Another defender LED indicator problem!

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Bazvw205

Member
Posts
33
Location
Wrexham
Afternoon all, forgive me please. I have searched the forums first and tried a few recommended fixes but none seem to have worked so hoping someone has some good advise!

Upgraded my indicators all round to some RDX ones, came with the relay so all fitted and worked as they should. Around a week after, all indicators started to flash no matter whichever way I indicated. After some searches I came across a common problem with the hazard switch, I noticed that if I 'fiddled' with my switch then the lights would work correctly. Ordered a new switch, fitted and problem sorted, or so I thought! Another week goes by and the issue rears its ugly head again

Bought some ballast resistors in the hope it would sort it, but hasn't worked. Next step would be the RDX dash bulb replacement but my problem doesn't go away if I remove the bulb.

Assuming there is a really bad earth somewhere and maybe the hazard switch is arcing and burning out or something, is there a main earth to look for from the indicators?

BTW, the defender is off the road so the week between issues is more like 3 or 4 times testing everything

Thanks in advance!
 
I don't know to be honest. A wee bulb with an earth tail for £18 seems very very pricey to me, typical BOB in my opinion.
I'd go round checking any earth connected to the indicators and rear loom.
When I had a few issues with my 1995 D90 I redid the connections at the back (in the triangular box just inside the rear door on mine) and haven't had an issue since.
 
I don't know to be honest. A wee bulb with an earth tail for £18 seems very very pricey to me, typical BOB in my opinion.
I'd go round checking any earth connected to the indicators and rear loom.
When I had a few issues with my 1995 D90 I redid the connections at the back (in the triangular box just inside the rear door on mine) and haven't had an issue since.

Thought the same, just couldn't see a wiring diagram to see they have soldered it up to make my own
 
Is the new hazard switch a good/quality one? I bought a new one once and it didn’t work straight out the box, so carefully opened old switch and cleaned it up and it worked
 
I don't know to be honest. A wee bulb with an earth tail for £18 seems very very pricey to me, typical BOB in my opinion.
I'd go round checking any earth connected to the indicators and rear loom.
When I had a few issues with my 1995 D90 I redid the connections at the back (in the triangular box just inside the rear door on mine) and haven't had an issue since.

Ive not long done the same thing, had the same issue with the dash bulb bought one begay
worked a treat. ;)
 
Guess it's 18 quid spent then. Was only out off as it says if you remove dash bulb and it stops doing it then that wasn't the issue. Mine does it not matter what

Ah ok mines is a project & the wiring looms had been bodged with all sorts of recovery lights ect
I chopped both front looms including the rear loom, made new ones an moved all the earths to inside
the cab. I didnt want to spent the cash on a bulb with a wire but it worked on mine.
 
I tried the LED dash bulb with the earth fix. Didn't work.
Just fit standard bulbs in the indicator repeaters on the sides of the front wings. That fixed mine, it's a known fix, and will likely solve your problem.


Tried that too, not fixed it either. :(

I put standard 501 bulbs in
 
Ah ok mines is a project & the wiring looms had been bodged with all sorts of recovery lights ect
I chopped both front looms including the rear loom, made new ones an moved all the earths to inside
the cab. I didnt want to spent the cash on a bulb with a wire but it worked on mine.

How is the led soldered to the housing? Interested to see if they solder across the terminals. Leds are only pennies so they could easily be made
 
@MJE , but that's not a fix, that's a fudge. These LED indicators with correctly sized ballast resistor should work first time.

@Bazvw205 , follow the following to fix

  1. wire in new/clean earth wires locally to each indicator - do not rely on long return earths + make sure your main engine+gearbox back to battery are in tiptop condition
  2. wire in correctly sized ballast [both ohms and load capacity] [not eBay Chinky jobbies]
  3. ensure hazard switch is not causing issues - if so, temporarily by pass
  4. your new set up should also work with original BPFs - if you've thrown these away you should buy another set as LED back up
  5. if new LEDs still not working return to RDX for cash back
  6. then call Gil Keen at BetterCarLighting for some proper quality work first time LED bulbs https://www.bettercarlighting.co.uk/index.php
or, just return the RDX LEDs and call Gil Keen
 
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