Dim headlights

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Mowog73

Mowog73

Member
Posts
50
Location
SW Ontario Canada
Just recently I've noticed that the headlights are extremely dim and that the high beam light on the dash is on all the time that the headlights are turned on, even when I try to dip the headlights with the indicator stock.

I'm thinking that the dim head lights is due to a bad/poor ground, but I don't know why the high beam light is always on. Could the high beam light be due to the bad ground or could it be a relay issue?

Thanks
 
Electrical maladies of this nature are always an earth fault, pure and simple....., well, except for the simple bit :rolleyes:..

Do you have DIM/DIP? if, the relay or its associated wiring may have failed/ be full of green crusties ...

Worth checking the main earth points - engine to chassis etc. - Since you have a handbrake cable, and if the main earth fails - the cable has been known to act as a substitute earth for a short period*, before letting the smoke out - at which point you'll have no handbrake .... which is somewhat less than ideal :eek: .....

I'd suggest making up a wander lead with a good quality croc clip one end, and banana plug on the other ( for attaching to DMM probes ). This needs to be long enough to reach from the negative side of the battery to everywhere else on the vehicle - in using this to supplement the earth return path, you'll identify the problem area very quickly....

* = seen more on D1's for some reason - the smoke comes out of the centre console, just before the firebrigade are needed
 
Mowog73 said:
Just recently I've noticed that the headlights are extremely dim and that the high beam light on the dash is on all the time that the headlights are turned on, even when I try to dip the headlights with the indicator stock.

I'm thinking that the dim head lights is due to a bad/poor ground, but I don't know why the high beam light is always on. Could the high beam light be due to the bad ground or could it be a relay issue?

Thanks
Click to expand...
Yeah probably a bad earth but I do remember, on a motorcycle using a P43T bulb, the low beam filament broke & bridged the high beam filament which caused the H/B indicator to stay illuminated can't remember if it caused dim light though. I suppose you could unplug one H/L bulb connector & see if things brighten up.:)
 
Discovery 1 MY97 headlights.png
 
I wish electrical faults was my strong suit. I should have said from the beginning, I have a 1996 Japan-export D1 300TDI EDC.

Great wiring diagram Mystery, thanks!

I started out by checking the headlights before starting out and when I turned the lights on the blue high beam light was on and both headlights were extremely dim.

The earth in the engine compartment seemed good but I took it apart and cleaned it up. The earth as the driver's feet behind the trim was good too and all the wires were in good condition, no green corrosion was found anywhere. I checked the relay and it checked out good.

I rechecked the headlights and the left hand light was bright but the right hand was still a bit dim, but the blue high bean light was out on the dash. I started the D1 up and the blue light was still out. I tried the high beam switch and it was working normally.

So, did I fix something? I don't know, all wires looked good. I do still have a dim right hand headlight but no blue high beam light permanently on.
 
Mowog73 said:
So, did I fix something? I don't know, all wires looked good. I do still have a dim right hand headlight but no blue high beam light permanently on.
Click to expand...

I reckon you fixed half of it - the other headlight now needs some TLC (!) - specifically, its earth point, on the inner wing/wheelarch...

If we go back to:-

Disco1BFG said:
I'd suggest making up a wander lead with a good quality croc clip one end, and banana plug on the other ( for attaching to DMM probes ). This needs to be long enough to reach from the negative side of the battery to everywhere else on the vehicle - in using this to supplement the earth return path, you'll identify the problem area very quickly....
Click to expand...

Such a lead will enable you to locate the issue. :)
 
Mowog73 said:
Yes, I really should make up a wander lead.
Click to expand...

Yep, you should :D ... low voltage DC wasn't really my area of expertise either .... ( 3~ AC I find easy in comparison o_O ) - But I watched a load of vids on the tube from South Main Auto in Avoca, NY State - bloomin brilliant IMO - My D1 is 300Tdi factory EDC, but now de-EDC'd - and also de MFU'd as well - I HATE electronics - we live in a really damp area - and unless they were done properly, they die in short order...

It's a LR, the prince of darkness was involved, ... so ..... :rolleyes: :D:D
 
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