Serious headlights problems 110 300tdi at 69 degrees (polar night!)

[MarkusV]

I have 300TDI, 1996 Station Wagon.



Two days ago I attached a trailer with bad connector, so after unhooking the trailer my left hand side park lights and number light were gone. Bulbs ok and after I checked the main fuses behind the fuse cover, they seem to be ok, too.



Yesterday when I started the Defender and switched on the lights, when the light switch knob is all the way to the back, (which ignites the headlights) the following lights are not working;

-headlights (including high beam, which only works when I pull indicator lever)

-rear lights (during breaking the break lights work)

-dashboard lights (dashboard lights work on the second position)

-sidelights

-number plate lights





When the lights switch is on the second position, the dash-lights work and also the side lights (well at least right hand side ones.)



When the switch is not functioning, I try to switch between lights lever positions, there is lots of relay clicking behind dashboard, if that's anything.



So if you have any ideas, I'm more than thankful to try them out since I need to drive during the polar night tonight!





Markus.

 

[neilly]

Hi Markus,

Have to love...no I mean hate car electrics.......Sorry do not have a quick fix for you.

If the problems started when you disconnected the trailer connector, then I would start by opening that connector and seeing if anything was lose / chafed causing a short or a bad earth.

Other than that, I would follow the wiring diagram looking for common links between the faults you have. Plus belling out the switch to take that out of the equation.

Cheers

 

[Al2O3]

I'm not keen on electrics either. Sounds like it's damaged the light switch.
As neilly says it's worth checking the trailer connector, they do have a tendency to fall apart. What was bad about the trailer connector? How did you know it was bad?

 

[Al2O3]

LINKY to new light switch.
There's another switch, for a slightly different VIN number and I'm not sure which one will be yours, so check it out of you go down this route.

 

[mojo247]

under bonnet fuse?

 

[MarkusV]

The 3 big fuses underneath the bonnet?

under bonnet fuse?

 

[MarkusV]

Hei Al203

Well, I organise kayaking tours and I discovered in the morning before going to the tour, that the trailer plug is disconnected and half of it is still inside the plug on the Defender side (my partner was working on the day before.) Well, I know it was bad connection, as I connected some of the cables quickly to the plug to have any kind of lights on the road. I know, I know, but I had already new tourists sitting in the car, ready to go. Ups.

I will have a look at it during the daytime tomorrow and let you know how did I go. Thanks a ton for the information shared so far, really glad to see the support!

Markus.

 

[mojo247]

The 3 big fuses underneath the bonnet?

Hi Markus,

Yes, in the engine bay there is a small fuse box with 3 or 4 big fuses in it. The green one controls the main headlights. Only a suggestion although yours seems a bit more random than that!

 

[Al2O3]

Kayaking in Norway this time of year sweet!

 

[MarkusV]

Kayaking in Norway this time of year sweet!

We organise whale kayaking tours and it's just boiling with whale right now. Fortunately or unfortunately they stick around only for few months in winter time.

 

[lightning]

Sounds like the light switch (off/dip/main) might have burnt out.
l just had pretty much the same faults and it was the switch.
l believe it's common for this switch to fail. The sidelight position works but when you switch to headlights they don't come on...and the sidelights/panel lights go off.

 

[Al2O3]

We organise whale kayaking tours and it's just boiling with whale right now. Fortunately or unfortunately they stick around only for few months in winter time.

Awesome, I would love to do that. What a job I did a camping trip in the summer and got as far as Oslo. Presumably the whale's come in to the fjords, or do you have to go out to sea?