Disco 1 red lamps

[chazza]

This is probably a stupid question, so apologies in advance.

After changing a brake light globe on my Disco 1, I got my wife to test it for me. Brake lights fine; tail lights worked as well (they use the same lamp) - then I noticed the red lamps below the indicators do not come on (not the ones in the bumper). There are globes fitted to the lenses, they are not just reflectors, which is what I first thought. So then I thought maybe both globes had blown and left it at that, but on a drive to Perth I had time to think about it a bit, but not time to test any circuits. If they are tail lights, why have four of them? If they are brake lights, why have five of them?

In Perth the first Disco 1 I saw exhibited the same symptoms; upper red lamp working as brake and tail; lower red lamps unlit. Surely too much to be coincidence!

Can anyone shed any light on this?

cheers Chazza

[PhilipA]

In a Range Rover they are fog lights, like you always see turned on in fine weather on Hyundais.
Regards Philip A

[Utemad]

Fog lights. Turned on by pushing a button to the left of the steering wheel if it is a 1994-1999 model.

Did you also notice that the brake light bulb you changed was a twin filament stop/tail light bulb yet a D1 only has bumper tail lights? Easily rectified to give you more tail lights.

EDIT: What year is yours? I had to wire up the extra tail light filament to get them to work. Is yours a pre update model?

[Quiggers]

I don't have bumper lights (or a mid mounted hi intensity brake lamp in the door glass) on my 93 D1, but like you, the fog lights were there, so I did a little bit of tricky wiring (inside the right rear lamp assy) and now have the rear fogs light up when the brake pedal is pressed, but...............

if the button is pressed down on the dash, all sort of other things happen - push the brake pedal and the headlights come on.... and the motor wont shut off and few other interesting things - so that switch is off!

GQ

[UncleHo]

G'day Folks:)

In the mid 90's there was an ADR requirement to have the rear lights on vehicles meet a set Luminesence limit, that required some light lens to be changed to defuse the light, so presenting a larger but duller rear light. Also some after market lights, (Hella etc) accessory and clearance lamps had to have their globe rating lowered, that all coincided with the High Mounted Stop Lamps, and the Low Mounted Stop/Tail?Flasher lamps, all to suit Aust ADR's. Now in the 2000's new world lights,Clear Flasher Lens(coloured globes), LED's and the lights are brighter than ever:)

There is /was a law that stated that NO headlamp globe /sealed beam could excede 75watts high beam filament. that has well and truely gone by the board:)

The advantage of Low Mounted rear lights is that they can be seen in Fog.
cheers

[Utemad]

I don't have bumper lights (or a mid mounted hi intensity brake lamp in the door glass) on my 93 D1, but like you, the fog lights were there, so I did a little bit of tricky wiring (inside the right rear lamp assy) and now have the rear fogs light up when the brake pedal is pressed, but...............

if the button is pressed down on the dash, all sort of other things happen - push the brake pedal and the headlights come on.... and the motor wont shut off and few other interesting things - so that switch is off!

GQ

I had planned to connect my brake lights into the fog light circuit at the same time I hooked up the upper tail lights. Didn't get around to it.
However to fix your fog lights button screwing with everything just put a power diode in the wire that you installed between the brakes lights and the fog lights. If you insert it the correct way it will allow power to pass from the brake lights to the fog lights but not fog lights to the brake lights. This will allow you to use your fog lights as per normal but still have the brake lights connected to them.

I used my fog lights today in the heavy rain. Although only to get a tailgater off my **** as people tend to think they are brake lights if you only flick them on and off.

[waynep]

I used my fog lights today in the heavy rain. Although only to get a tailgater off my **** as people tend to think they are brake lights if you only flick them on and off.

That's a cool trick must remember that ! ;) :cool: :twisted:

[chazza]

Fog lights. Turned on by pushing a button to the left of the steering wheel if it is a 1994-1999 model.

Did you also notice that the brake light bulb you changed was a twin filament stop/tail light bulb yet a D1 only has bumper tail lights? Easily rectified to give you more tail lights.

EDIT: What year is yours? I had to wire up the extra tail light filament to get them to work. Is yours a pre update model?

Thanks chaps; most illuminating! Fog lights! Who ever would have dreamt it? I have read the handbook from cover-to-cover too, but that one slipped through to the keeper. Mine is a '96 model; the brake light is double filament.

Now to go and look for a fog light switch. Incidentally; what comes on as a fog light on the front?
cheers Chazza

[ladas]

Thanks chaps; most illuminating! Fog lights! Who ever would have dreamt it? I have read the handbook from cover-to-cover too, but that one slipped through to the keeper. Mine is a '96 model; the brake light is double filament.

Now to go and look for a fog light switch. Incidentally; what comes on as a fog light on the front?
cheers Chazza


The rear fog lights are on their own, If you have driving /spot/fog lights on the front that's another switch.

[Quiggers]

Don't ask questions like that one chazza or you may find some other things that are equally weird......:D

[Utemad]

Mine is a '96 model; the brake light is double filament.

Now to go and look for a fog light switch. Incidentally; what comes on as a fog light on the front?
cheers Chazza

Glad your questions were answered. The ES model had little driving lights in the bumper. As do all flash vehicles these days it would seem.

So your double filiment brake bulb was already wired for tail lights? You have upper tail lights as well as bumper tail lights?
Do you have upper indicators as well as bumper indicators?

Perhaps the upper tail lights were reintroduced along with the upper indicators?

[BigJon]

.

Incidentally; what comes on as a fog light on the front?
cheers Chazza

Nothing. LR must think that people who own their earlier products just sit stationary with rear fog lights on in inclement weather. Not much help if you want to keep moving forward...:p

[mcrover]

The only problem with all these mods is down here in vic they frown on people having too many lights on the back, apparently it can get to the point where it's a distraction instead of a warning or marker.
When Mr Plod pulled me over because we was tailgating and I gave him a blast of the 100w reverse light to get him off my tail, he was wanting to book my for too many tail lights saying that it shouldn't have the top ones lit up or some crap.
I got off with a warning (for displaying white light too the rear while traveling in a forward direction) so I looked it up with vicroads and he is actually correct but whether anyone would book you for it would be the question.
RWC is put at question as well.
I have very rarely seen more than brakes and reverse lights lit on the Q panel lights on the updates as was mine when I got it and Brake/tail and indicators were in the bar and the high mount brake.

[chazza]

So your double filiment brake bulb was already wired for tail lights? You have upper tail lights as well as bumper tail lights?
Do you have upper indicators as well as bumper indicators?

Perhaps the upper tail lights were reintroduced along with the upper indicators?[/QUOTE]

Thanks Utemad. Yes to all of the above questions.

I have also got home and read the handbook, which is what I should have done in the first place, instead of wasting everyone's time. Interestingly the fog light switches are on the edge of the instrument shroud, not on the dash panel as the book shows it; perhaps another change. The two switches also have identical markings, which I imagine is very confusing if you have both sets fitted!

cheers Chazza

[Quiggers]

There is apparently, a very specific reason why some vehicles have lights mounted in the rear bumper - it's the 85% (or 85º????) rule which I understand is an ADR.

This may sound rather kooky, but... and approximately...

if the rear (door or similar) mounted spare wheel tyre obscures vision of the tail lights to those behind on an angle, then those body mounted tail lights are not the go, and thats why we have a duplication of lights, mounted in the rear bumper (or we did, which was nothing more than a patchup job to meet an ADR reg).

BTW: Had this on good authority from a fitter of such who worked for one of the 4wd manufacturers / resellers, rather odd rule tho'............and peculiar to OZ in the 90s.

If you want to hunt the ADRs I'm sure it's there somewhere.


Cheers, GQ

[Bush65]

The tail lights must be visible from a 45 deg angle. Which is why there are lights in the rear bar.

My 98 disco has operational tail lights in the bar and rear quarters.

My fog light switch only works if ignition and normal lights are both on.

I think the fog lights could save you being rear ended in fog. I have seen conditions where it was difficult to see tail lights of some vehicles ahead of me.

I didn't know about the wiring for the 2nd filament in the upper stop lights.

I have another use for the fog lights.

I have a Hella work light (dual 55W halogen) mounted from the spare wheel carrier. I have a relay (near the tail lights) so it only works while in reverse and a temporary switch is closed.

When I can get around to it I was intending to add a 2nd relay, switched from the feed to the fog light globe so that the work light operates when the fog lights are on and gearbox is in reverse. Then I can get rid of the temporary switch and wiring.

[Quiggers]

Thanks bush65, you've nailed it.

My 95 Rossignol had the rear bumper lights but the rear quarters didn't work, except for the white reversing lamps.

We also had a (company) Rocky and a Feroza around this time and the rear quarters were blanked off entirely, in favour of the bumper lights.

GQ

[landrovermick]

One of the toyota troopys from the same era had grey plastic lights and lights in the bumper that worked, i put a post up ages ago that shwed how to solder the diode in the lights to get the fog light working.

[byron]

There is apparently, a very specific reason why some vehicles have lights mounted in the rear bumper - it's the 85% (or 85º????) rule which I understand is an ADR.

This may sound rather kooky, but... and approximately...

if the rear (door or similar) mounted spare wheel tyre obscures vision of the tail lights to those behind on an angle, then those body mounted tail lights are not the go, and thats why we have a duplication of lights, mounted in the rear bumper (or we did, which was nothing more than a patchup job to meet an ADR reg).

BTW: Had this on good authority from a fitter of such who worked for one of the 4wd manufacturers / resellers, rather odd rule tho'............and peculiar to OZ in the 90s.

If you want to hunt the ADRs I'm sure it's there somewhere.


Cheers, GQ



But the vehicles sold in both the UK and US also have the same setup......so it's not just to comply with odd ADR specs!