I put in each day closing them out, sometimes for months. I live by To-Do lists (not that I follow them religiously), and so there is one for unwinding from these trips, just as there is one before the trips begin. Here’s my first crack at the one for this trip, which I will update until everything is done.  I will add a link to the right which will go to the latest one.

 

0		Column 1: 1=Trip Related; 2=Trip derived; 3=Other
0		Column 2: 1=do now; X=done
1		Go through accumulate mail, emails, phone messages
1		Check out Mophie charges
1		Get new/backup charger cables
1		Retire Microsoft computer and get an Apple
1		Clean defender
1		Get defender washed
1		Take defender in for Service
1	X	Wash Donner
1	X	Unfreeze equinox
1		Restart NYT, Post, Economist, NYRB
1		Restart RTN , Netflix
1		Restart Donner's fish oil
1	X	Send in satellite phone
1		Change ATT plan
1		Unpack and “process” or containers (see details)
1		Get camera repaired
1		Buy new sunglasses
1		Write Summary of trip
1	X	Set up OTR Nine extended
1		Review 2018 blog for changes and prepare chronological index
1		Download defender workshop manual
1		Get tent repaired
1		Write up what to do (or not do) next trip; what went right this trip
1		Unload   means to do whatever must be done to store items for next trip
1		Unload console and dashboarfd
1	X	Unload cooler
1		Unload office
1		Unload map room
1		Unload workshop manual box
1		unload First aid kit
1		unload fluids container
1		Unboad gas and water cans
1		Buy new jerry can
1	X	unload dogs pantry
1		unload utility box
1		unload library
1		unload bungee bag
1		unload Donner's grooming kit
1		unload electronics bag
1		unload Ed stuff box
1		unload Donner stuff box
1		unload intent bag
1		unload backpack
1		Unload Ed's grooming bag
1		unload rear dog bed etc. in rear
1		Unload front dog bed and recovery equipment
1	X	Unload kitchen
1	X	unload food boxes container
1		unload supply container
1		unload dogs food container
1		unload garage
1		unload tent large
1		unload tent small
1		unload wardrobe
1		unload linen bag
1		unload Pull Pal and jack
2		Get haircut
2		Take Donner to Dr. Hanson
2		Take Donner to Dr. Morgan
2		Call Hospital for new bill
2		File insurance claim with Trupanion
2		Get Donner's portrait framed
2		Plan unveiling of Donner's portrait
2		Revise my “goals” as the result of this trip
2		Thank you notes to people

 

Donner home at last

The first thing I did when I pulled into my garage last night, after breathing a sigh of relief and joy and sending my posting to my blog, was to take Donner inside while I unloaded the Defender, thinking he’d be happier in the house.  Well, the only time I saw him happier was when I rescued him from the shelter three years ago. Boy, did he go crazy.  He could not get enough of home. The truth is, as much as I love being on the road and miss it already, I felt the same way, but acted more calmly than he.  But first, I spent almost three hours unloading the containers from the Defender in the rain and cold outside since the clearance in my garage does not accommodate the loaded roof rack. Speaking of unloading, I thought it best before I took Donner inside to take him out for a walk since I took no rest stops on the way home. Well, speaking of "unloading," he did, completely.  What a good dog he was not to unload in the Defender.

ED

Replacement cooler

The cooler I took on this trip too a beating,  I need to rehab it or get a new one.  It was actually quite ideal since it served as not only a cooler, but a step stool for Donner to use to climb into his front set and a pillow for him when he was in his rear bed.

OTR9 Extended

November 10, 2018….Because I am transitioning to use my trip blogs also as my journals, and because these trips do not really end when I pull into my garage, as I did last night, I will be posting my post-trip notes on a separate blog <OTR9X.blogspot.com> so that I do not detract from the OTR9 trip blog itself.  I will also use that blog to start the planning for the next road trip, whenever that is to occur (OTR-TEN).  That blog is accessible from the link in the right column, at the top. The only new postings I intend to make on this blog will be the summary of the trip, which I will post in a few days, and the unveiling of Donner’s official portrait, as explained on a link to the right also, although there might be others. The OTR9X blog is public, although some if not all of the postings might not make sense to many.

ED