Thread: Head light woes continue.........

You don't have a turbo timer installed do you? I know this sounds a long shot but they do in effect trip the ignition and the Defender's lights then go to park... if it was faulty... OK grasping at straws.

I've got a radio that works when I hit a large enough bump and then stops at the next minor imperfection in the road. Don't you just love electrical gremlins

I sprayed contact cleaner on as many old connections as I could find, which fixed the problem.

Then I replaced all of the old connectors I could find.

Pain to find, lovely when fixed.

Cheers
Simon

Do you have a fax machine to send the headlight wiring upgrade diagram to me now (I'm at work and can study it)? If so, fax it to (02) 4780-3171

I may be able to narrow down the problem and/or make suggestions to find it.

What sort of car? Def, Disco, or RR so I can try to find the correct wiring diagram on the 'Net.

Good evening Ron, 2003 Defender 130 TD5. Cheers.

Hi easo, got me stumped.

Can some one fax a copy of the headlight upgrade. I suspect the fault may be in the headlight switch circuit.

If needs be, you can email a PDF version of it to me at work (I'll need to PM the work email address).

Some points about the wiring that may help diagnose the problem:
On my '97 build Defender and presumably more recent ones, power to the headlights goes first through the headlight switch, then down through one of the yellow relays by the fuse panel, then back to the dip (+ indicator) switch. The relay is actuated by the ignition switch so headlights go out when ignition is off. Bypass it for testing at least if you think it or the ignition may be the problem.

Seems the idea of this is as an idiot proofing device to reduce the likelihood of flat battery from accidentally leaving the lights on. Personally, I regard it more as a nuisance than help. I bought a headlight upgrade kit but didn't instal it in time to overcome the main problem this is designed to prevent - the dipswitch (probably made by the successors of Joseph Lucas, Prince of Darkness!) burnt out.

So what I did was just instal a two way toggle switch in the place for one on the opposite side of the steering column to the headlight switch. Power to it is from the same feed to what is now only the parker,dash and taillight switch. Not out of the second stage to the headlights. For my uses of the vehicle, regard it as preferable to being able to have headlights on and off independent of other lights other lights (and ignition) but would not generally recommend it.

It seems dispensing with the relay, the couple of feet of wire to and from it and also having one less switch in the circuit made the lights brighter. Would not expect it to be as good as the aulro upgrade kit though. These have a shorter length of heavier wire and heavy relays to take the main current.

Mick

Righto, going back to looking for basic faults. Went over checked all connection's and the relay all good until I looked at the relay connection. This is what I found,



Sorta looks like she was getting a bit hot down there. That's why (I'm guessing) lights would be fine then die about 15mins later. This bad boy was over heating.



So it has been replaced now,

I'll take Sally Anne for a drive when the boys are in bed and report later.

Cheers, Easo