Headlight problems

[The Beast]

Hi, I need some help with my perentie's headlights. Today I went to check out the lay of the land before putting some driving lights on and two problems emerged.
First, which wire is high beam? Blue and red or blue and white?
Second, low beam has stopped working. Park lights work, high beams will flash but don't stay on. Checked fuses, all ok.
Any clues where to start trouble shooting?

[ajge]

Hi
Check the light switch. The whole current for the lights is switched. At least that's what failed on my 96 defender. I suspect the Perentie is wired the same.
Regards
Andrew

[DBT]

Hi
Check the light switch. The whole current for the lights is switched. At least that's what failed on my 96 defender. I suspect the Perentie is wired the same.
Regards
Andrew

Is it worth adding a DIY relay?

Or should the switches normally be up for it?

I've heard a few owners mention messy wiring on their "new" Perenties. Do the electrics usually need some attention?

[cinan]

I have found a few problems with my headlights which seem to be resolved now. The major things I checked/adjusted were making sure the fuse holders were rust/grime free, pulling apart the bullet connectors behind the headlight assemblies and reconnecting, and replacing the headlight 3 pin connectors with new ones. I think the main cause was the bullet connectors becoming slightly disconnected.

[Dervish]

Hi, I need some help with my perentie's headlights. Today I went to check out the lay of the land before putting some driving lights on and two problems emerged.

First, which wire is high beam? Blue and red or blue and white?

Second, low beam has stopped working. Park lights work, high beams will flash but don't stay on. Checked fuses, all ok.

Any clues where to start trouble shooting?


Ok, first up - if cable colours are the same as a defender (likely) it is blue and white for high beam, blue and red for low beam.

I think that your problem will be the relay that switches the headlights off when ignition goes off. Try switching it over for a different one and report back :)

If you do decide to put relays into the headlight circuit, I've found a neat way to do it - I'll post a link later this morning (can't work out how on my phone).

[JDNSW]

Is it worth adding a DIY relay?

Or should the switches normally be up for it?

I've heard a few owners mention messy wiring on their "new" Perenties. Do the electrics usually need some attention?

Landrover 110s commonly fail either the light switch or the multifunction switch as a result of all the headlight current passing through the switch. Often, but not always helped by fitting higher wattage lights. The solution is to fit relay(s) (I used a dual fused relay fitted close to the lights and taking the feed from the alternator) and replace the faulty switch. As far as I know this applies to the Perentie as much as to the civilian 110.

If only one beam has failed, probably the multifunction switch.

John

[rar110]

Problems I've had with headlights have been:
• wire feeding into H4 plug separating - fixed with new plug.
• corrosion on the fuse terminals - fixed by cleaning with mini wire brush from cheap shop (disconnect battery first).

Most of my electrical problems have been corroded or dirty connections, or connections breaking.

Google H4 wiring diagram. It will tell you which wire is high and low beam power feed.

[The Beast]

thanks for all the replies. i'll be in the shed tonight cleaning connections etc. my other best guess was the switch. i'll try to rule out poor connections before i try relays.

i've also heard of a few other perentie owners with wiring dramas. mine looks all ok as far as i can tell, and i've had no other problems. everything was ok when i picked it up back in November, although i haven't needed to use headlights since then.

[ajge]

Ok, first up - if cable colours are the same as a defender (likely) it is blue and white for high beam, blue and red for low beam.

I think that your problem will be the relay that switches the headlights off when ignition goes off. Try switching it over for a different one and report back :)

If you do decide to put relays into the headlight circuit, I've found a neat way to do it - I'll post a link later this morning (can't work out how on my phone).


My perentie has had a mod to allow the headlights on while the engine is off. I can't remember the Mod record number for this. It's listed in the buyers guide available in the vendors section.
I checked my wiring. The whole current passes through the switch. I suspect this is your problem.
Regards
Andrew

[atwood]

I have a similar problem.
Headlights ceased functioning one day last week... flash functions normally.
After diving into the fountain of knowledge (this forum), I removed and tested the switch... it functions correctly. At that point she who must be obeyed rearranged my priorities.
The bonnet is up, the test light is sitting on the guard and I have a wiring diagram - I will figure out where the problem is when I get a chance, but of course I would be grateful for all suggestions.

[JDNSW]

......., I removed and tested the switch... it functions correctly. ....

Did you test both switches? could be either the light switch or the multifunction switch.

John

[solidrock]

Headlights ceased functioning one day last week...

Same thing happened to me, turned out the pins on the indicator stalk switch were bent.

[The Beast]

Nothing to report on yet, late nights home after work and preparing for flinders ranges trip took priority. As soon as I get back I'll try to fix it and post what I found. Thanks for all the suggestions, I'm sure the answer will be something obvious once I get into it

[atwood]

I've also only just managed the time to get back to the problem..... and I am pretty sure that JDNSW is right and the multifunction switch has died (profuse thanks to him).
I have just given up for the day and resorted to beer. I am embarrassed to admit that I can't get the switch out for a close look, because I can't shift the bloody steering wheel! A puller constructed from G clamps and bits of steel won't move it despite exerting considerable force. The note on the wheel says don't hit it with a hammer - they were reading my mind!

[JDNSW]

If the wheel is the same as mine (it probably is) it has two tapped (1/4"UNF) holes. An effective puller is a bit of steel with two holes spaced the same as these and a third one about 3/8 UNF tapped halfway. Secure with the two outer holes and tighten the middle one.

John

[atwood]

Thanks again - model 2 puller will be tested tomorrow... and I will shift the thing!

[oowa]

thanks for all the replies. i'll be in the shed tonight cleaning connections etc. my other best guess was the switch. i'll try to rule out poor connections before i try relays.

i've also heard of a few other perentie owners with wiring dramas. mine looks all ok as far as i can tell, and i've had no other problems. everything was ok when i picked it up back in November, although i haven't needed to use headlights since then.

My headlights work when key is out, never knew this was a mod till you posted it

Bruce

110 perentie Survey

[cummo]

Woody,

I had the headlight switch assembly on my Perentie come adrift from its locating slot and started to float around inside it's rubber grommet (the locking nuts had loosened-up). To get to both it and the multi-function switch I separated the two halves of the plastic shroud which are held together with set screws mating into threaded inserts in the shroud.
I didn't have to remove the steering wheel to remove and re-assemble the shroud. I'm assuming your vehicle would be the same.

Cheers, Dave

[atwood]

OK this in now getting officially silly!
I constructed the puller, pretty simple really - but I made one mistake, making the effort useless. Before I read JDNSW's last, I tested the threads in the two "puller" holes to make sure I could use them. I decided that my spare bit of M6 threaded rod was good for the task.... it wasn't! It pulled straight out when pressure was applied.
I will now get something the right size.
Dave - in this case I do need to get at the combination switch to remove it, pretty sure the wheel has to come off.

[cummo]

Good luck with it then mate - if it's got to come off it's got to come off!

Keep us posted how you go.

Cheers, Dave

[atwood]

Still no headlights - I must be getting closer.....
The wheel came off - It was VERY tight and I bent the puller (1/4in steel plate) in the process, but I won. Then a nice surprise - the switch is OK! I had expected to see it burnt out, but it tests fine. The spooky bit is that the fault is in the wire (blue) between the two switches. Wiring diagram shows a direct connection, connector plugs are OK. I should be holding both ends of the same wire, but there is no connectivity between the two. Alas the wiring disappears behind the dashboard, looks like that comes off next!
This is a bit weird I reckon - anyone want to venture advice or opinion? I suppose I could just bypass it with another bit of wire, but it has me intrigued and I want to find the problem.

[atwood]

Problem solved.... because I cut and joined the (blue) wires to make a direct contact between the switches.
I reckon that my problem had something to do with the blackout facility. I found one blue wire at the the blackout switch where I expected to find two and I then decided that the spaghetti had beaten me.

[The Beast]

well a slight development on the original problem. after not making much progress earlier towards a solution (or effort, if i'm honest) i replaced the light switch. still no result. the original was actually in very good condition anyway. then time got away from me again, but after a trip away this weekend which started off racing against the sunset to get off the Hume highway before dark, a couple of days bouncing around some paddocks seems to have fixed the problem and the lights are working again. so a good and bad situation; whilst its great they work again, i still don't know which connection was crook.

[Dervish]

Don't worry, it will be back.

[mark2]

Fitting headlight relays is the first mod I would recommend to a new Perentie or Defender owner, dont wait until the switch fails at the worst posssible time. On top of the big increase in relibability is the added bonus of brighter lights.

[The Beast]

ah, dervish, your comment reminds me of a guy i met while checking out another auction at minto. i told him that my landrover wasn't leaking any oil. he just said "dont worry, it will come right".

i'm pretty sure it was you going past me on the M7 on monday arvo then up ryde road, yeah??

[cummo]

Yep Mark 2 - upgrading the headlights on my Perentie is up towards the top of my list, as I'm doing more night driving than I originally thought I would. I swear my old Series 1 has brighter headlights....
Does anyone know if the seemingly often-talked-about Traxide wiring upgrade kit for Defenders will fit the Perentie? I like the idea of the all-in-one kit as I'm no electrical genius and having a fit for purpose kit would save me from having to source separate components with only a vague idea of what I need. Traxide say the wiring upgrade generally results in brighter headlights without changing bulbs, as well as saving the switch from burning -out.
If the kit is suitable then I'll have to decide whether to get just the headlight wiring upgrade kit or splash out for the headlight + driving light upgrade kit as contingency for if I ever want to fit driving lights. Just having brighter headlights alone would make me feel safer as a lot of my daily runs are in non-urban areas without road lighting, (not to mention saving me hunching forward squinting at the limits of the current lights).

[The Beast]

Fitting headlight relays is the first mod I would recommend to a new Perentie or Defender owner, dont wait until the switch fails at the worst posssible time. On top of the big increase in relibability is the added bonus of brighter lights.

good tip, mark2. i was thinking about replacing the whole harness, maybe with a traxide kit. anyone esle done that?

[The Beast]

cummo you must have been typing at the same time as me!

[Dervish]

ah, dervish, your comment reminds me of a guy i met while checking out another auction at minto. i told him that my landrover wasn't leaking any oil. he just said "dont worry, it will come right".

i'm pretty sure it was you going past me on the M7 on monday arvo then up ryde road, yeah??

Not me, it was Mrs. Dervish. I surprised she didn't give you a big smile and wave :)

[cummo]

Great minds think alike Beast!


Be interested to hear any feedback on the Traxide kits, especially if the upgrade kit sufficiently enhances the stock lighting enough to leave globes as-is.

[newbie101]

Hi Everyone,

I'm newbie Perentie owner.

My low beams disappeared after a road trip. I tried cleaning the fuse box (which is heavily worn) before discovering it was an issue in the multi-function switch.

Two points (nodes) aren't making contact properly. I tried bending them into place which works but is a bit sticky/unreliable.

My question is should I try to fix this or should I just buy a new switch?

Also any further thoughts on the Trixade wiring upgrade kit would be appreciated...

Cheers

[Phil B]

Buy a new one they are available at most LR spares shops or eBay
This problem is rectified by fitting relays for the headlights
You can search AULRO for information on this fix

[JDNSW]

As above. The full lighting current goes through the switches. These are barely adequate for the original bulbs, but will not stand any increase. Replace the switch and fit headlight relays. Check the main switch while at it and expect to replace it as well.

The relays will give you markedly better lights anyway.