No Brake Lights or Front & Rear Indicators

**Lionelgee** · 3rd June 2020, 11:19 AM

Hello All,

Just wondering if there are any known issues with the brakes and indicator lights on a 1992 Defender 110?

When I bought the vehicle the side "repeater" indicator lamps were broken off. Only the base plate and the wiring was present. Not even a bulb - they had been broken off too.

I have just replaced both repeater lamps and tested them direct to the battery before they were fitted properly. Both new repeater lamps worked during the test. Once the repeaters were fitted into the circuit - nothing

The headlights and parking lights work. Well one blown bulb on the passenger side parking light and the passenger side high beam does not work.

I am a bit disappointed with the replacement repeater lamps because they were bought new and the male connection lugs are too small a diameter to fit the original female connections. I had to use the old socket and wiring. The repeater lamps were bought using the correct part number. It is one step back having to use the old wiring and socket just to get things to fit properly!

Any hints about known problems with the indicator and brake lamp circuits with the Defender, and what to look out for?

Did Defenders share the same poor earth issues that the Series 3 experienced? Should I be running a separate earth to chassis point for each lamp? Just like I had to do in my Series vehicles.

Kind regards
Lionel

**rick130** · 3rd June 2020, 04:06 PM

Defenders have a tendency to chafe through the wiring loom for the rear where it passes inside the RH chassis rail. It'll throw up intermittent blown fuses, etc.

I seem to recall a difference in side repeaters between Tdi and TD5, too.
That might be your issue there

**MarkM** · 3rd June 2020, 04:25 PM

When fitting the repeaters into the circuit with the mismatched plugs, could you be inadvertently earthling the active supply, and hence have a blown fuse?

**Lionelgee** · 3rd June 2020, 06:15 PM

Originally Posted by MarkM

When fitting the repeaters into the circuit with the mismatched plugs, could you be inadvertently earthling the active supply, and hence have a blown fuse?

Hello Mark & Rick + Others,

No - green wire to green wire connector and black wire to black wire connector. This is an ex-farm vehicle so indicators, brake lights and reverse lights not working would not be that big an issue. The lights could have been out for years.

I checked the extremities and found no power going to the lamps. The next step is to take the steering column cover off and check to see if the indicator stalk is working and then find the brake switch.

Thanks Rick for the tip about the chaffing at the rear. I will have a squiz at that too.

Kind regards
Lionel

**pop058** · 3rd June 2020, 06:56 PM

Are you aware that defer lights are individually fused for left/right AND high/low and parkers.

**Lionelgee** · 3rd June 2020, 09:01 PM

Originally Posted by pop058

Are you aware that defer lights are individually fused for left/right AND high/low and parkers.

Hello Paul,

Well I am aware of that now. Bit of a step up from a Series 3 then!

Kind regards
Lionel

**rick130** · 4th June 2020, 12:47 AM

Lionel, the loom enters the RH chassis rail near the firewall from memory and travels the length of it to the rear.
It's been a few years since I've been under a Deefer.

**Lionelgee** · 4th June 2020, 10:41 AM

Hello All,

I checked all the fuses. I found that the one of the 10 amp light related fuses was blown. The two indicator 7.5 lamp fuses were also blown.

I fitted new fuses and picked up left high beam. No changes in lack of response for the indicators. However, the new fuses did not blow.

I am replacing all the lamps at the front and rear. Mostly because the front lenses are either broken or they have lost their colour and are very fragile. The rear lamp set are the rectangular combination type of unit containing: reverse, brake/tail and indicator generic style for a ute or a truck. Both are cracked and pretty shabby as well.

I have yet to test the indicator, high-beam, horn stalk. The high/low beam part works. The indicators and horn do not.

Kind regards
Lionel

**JDNSW** · 4th June 2020, 12:37 PM

I seem to remember that there is a fuse that covers all power that is only available when the ignition is on - but I may be thinking of a different model.

**Lionelgee** · 4th June 2020, 01:09 PM

Originally Posted by JDNSW

I seem to remember that there is a fuse that covers all power that is only available when the ignition is on - but I may be thinking of a different model.

Hello John,

Thank you for your reply. I have checked the lamps while the ignition has been on - only one position away from starting the motor. I have also tested with the engine running - with the same result of no lights.

Just mentally trying to eliminate some things - if the flasher unit for the indicators was unserviceable doesn't this still mean that the selected side's indicators would be on as a fixed light?

It looks like I will be searching for where the power is present and then finding where it stops. From there identifying why and how to fix the issue.

Kind regards
Lionel

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