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Sunday 28 June 2009

Rear Storage Bin

I have no need for the 7 seats in the Discovery 2 but I would like to carry a few bits and pieces and spares neatly in the back.  I have therefore replaced one of the rear seats with a storage pocket.


The picture is of the left hand pocket but I installed the right hand (UK driver side) bin.


The above shows the list of spare parts required for the right hand pocket.


When it came to fitting I changed some of the bits to make it easier and also stronger.  Rather than take all the plastic panels out and fit everything with hidden screws and spring clips from behind, I positioned bits of timber inside and screwed in to those.  From the outside the fitting looks similar but it was easier to do and the end result has a stronger panel behind giving the hinges a stronger backing.

I have deliberately left the seat belt hidden behind the plastic quarter panels, just in case I need to re-instate it.  It was a fairly easy job to unbolt the end near the rear door and push it through the panel at the top.  I've tied it all back inside to stop it knocking on anything.  I've also put a black plastic cover loosely held inside by cable ties so you cannot see the belt.

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Update: March 2017
I have removed the other seat.

Saturday 13 June 2009

Discovery 2 parking sensor controls

That didn't last long. I am not keen on the parking sensors coming on automatically whenever I select reverse gear.


By removing a single green/brown wire, the sensors can still be activated by the button on the dash but selecting reverse gear does not activate them.

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How I Did This

The reversing sensor control unit is behind the trim in the rear left hand corner.
It can be easily reached by removing the small grill by the back door catch.

The buzzer is separate connected using a pink and brown wire.  This goes back to the larger beige
connector on the unit.

The smaller black connector on the unit is connected to the sensors on the rear bumper.

The other larger beige connector has the power and connections to the switches.



To disconnect the reverse gear switch remove the Green with brown stripe wire.
Be careful, there is a bright green with yellow stripe which looks similar but is the live feed.

The Green/Brown wire goes to 12V when the gear lever selects reverse gear.

To remove the wire:
1. unplug the larger connector and bring it through the trim panel.
2. Cut the cable tie
3. Carefully prise apart the top part of the casing and fold back the small flap of plastic
4. With a small screwdriver or two pull apart the outer casing of the connector and push the
    white part out one end.  Only one end is open so it is obvious which way it can slide.
    Pushing a screwdriver in the other end while pulling both sides apart is fiddly but easy enough.
5. With the white part out use a tiny watchmakers screwdriver to push the metal catch on the
    socket connected to the Green/Brown wire while gently pulling on that wire.  It will come out
    easily if you have pushed the tiny metal catch far enough in.
6. With the socket out, wrap it in insulation tape making sure that tape will not come off.
    The wire goes live when on so you don't want an accidental short to the chassis in the future.
    I like to double wrap it and secure it back to the other wire so it does not dangle.
7.  Reassemble in reverse of the above.  You'll need a new cable tie to finish the job.


Larger connector wiring:
Side One pins
None
Pink - to buzzer
None
None
Red/Grey
None
None
None

Side two pins
Black - probably ground to the chassis (always has zero resistance and zero volts when tested)
None
Green/Brown - To reverse gear lever switch
None
Grey
None
Brown - to buzzer
Green/Yellow - 12V when ignition on

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