Thread: Bad Earth ?

Originally Posted by HarryO

Hi All

Though I would ask the question before I go digging in the wiring which is ridiculously hard to access - is this a bad earth somewhere, but surely its the same earth in both instances so perhaps its on the +12v supply side?

With the light off and engine running the drive lights look reasonably bright but as soon as I turn on the main lights the drive light turns to a crappy dim brown.

Got me confused.

Looks like it's trying to find a path through the bulbar lights.

Have the lights been like this ever since the bull-bar was fitted?

Hi Graeme

To be honest I don’t know I only noticed it the other day when I saw my reflection in a shop window.

I assume so because I was less than impressed with the workmanship that they did (eg loose wires on the winch, hose clamp not tight on snorkel etc.)

They have connected into the light circuits behind the headlights but real close to the plug so real hard to see what they have done.

Better that the bull-bar lights have been connected incorrectly rather than a fault has developed somewhere between the lights and the BCM.

Just a guess, but it looks like your driving lights might be wired and/or switched in a way that they are wired in parallel ( 12v at each light ) with your lights off and end up wired in series ( 6v at each light ) when your lights are on.

Use a multi meter to check the voltage at each globe.

Are they driving lights that have been added are they the original DRLs?

Original Lights with an Opposite Lock Bullbar.

Numerous of good suggestions on we here to look - perhaps I’ll disconnect the bull bar wiring all together and the rewrite correctly from scratch.

At least that way I know it’s done properly.

Can the headlights be removed without moving or removing the bar, or at least pulled out enough to access the connector? The lights on my MY10 D4 were able to be juggled out from behind an ECB bar.