Defender 90 fog switch WTF

Hi guys and gals. hopefully someone can help and let me know what’s going on with my fog lights. So I press my switch down and fog lights come on. Great. Push it up and they stay on. Don’t go off until I push it down again. Only 2 wires on the back of switch so not really sure how it’s suppose to work. I’m guessing there is a relay involved but electrics isn’t my strong point. Or is it suppose to be a spring loaded switch. I’m really confused and have an mot on tuesday so want to sort it if possible. thanks.

wot def you got? year /model?

hi, thanks for taking the time to help. it a 98 defender 300tdi.

Yes, thats how it works as it fires a relay which turns the light on.
It should only work when your lights are on and it lights up an indicator (orange square) on the dash.

wow thanks for the reply. I’m surprised at that. is it suppose to be spring loaded? That would make more sense. Just seems strange you have to switch up and down to operate.

I was about to post this same issue. I have an early type TD5 so from roughly the same era. At this time were they in the process of changing to a new type of switch or something? How is this considered okay? It’s bizarre. Do earlier 300TDIs have a different switch, or maybe later TD5s?

It has an over center spring, recon it wears/gets sloppy over time. Mine is pretty loose, Must be vibration that does it as rare for me to use it here.[ MOT time] That said If I were to go somewhere today should have it on as third day of thick fog!

So it’s a faulty switch then? Weird way of doing it considering pretty much every other switch is a toggle. I don’t normally need the fog lamp usually but when I need it I really need it.

Hi, just to let you know. I purchased a new switch as it made no sense to me and new switch operates exactly the same.

Pablo63 said:

Hi, just to let you know. I purchased a new switch as it made no sense to me and new switch operates exactly the same.

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Ummm, yes. Like I said last July (post #17), that's how they work.

How much did you pay for the new switch/ignoring me ?

Sounds like you have the wrong switch.

300Tdi and early TD5 Defenders have the 'one touch' fog lamp ECU (as do all Defenders up until the end of production).

These should have a non-latching, momentary rocker switch.

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The early switches latch on, and directly switch the lamp relay. Presumably to prevent people leaving the rear fog on accidentally, it was replaced with a momentary switch which then triggers a small ECU to operate the lamp. Push it once to switch the lamp on, push it again to switch it off. When you turn the ignition off and on, it resets to the default off state, and you have to actively turn it on again if you want it.

Someone has fitted the early type switch.

FlyingPete said:

Someone has fitted the early type switch.

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As long as you are aware of it and that is how it works there is no actual harm in having the older switch. In mine I have the later style wiring for the momentary switch but I have the old style column mounted fog light switch fitted (similar to the headlight switch).