Driving blind.....

[sean14]

Hi all,
So here goes...the other night whilst returning from a great weekend away things couldn't be better. The weather was perfect all weekend, the 130 was running great and then it happened. All my lights died. No head lights, no tail lights no dash lights nothing! Now I checked everything I could think of on the side of the rd with no success. Checked all the globes (yep, all if em), checked all the fuses including the big ones under the bonnet and even unrelated ones keeping in mind 300tdi wiring history. Still nothing abnormal. Put a multimeter on all the relays I thought might have an effect. Yep, you guessed it all good. Started to get desperate so I pulled the headlight stalk from the steering column and found that I had no power at the switch...progress I suppose, but being 11pm on a Sunday night at this stage I was getting desperate,so I ran a hot line to the headlights and hey presto, lights.
This got me home, but doesn't help in identifying the issue. I have 2 schematics (both different) but before I dive head first into what could be a full lighting rewire I was wondering if any one out there might have an idea on what to check? Figured it couldn't hurt to ask before I do something I might not be able to undo!
It's a 300tdi (1997-130), the only elec mod's are a dual batt system, UHF and spotlights.......any thoughts anyone, I'm at a complete loss.
Thanks in advance:)

[rutmutt]

The defenders are known to lose lights due the stalk itself either shorting out or the contacts falling out. This could explain ALL your lights as the tail/dash lights are first stage and driving lights are 2nd stage.

I think it cost me roughly $80 to replace the stalk in my TD5 110.

[weeds]

More than likely the stalk....fit relays so that a the current does not run through the switch

[redrovertdi]

mine did it to late one night on the road between Rockhampton and Yeppoon, i eventually pulled the head light switch to find the fault and twisted the wires together and untwisted when i needed to turn them off, being a tight arse i did that for nearly two weeks while i waited for a genuine switch to come from the UK rather than pay $60 more for a local one

[sean14]

Thanks for info...to be honest I hadn't considered the switch itself until reading a few replies. That's it... Tomorrow ill order a new one. Can't hurt either way.
Ill do as u suggest weeds and fit a relay so the current doesn't run through the switch itself.
Thanks again, trusty aulro mechanic is open 24/7 for advice as always.
Cheers guys

[Old Rangie]

My dear old Td5 130 (now named Harold) has exasperated me with lighting fault. Main issue started as the side lights/tail lights came on at start up and after a quick flick on light switch would go out. I think that was a Telstra fiddle. Then during this last trip (started April 2013) the side lights would no longer turn off. Nothing short of isolating battery would turn off. Lucky I have a simple switch but I loose the trip meter each time.

After employing services of poor unsuspecting autosparkie in Port Augusta we spent over a day tracing and testing and then after driving away in the dark the damn side lights / tail lights went out completely . Hi beam, low beam plus driving lights okay.
Switch right? however power feed to switch no power. Bridge from fusible link under the seat and head lights back to normal. (Whilst these lights were working I suspected the wiring so taking no chances.) Hi beam and Driving lights relay also takes switching signal from same feed. Plus side lights return still won't turn off.

Diagnosis....somewhere in the loom, in that very tight space behind the creature comfort radio / firewall area there has been heat melting insulation and shorting onto the sidelights/tail lights wiring. The power feed to the switch has sweated the soldered joint resulting in occasional loss of power to switch. Switch meantime has been heating up due to voltage drop from sweated joint. (Guess yet to be confirmed)

When back home the plan is to cut the side lights/tail lights loom and bridge from the down hill side of the light switch.

Very scary when caught on a busy highway with twenty foot van and road trains coming up behind without tail lights.

May not help you sean14 but it could be the beginning of more to come. I was told of this wiring fault by the boys at TR Spares who have encountered same on occasions.

Regards Old Rangie

[sean14]

Cheers for the rundown old rangie. That was my worst fear, that it was a wiring fault somewhere and would require a lot more than just a change of the stalk. Ill do a little bit more testing and playing and order a new switch and see what comes of it. Other option, and it's something I've been considering for a while is building a new harness complete when I give the interior a makeover later in the year...hmmm who knows, fingers crossed its an easy fix not the dreaded defender wiring gremlin.
Sean

[spudboy]

Hey sean - there's a bloke on here called DriveSafe who sells kits all pre-made up to put in the relays for your headlights. Do a search and you'll quite a few posts on his stuff.

Here's his website: Headlight Wiring Kits | TRAXIDE - RV | Traxide - RV (http://www.traxide.com.au/headlight-wiring-kits/)

HTH
David

[sean14]

Ill def be getting intouch with him. Thanks for the info, that's probably a safer bet then letting myself loose with a pair a wire cutters!
Cheers
Sean