Thread: No headlights

We had the same problem last night driving back from Exmouth. The temporary solution after checking all the connections was to disconnect the headlight relays and plug in the original Defender wiring. Lights came back on but unfortunately we had no spotties or lightbar but I was able to keep driving.

Going to be checking everything in the next few weeks to get it all working again but we did notice that the headlights had not been as bright as they have previously but when we plugged the original harness back in the lights were quite bright. I was thinking it may be a faulty relay but I'll check everything else first.

i also thought my headlights were not as bright as when I installed the loom and relay, didn't think anything of it, I reckon the bracket was vibrating and slowly losing its ground, until it decided to go completely. My lights are brighter than they were now after Running a proper earth wire from the relay base. It sounds like you've got the same problem.

I've got my earth running to an existing bolt which I added another nut to it but I have the earths for the Fyrlyt's and Lightbar running to the same point so I'll check that first.

Gotta say, wasn't happy driving country roads last night with 600W of lights switched off but you get that.

Originally Posted by jackdef90

i also thought my headlights were not as bright as when I installed the loom and relay, didn't think anything of it, I reckon the bracket was vibrating and slowly losing its ground, until it decided to go completely. My lights are brighter than they were now after Running a proper earth wire from the relay base. It sounds like you've got the same problem.

Where did you run your earth? A pic would be good if possible.

I found that using one of the guard bolts as an earth point was not a good move.
I added a earth strap left over from the winch install direct from the motor to the light/relay earth bolt.


Unfortunately lots of folk(myself included until recently) concentrate on the power side of things and neglect having the same capacity for the earth.

Originally Posted by alien

I found that using one of the guard bolts as an earth point was not a good move.
I added a earth strap left over from the winch install direct from the motor to the light/relay earth bolt.


Unfortunately lots of folk(myself included until recently) concentrate on the power side of things and neglect having the same capacity for the earth.

Did you run this to the same point of the existing earth strap from the battery or connect elsewhere on the chassis. I'm thinking I could run them to one of the bolts for the bullbar that goes through the chassis rails at the front unless there's an easier way.

I had to know so I just went and pulled the earth wire out and touched it to another bolt. Bingo the lights came on. Now I just need to figure out a better earth point.

Loneranger I ran my earth wire to a bolt on the water pump cause it's nice and close and a much better ground going by how good my lights are now