Headlight wiring past use by date

[theelms66]

Changing park light globes on a 2007 RRS and came across wiring sitting almost on top of one another with insulation almost non existing. Spent next 2 hours rewiring one headlamp. Tackle the other another day. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190526/84a09bf5a0d5f618c6e351020336f1ef.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190526/849752c1c05ab4a2f387c7c9729baa49.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190526/a40b64eee543809863eee7a8f01ddb63.jpg

[drivesafe]

Hi Theelms66, that is not only a pathetic, it is down right dangerous.

Quality wiring does not break down like that and it such a short time frame.

Have a look at wiring in the oldest Land Rovers and it wouldn’t be like that.

Can you keep that wiring as it should be brought to the attention of the ACCC or some safety authority.

[theelms66]

Good point. I put it out there wondering if it was common in that year or just faulty batch of wire.

[drivesafe]

The only thing I could imagine that could cause that sort of a problem, on a one-up basis, is some form of chemical contamination.


Try the other side and see if it is the same.


Also check that the part number on the plug is for a genuine Land Rover part.


If the number is for a genuine part, I would suggest either contacting Land Rover Australia first and if no satisfaction there, make a submission to the ACCC.


That is a definite fire hazard and there could potentially be thousands of RRS with that hazard, and it would not be a first time LR screwed up.


Their looms are made by third party manufacturers and Land Rover seems to have a quality assurance problem with out sourced parts and such.


When the L405 Range Rover was first released, they had to recall them in the USA because the sunroof would either fall in on the occupants or would simple pop out and sale down the road beside the RR.


Land Rover put the problem down to a third party supplier supplying an inferior product?


Here in Australia, when the L494 Range Rover Sports was first delivered, the first shipment was sent off to all the dealerships and while they were carrying out the per-deliver service, all the dealers received notification stating that “Under no circumstances are the dealer to hand over the new RRS to their owners”.


All the RRS were held for weeks, and finally the reason for not handing over the new vehicles was sent to the dealers.


Land Rover had the Air-conditioning wire loom out sourced and the manufacturer had supplied the looms with a 1.5mm2 earth return wire, when it should have been a 4mm2 wire.


There is no protection on any earth return wire/cable because for safety reasons, it should always be as thick or thicker that the positive side of the circuit.


Had the owners of these new vehicles received them and then used their Air-conditioning on the way home, there was a very good chance they would have set fire to their new RRS.


Whether LR had supplied the loom manufacturer with the wrong info, or the manufacturer just used the wrong wiring is unknown but once Land Rover realised they had a problem, they fixed it.


No not Land Rover. They just supplied the dealers each RRS with a little bag with the correct size cable in it and the dealers had to change the cable before handing the RRS over to it’s new owner.


NOTE, this unbelievably unsafe practice of supplying the thicker wire for the dealers to change, was still going on more than 2 years after the problem was first found.

[Steinzy]

We had the same problem with our 06 Sport.

Approached Land Rover about the issue and they said mine was the only one they had ever come across. $1,600 later for 2 new front lights as the looms are not available as an individual item.

I was not impressed to say the least!

[PhilipA]

I found a similar thing with a BMW 335Convertible with HID bulbs.
The insulation on the wiring to the plug had cracked up where it meets the plug.
Probably no account made of the greater heat from a HID.
This was on an older car where my friend the owner had been told by 3! independents that he had to replace the whole headlight as bulbs were not available at a cost of over $2K.
Took me 1 minute to remove the bulb and give it to him to replace at the dealer, which cost him over $200!! for non genuine when genuine was $400!!!

Regards Philip A

[drivesafe]

We had the same problem with our 06 Sport.

Approached Land Rover about the issue and they said mine was the only one they had ever come across.
This means it is not a one-up situation and most definitely should be bought to the attention of the ACCC.

[theelms66]

This means it is not a one-up situation and most definitely should be bought to the attention of the ACCC.Renewed wiring on number two headlamp. My gut feeling is not heat related as the plugs and surrounding plastics do not seem heat stressed and the original wiring is not discoloured from overloading. Email to ACCC may be in order although bit old now. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190602/ba482ee85cb4165f578cbe031a1fc6c2.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190602/d95e589d8d562bb5d05417192c256338.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190602/699a6d9c9ec9cf7054130c89e74b18da.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190602/1e6f61b1cae398c239cbad93aa557d09.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190602/803c40062c4b5fc5a238d713bd2262c5.jpg

[101RRS]

The same happened in many US built military aircraft of the late 50s/60s where insulation starting breaking off exposing wires. Caused a number of aircraft fires and crashes. The issue started to show up in the late 70s into the 80s.

The F111 was affected as was the S2 Tracker in Australian service. In US service it resulted in the F14 Tomcat being removed from service earlier than intended due to cost of rewiring the aircraft.

So the issues have been known for some time and should not have been repeated even if it is not in the aviation industry - Chinese made wiring?

[GregTD5]

I also have a 06 Sport with the broken down insulation on the headlamp wiring.
Have repaired with a bit of Insulation tape and am very gentle when changing out a globe.

Greg

[Trevz1990]

I.got the same.issue blowing Park light fuses and it's all gone to crap in the headlight