Headlight/Side Light Wiring Diagram

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Scaley Back

Scaley Back

Member
Posts
28
Location
Northampton
Hi folks, bit of help needed while I await my Haynes Manual being delivered.

Is anyone able to give me a Wiring Diagram for the Side Lights & Headlights for a Defender 90 (1989)

I've got a bit of an issue with 1 Side Light (O/S) it doesn't Light and it appears I have no Power as when I've tested it with my Volt Meter I get nothing. Any tips for getting into the wiring, I can see the wires but I can't get to them fully to be able to check/test them to see where I have power up to before losing it.

Also my N/S Headlight goes off when I switch to Full Beam, I'm guessing that might be a dodgy earth but not sure.

Any help/advice will be greatly appreciated.

Cheers

Craig
 
Scaley Back said:
Hi folks, bit of help needed while I await my Haynes Manual being delivered.

Is anyone able to give me a Wiring Diagram for the Side Lights & Headlights for a Defender 90 (1989)

I've got a bit of an issue with 1 Side Light (O/S) it doesn't Light and it appears I have no Power as when I've tested it with my Volt Meter I get nothing. Any tips for getting into the wiring, I can see the wires but I can't get to them fully to be able to check/test them to see where I have power up to before losing it.

Also my N/S Headlight goes off when I switch to Full Beam, I'm guessing that might be a dodgy earth but not sure.

Any help/advice will be greatly appreciated.

Cheers

Craig
Click to expand...
The headlight wiring is a series of bullet connector hidden behind the wings. Ideally pull all the bullet connectors and clean the contacts. Like you say it’s a fiddly job unless you have small hands or want to pull the ancillaries off the wing. Likely earth or corrosion issues.
 
doriz said:
The headlight wiring is a series of bullet connector hidden behind the wings. Ideally pull all the bullet connectors and clean the contacts. Like you say it’s a fiddly job unless you have small hands or want to pull the ancillaries off the wing. Likely earth or corrosion issues.
Click to expand...

Thank you.

I think I'm gonna have to unbolt a few things to get to the connectors properly to see what I'm doing
 
So had another look this morning.

Checked the Headlight bulb on the N/S and the filaments all look good.

Checked the connector and when I put it on Full Beam I don't see 12v.

As it's almost impossible for me to get my hands in plus I can't see WTF I am doing. It's gonna be time to start unbolting stuff.

As I don't have a wiring diagram to be able to check I am guessing that the power for both N/S & O/S are from the same source/relay and not separate for each side?
 
Check the plugs, wires come from bulkhead along each wing if I remember correct, connectors at front near lights are usual suspects
 
landowner said:
Check the plugs, wires come from bulkhead along each wing if I remember correct, connectors at front near lights are usual suspects
Click to expand...

Thank you.

I can see the connectors for the O/S but the N/S I literally cannot see. It's had LED lights (Side & Indicators) fitted previous to me purchasing it and it appears they've cut the wires short as I literally have no play whatsoever on the N/S. I'm gonna have to unbolt what I can and see if that allows me to get my hands in and see what I'm doing.

I do not want to have to remove the bloody wings to get at the wiring.
 
Scaley Back said:
Thank you.

I can see the connectors for the O/S but the N/S I literally cannot see. It's had LED lights (Side & Indicators) fitted previous to me purchasing it and it appears they've cut the wires short as I literally have no play whatsoever on the N/S. I'm gonna have to unbolt what I can and see if that allows me to get my hands in and see what I'm doing.

I do not want to have to remove the bloody wings to get at the wiring.
Click to expand...
Cut wires in covenient place, pull headlamp out an sort wires, put back in and join wires with a multi plug from Vehicle Wiring Products
 
landowner said:
Cut wires in covenient place, pull headlamp out an sort wires, put back in and join wires with a multi plug from Vehicle Wiring Products
Click to expand...

I can get the headlight out easily enough, I just can't see enough of the wiring/connectors on the inside of the wing to be able to do anything with them.

Would removing the plastic section in the wheel arch give me access from below? Rather than me folding myself into a position that no 50yr old man should be attempting through fear of causing himself a mischief?
 
Scaley Back said:
I can get the headlight out easily enough, I just can't see enough of the wiring/connectors on the inside of the wing to be able to do anything with them.

Would removing the plastic section in the wheel arch give me access from below? Rather than me folding myself into a position that no 50yr old man should be attempting through fear of causing himself a mischief?
Click to expand...
I would cut wires along wing somewhere easy and pull wires out with headlamp, you can then fix connectors and then feed wires back where ever is easiest and connect the cut wires up again.
 
landowner said:
I would cut wires along wing somewhere easy and pull wires out with headlamp, you can then fix connectors and then feed wires back where ever is easiest and connect the cut wires up again.
Click to expand...

TBH, I think the connectors will be going in the bin in favour of soldering lengths of wire together or using a single Wago connector and then heatshrinking over it to make it waterproof, and making a Junction Box up so I don't have to go through this rigmarole again.

And there was me thinking it would be a 5 min job, including the ciggy and a brew!!
 
Hicap phill said:
Have you removed the wheel arch plastic??
You can get to the wire easier
Click to expand...

I haven't yet mate no, but wanted to know if I could get to the wires from there. thanks for letting me know.

All this faffing about. I did contemplate just running cables from the O/S to the N/S and splicing it into the cable I know works to the one that doesn't. But that'd be a 'Bodge' and if I'm gonna sort it I might as well do the job once & do it properly.

I'm gonna get shot of the old connectors and make a Junction box up, so if I get any issues going forward I can just open it up and I can see what wire is for what connection.
 
OK, so this morning I seem to have recovered from my 'Blonde' moment and thought what if I remove the Headlight Housing.

Hey Presto I can get to the Wiring Loom. Pulled the Bullet Connector apart for the +ve feed for the Side Light. Checked for continuity between the Light and the connector, all good. Turned on the Lights and checked for 12v, got Sweet FA. Cut the bullet connector off the Loom, in the vain hope it would be as simple as a dodgy connection, but no still get 0v :(

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the +ve for both the O/S & N/S Side Light will come from the same source yes? So I should see continuity if I check the wiring loom between the O/S & N/S?

Sorry about the all the questions, waiting for my manual to be delivered so I can look at the wiring diagram.
 
Scaley Back said:
OK, so this morning I seem to have recovered from my 'Blonde' moment and thought what if I remove the Headlight Housing.

Hey Presto I can get to the Wiring Loom. Pulled the Bullet Connector apart for the +ve feed for the Side Light. Checked for continuity between the Light and the connector, all good. Turned on the Lights and checked for 12v, got Sweet FA. Cut the bullet connector off the Loom, in the vain hope it would be as simple as a dodgy connection, but no still get 0v :(

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the +ve for both the O/S & N/S Side Light will come from the same source yes? So I should see continuity if I check the wiring loom between the O/S & N/S?

Sorry about the all the questions, waiting for my manual to be delivered so I can look at the wiring diagram.
Click to expand...
Separate fuses for N/S & O/S.
 
Hicap phill said:
So whet you need to do is leave the fuse in place & check both sides for voltage. Normally the contact to the glass fuses are crap.
Click to expand...

OK, thanks for the help fella, really appreciate it. Maybe it could be something like a dry solder joint on the fuse panel, just a bit weird that I have a fault on both sides N/S (Headlight Main Beam) and the O/S (Side Light)

I'll look at it tomorrow morning as just about to start work and not got time to do it now.
 
Hicap phill said:
So whet you need to do is leave the fuse in place & check both sides for voltage. Normally the contact to the glass fuses are crap.
Click to expand...

You sir are a Legend. I owe you a bevvy or 2. Thank you!!!!!

It looks like the fuse board is my culprit, so will look to get it swapped out with one for Blade fuses. I've pinched the contacts to close them up a bit and reseated the fuses and I now have fully working lights.
 
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