Thread: Burnt out Headlight switch - Again!

drivesafe........tim is his name from traxide

index7

Originally Posted by Sleepy

110,000km on my 4yo Defender.

Last night, lost all headlights - Again. (Replaced the headlight switch about 18months ago)

I know the symptoms - and is the headlight switch burnt out. Whilst I have driving lights (through a relay) , it looks like I will have to upgrade to headlight relays. Definite weak point Mr Land Rover.

I did a search but couldn't find it - Who was it selling the headlight upgrade kits/relays around here?

You definitely need to have all headlights going through relays. I burned out 2 headlight switches in 2 years and after fitting relays to everything 10yrs ago no more burned out light switches. You can do this yourself very cheaply with a couple of twin relays and some heavy wire...........Brian

or from DavesITshop

I've tried to solve this by going HID. They are only 35W on high beam.

Time will tell if this is a good idea!

Relays are defintily the go - should be the first thing anybody does to a Defender. Without them, its not 'if' but 'when' the switch will fail - usually on a dark night. An added benefit is brighter lights due to less voltage drop.

The 'New Era' brand of relay are worth looking out for. Its not a hard thing to do yourself but the kit makes it easier.

Originally Posted by spudboy

I've tried to solve this by going HID. They are only 35W on high beam.

Time will tell if this is a good idea!

I bought a cheap chinese H4 sliding hi/lo HID kit a while back which came with a relay and loom kit - which was handy in the GQ Patrol as it also doesnt use headlight relays Cleaning switch contacts used to be a regular job.

The current draw for HID's spikes at startup - it can be over 10 amps but quickly goes back to 3 -4. I'd guess that you'd still be better off switchwise than someone using incandescants but who knows......

The Traxide wiring loom upgrade kits are available from the (www.aulro.com) "Shop" - see the top of the the blog between "Markets" and "Chat".

Switching the headlights without a relay works reasonably well - provided you do not increase the wattage of the bulbs. And the problem is, the damage may have been done by a previous owner, and not shown up yet.

Before increasing the wattage of the lights you should fit relays. While the standing current of HID lights is lower than the original bulbs, they have a high startup current, and should also operate through a relay.

Damage is likely to both the main headlight switch and to the multifunction switch. The damage can be either burning of the contacts, or heating of them enough to melt the plastic they are mounted to. In the first case the switch can be rescued by cleaning the contacts, but in the second case repair is not usually feasible.

As indicated, fitting relays is pretty easy, easier with a kit.

John

John