headlights with a mind of their own??

[billnjim]

my headlights are coming on automatically even when i'm not in the landy, its just the headlights and not the park lights and i don't know why but they come on much brighter than usual??? have tried pulling the lever as far back as possible which worked for a few days but now unless i have something applying constant pressure to the lever they just stay on?? when i have previously left the lights on they go out straight away and only the park lights would stay on. it doesn't even display on the dash that the lights are on i have to constantly go and check and only know that they've come on when i'm driving from the reflection in some cars paint work when i'm at the traffic lights. whats the go and how can it be fixed?????

[JDNSW]

Bit difficult without seeing it, but it sounds as if the combination switch has become faulty, allowing the flasher function to operate.

John

[Blknight.aus]

seconded its either the hi/low flash combo stalk (more than likely) or a short in the park/headlights switch but that will usually also throw the parkers unless the parker fuse is blown.

[foz.in.oz]

I would also concur with the above as there is a relay in the headlight circuit that breaks the low beam circuit when the ignition switch is turned off. Only the flash circuit or a short in the loom? could cause this.

[billnjim]

have decided to get a professional to solve the problem, as i have had a smouldering kind of smoke come up from behind the steering wheel, should of looked into it earlier i 'spose, explained what might be the problem (going on what you guys have imformed me - thanks muchly) and he tends to agree but will check the whole system and upgrade the lighting for me (wiring & globes). thanks again for the imput.

[Xavie]

have decided to get a professional to solve the problem, as i have had a smouldering kind of smoke come up from behind the steering wheel, should of looked into it earlier i 'spose.

But you could almost pinpoint your problem now, lol. just have to follow the smoke! :p

Xav

[Aaron]

ahh.. thats why they leak! to put out the spot fires!

[bluetongue]

are we talking about the headlight stork in a defender? Mine was doing the same. It's mechanical in the guts of it... the switch bridges contacts internally when you flick it from one position to another... after a while the contacts become so burred/burnt that it doesn't make much difference where the switch is physically positioned - it will make contact when it should not. I'd suggest pull it all apart and you'll see where it's getting stuck. If you're handy with solder iron etc you can probably diy to fit it. I bought a new one but before I got it I simply cut the wires and wired it up to a house-style light switch.... just so I knew that when it was in position it was guaranteed to be on or off.... bluddy thing ;-)

There is one selling on ebay currently
Land Rover Headlight switch Suit 110/Defender - eBay, Other Car Parts, Accessories, Car Parts, Accessories, Cars, Bikes, Boats. (end time 10-Jul-08 10:56:18 AEST) (http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Land-Rover-Headlight-switch-Suit-110-Defender_W0QQitemZ220252944012QQihZ012QQcategoryZ6 763QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)

Cheers
Scott

[Bundalene]

Hi, I think the problem is related to the current drawn through the light switch when the lights are on high beam . The high beam should have a relay installed to limit the current through the switch. This is not an uncommon mod. Cheers, Bundalene.