Thread: Defender highbeam switch

Originally Posted by dm_td5

Just wondering how rebuildable the highbeam switch on a Defender is?

Spent Saturday morning trying to hold the on highbeam to keep the driving lights and highbeam on, it was the only way I could get enough light out the front to see with because of the amount of mud over the front of the car. Every time (almost continuously) I hit a reasonable rut it would cause the lights to dip.

And yes a light bar will be going across the roof and a headlight wiring upgrade kit from drivesafe




Just noticed the smilies have changed

I have just been through this with my S3. I ended up removing all the wiring for the headlights to the dipswitch\ indicator, transfered the control for the dashlights to the dashboard mounted headlight switch, and rerouted the high beam circuit through the original dashlight switch. Everything works as it should now, all still looks stock standard, I just switch high beam on or off as required with a dash mounted switch instead.
Mine went because I "upgraded" my headlights, before studying the system. The extra power draw of the brighter lights, heated up the switch, because it took all the power from battery to lights, and actually melted the high beam part of the switch assembly. I now have a big sturdy relay in my headlight circuit. I know the Deefer is a little more advanced than the Series models, but this should at least get it going, legally for "Plod". Better than holding on the high beam flasher like I had to for over 80 K's.

Shorty.

Thanks Shorty.

It's actually only the highbeam/dip switch part that is an issue for me, there's no positive "click" into highbeam and it's gone a bit limp. I'm thinking I'll have to have a look at it on the weekend and see if it can be resurrected.

Sounds like a broken British Plastic part mate. Good luck, if it can't be easily fixed, then there is always my easy fix in a pinch.

Shorty.

I'm going to do an order form Craddocks for some other stuff so I might just include a new switch - £24.50 ($60.75) - as it will probably be cheaper than in Australia. More I think about it , trying to repair it will probably only be a short term fix.

I bought one last year when mine did the melting trick, was about $70.

Originally Posted by Frenchie

I bought one last year when mine did the melting trick, was about $70.

So it's not exactly an uncommon fault then!

Shorty.

No the headlight switch melt is a nice common one. That's why I'm annoyed about the dip switch as I haven't seen anything about these wearing out. Oh well, British Engineering

Originally Posted by dm_td5

No the headlight switch melt is a nice common one. That's why I'm annoyed about the dip switch as I haven't seen anything about these wearing out. Oh well, British Engineering

Considering they carry the same current as the main light switch, it should not be surprising if they melted too - particularly since they get switched more often. But it is just as likely to be a broken bit of plastic - Lucas seems to specialise in making things out of plastic with a limited life. Not sure you can blame all of British Engineering just because of the sins of Joseph Lucas.

John