I noticed the radio aerial seemed to be a bit hit and miss when I was out and about this weekend (at Brands Hatch as it happens) in my 97 416 Tourer so I had a fumble behind the stereo to check the cable and have managed to stop several things working all at the same time without trying too hard! Now, I haven't had the opportunity to check the fuses yet, but what's confusing is that the things that have stopped working would be on several different fuses? I have lost: radio ignition live (although permanent live is still there as I can eject CDs), clock backlight, both front electric windows, intermittent front wipers (although normal front wipers are fine), rear wiper, heated rear window... well that's what I've discovered so far!

What have I done?!?

There is a couple of control boxes attached to the back of the console, probably knocked off a multiplug.

Also check the fuses: intermittent wipe and rear wiper are controlled by the 'multifunction unit' (a 'black box' device) and the faults you have described are the same as the ones I had on my 214 SEi just before I sold it.

I had accidentally fitted the battery the wrong way round while trying to do it in the dark, and it fried a couple of fuses!

Okay I've had a bit of a rummage about tonight, but it's not very accessible... I can't actually locate my stereo removal tool so I'm a bit stuck there, nor could I remove the surround, despite the removal of all obvious screws! I've located two mutiplugs that look like they could be responsible for my woes, but I can't see anywhere for them to go!! Pictures below (excuse the focus but it's a bit tricky to convince autofocus to work in confined areas!). Any idea before I get the crowbar out? Incidentally the fuses are fine, so it probably IS just a connector but I'm damned if I can find it.

(Oh incidentally it's an R3 dash as it's a late model)

Hi there, I'd say as a matter of course, remove the stereo one way or another, as it'l give you a better perspective of what's going on behind it.
Looking at the first picture where you have a black plug connector in your right hand , I'd say that is has come from a socket recently, as there appears to be wear marks on the top of the plug, indicating that it does go somewhere, also highlighted my faint dust to the rear of the plug, and none at the front near the electrical end.
There are various plug connections behind the stereo for several circuits in the car so it's best to get the stereo out the way, failing that, unscrew the gear selector knob,remove the 2 small black Phillips screws either side of the centre console ( ones located not far below the gear selector, and the other to the bottom rear towards the foot well each side)and pull the plastic console towards you, also pulling away the gear gaiter at the same time, easier if you put it in 4th gear too help the gaiter slide over the selector, it should eventually pull away this will increase access to both sides and the front in order for you to assess what goes where.

I own a rover 420 on a 95 plate, which has the older dash, I recognise that socket, but cannot remember what it was for, as I have completely relocated all of the original wiring away from the centre dash .

Hope this helps/

as a thought, once you have removed the 4 small screws around the stereo trim, you may also need either 4 very small thin shaft screwdrivers or four small nails, and push them into the holes revealed under the screws, this may release the latches holding the stereo in place.

r3 dash centers are dead easy to remove. you can see lots of wiring with this removed and should be able to find what ever it is that your looking for.

Yeah, I was hoping the dash centre would be easy to remove, but I couldn't budge it despite removing the four obvious screws. It wiggled about a bit but wouldn't work free and I didn't really want to force it in case I'd missed some screws somewhere and would damage it. Or do I just need to be more persistent? I assume it's clipped in place as well as screwed? Will the stereo need to be removed first or will it, as I hope, just come out with the dash centre?

Unfortunately I don't have a Haynes, although I doubt a Haynes would actually be much use fiven that the R8 Haynes don't cover the R3 dashes!

You should be a little more persistent with it, It's unlikely you'l break it by pulling a little harder, what you may find is that the top half should come away first, then pull it towards you and up as you get to the gear lever, it might help that you have the lever in 4th gear as this will help you clear the gear shift when you pull the gaiter over it.