Beams

[Baxter]

Hello members!

Ok, last night I was driving my 90XS when suddenly the lights dipped. They dipped that much that I couldn't see 4ft in front of me causing me to stop the vehicle. I then put my main beams on and it was the same. I manged to get to a dirt track and drove along it thinking the lamps were loose but this wasn't the case. I had to get home and didn't have far to go. As i started driving away the lights went back to normal. I was 5 or so minutes away from home and they dipped again. I called the garage today and it's booked in for Thursday.

Main dealer are saying it's not electrical??? The beams may need adjusting, but I cannot believe its the beams that need adjusting....surely? They said they have never heard of this fault on a defender.

What are your views please?

Thank you.

 

[Station House]

Are we talking the beam alignment actually moving (like holding a torch and pointing it closer to your feet) or the lights becoming dimmer, therefore throwing the beam less far?

If the former, can only be loose mountings (or the bulbs coming loose). If the latter, dodgy earth(s)

 

[Baxter]

Are we talking the beam alignment actually moving (like holding a torch and pointing it closer to your feet) or the lights becoming dimmer, therefore throwing the beam less far?

If the former, can only be loose mountings (or the bulbs coming loose). If the latter, dodgy earth(s)

Yes, your first description is perfect. That's what happened.

 

[Karlos28]

dont kno if it is the same on fenders, but my old merc used vacuum from the inlet manifold to adjust the height of the beam. when i took the original manifold and plenum of and put the custom manifold with 4 separate runners, because the pressure in each runner was different at a moment in time, the headlights used to bounce up and down on idle. looked quite cool ;-)
wonder if it could be anything to do with that?

 

[Landroverstormer]

Do you have a headlamp level adjuster on the dash? If so then it'll be that, especially if both dropped at the same time.

 

[Baxter]

Do you have a headlamp level adjuster on the dash? If so then it'll be that, especially if both dropped at the same time.

Yes I do, but I have never used it and it's always been left on zero. I'm not exaggarating when I say that both beams lower that far that I can only see 3/4ft in front of me. Basically lighting the tarmac up.

 

[Station House]

Interesting - i wondered if you had a beam adjuster late last night. I'm too used to Landy's being old to think immediately of gizzmos being fitted - sorry

Can't tell you how to fix, but if both headlamps pointed downwards, would be suspicious of either damp somewhere getting in or a chaffed wire causing the motors that operate the lamp adjustment (I'm guessing they are electrical) to work.

 

[Baxter]

Interesting - i wondered if you had a beam adjuster late last night. I'm too used to Landy's being old to think immediately of gizzmos being fitted - sorry

Can't tell you how to fix, but if both headlamps pointed downwards, would be suspicious of either damp somewhere getting in or a chaffed wire causing the motors that operate the lamp adjustment (I'm guessing they are electrical) to work.

Exactly, My thoughts too about it "Being an electrical fault" BUT main dealer on the phone prior to booking it in this week said it cannot be electrical more of an adjustment?? :doh:

I shall wait and see this week!

 

[Baxter]

Just collected my vehicle from the garage. They confirmed that both beams were low and the bulbs in good order. They have adjusted them and charged me £35. I asked them what the fault was that caused them to lower....... well.........

They stated that it could be when the suspension lowers through age :doh:

Did I change the bulbs myself prior to the fault occuring? No I say! :doh:

So I will only know when it gets dark and drive the vehicle to see if they have sorted the problem. They basically do not know!

Roll on darkness!

 

[mundungus]

Are you sure they didn't just go out, leaving only the little round side lights?

 

[Baxter]

Are you sure they didn't just go out, leaving only the little round side lights?

Yes, as soon as it happened I stopped, got out and looked. Got the wife to put the main dip on, and the bean directed to the floor in the same place as the normal lights resulting in 3/4ft of beam.

 

[Bromsgrove Defender]

Interesting - i wondered if you had a beam adjuster late last night. I'm too used to Landy's being old to think immediately of gizzmos being fitted - sorry

Can't tell you how to fix, but if both headlamps pointed downwards, would be suspicious of either damp somewhere getting in or a chaffed wire causing the motors that operate the lamp adjustment (I'm guessing they are electrical) to work.

Exactly, My thoughts too about it "Being an electrical fault" BUT main dealer on the phone prior to booking it in this week said it cannot be electrical more of an adjustment?? :doh:

I shall wait and see this week!

Sounds more like an electrical fault to me too....