Headlight woes?

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davesh

Member
Posts
47
Hi

Defender 300tdi 1995.

Last summer I replaced the headlamp reflector bowls, but not the bulbs, and did a daylight test to make sure the headlights came on ( they did ). Now it's dark at night I have 2 problems:

1> The main beams do not come on when the stalk is pushed forward, although they do when I pull the stalk towards me.

2> With the engine off when I push the headlamp switch forward to position 1 I get the sidelights and very weak dipped beams. Pushed forward to position 2 I get the same ( sidelights and very weak dipped beams ). With the engine on and headlamp switch in position 1 I get sidelights and a weak dipped beam ( but not as weak as with the engine off ). Pushed totally forward I get sidelights and the same weak dipped beam.

Both weak beams are not adequate for seeing at night.

Your advice appreciated.

Thanks

Dave
 
davesh said:
Hi

Defender 300tdi 1995.

Last summer I replaced the headlamp reflector bowls, but not the bulbs, and did a daylight test to make sure the headlights came on ( they did ). Now it's dark at night I have 2 problems:

1> The main beams do not come on when the stalk is pushed forward, although they do when I pull the stalk towards me.

2> With the engine off when I push the headlamp switch forward to position 1 I get the sidelights and very weak dipped beams. Pushed forward to position 2 I get the same ( sidelights and very weak dipped beams ). With the engine on and headlamp switch in position 1 I get sidelights and a weak dipped beam ( but not as weak as with the engine off ). Pushed totally forward I get sidelights and the same weak dipped beam.

Both weak beams are not adequate for seeing at night.

Your advice appreciated.

Thanks

Dave
Click to expand...

Has it got dim/dip installed ? if so it's probably the relay failed - if not, then I suggest an earth fault .....
 
Check voltage at bulbs, check voltage before relay, check before and after switch, check voltage at battery. This will tell you if you have resistance on the live and where it is or if its an earth fault. When doing these checks earth direct to battery.

Its better to locate and rectify a fault than fire a parts cannon at it and see what sticks.
 
Thanks guys. But I'm new to auto-electrics. As I understand it the dim dip relay puts on dim dipped beams when the sidelights are on AND the engine is running, yes? Does it's failure mean that it is always operating so my dipped beams are always dim? And this is unrelated to my main beam not working?

Sorry for so many questions ....
 
davesh said:
As I understand it the dim dip relay puts on dim dipped beams when the sidelights are on AND the engine is running, yes?
Click to expand...

To be a pedant, but accurate, the ignition has to be in position II - not engine running - the system has no way of knowing if the engine is running or not - ( no criticism :) )

davesh said:
Does it's failure mean that it is always operating so my dipped beams are always dim? And this is unrelated to my main beam not working?
Click to expand...

Depends on how the relay has failed (!) - if it has failed connected - I.E. the ballast is still in circuit, then it probably does explain the dim dipped beam....

Main beam not working might be the main headlight switch - they are notorious for failing - Lucas, Prince of Darkness, 50p switch to do a 99p job .....:rolleyes:

The circuit diagrams are in RAVE, which IIRC covers your model year .....

Assuming it is still the case that the dim dip is not necessary for the MOT, then search for the relay bypass as mentioned by Mick in post #4 :) ( It'd be best end to it ;) )
 
the problem is poss voltage trans former (dim-dip relay with built in resistor on later models externally fitted on inner wing ) which require the engine running as it uses the oil pressure switch to activate
Defender 1991 t0 1994M square.png
 
Last edited:
mystery said:
the problem is poss voltage trans former (dim-dip relay with built in resistor on later models externally fitted on inner wing ) which require the engine running as it uses the oil pressure switch to activate
Click to expand...

Ok, Everyday is a school day :)

Do you know the changeover date for this ? ..... As we're talking about a 95 ?
 
So this afternoon I removed the dash, found the pink dim dip relay, pulled it out and put a wire loop between 30 and 87 on the relay base as per this post https://www.landyzone.co.uk/land-rover/bypassing-a-dim-dip-unit.184641/. I checked on a youtube video that I was hitting the correct pins. Unfortunately this gave me no dipped lights at all in any scenario and no main beam ( except by pulling the stalk towards me ). Putting the relay back gave me back my horribly dim dipped lights and no main beam ( except by pulling the stalk towards me ).

Is this the time to admit defeat and call the auto-electrician? Or should I do something else like buy a replacement dim dip relay and whack it in?

Thanks
 
If the bypass doesn't work, then I suggest you have a fault somewhere in the loom.... and I'd be tracing it through with a multimeter ...

Have you checked the relay off the vehicle ?

The headlight wiring is pretty simple, and the connector number and location are listed in RAVE...

If you're happy to do away with dim dip, then I'd suggest you upgrade to the boomslang harness while you are in there ....
 
1996-1997 PLUS CONVERSION to DLR and 3 type head light relay mod 1999 to 2002
electrical schemes - defender 300 tdi-20.png
MYSTERY EXTERIOR LIGHTING defender td5 (1999).png
MYSTERY DEFENDER &OTHERS LIGHTING RELAY MOD.png
 

Attachments

  • Defender MY2002 TD5 EXTERIOR LIGHTS DLR MOD.png
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Thanks for all the info and input. I eventually decided to call in an auto-electrician as I didn't want to be randomly ordering parts. Having ruled out the switch, the dim dip relay and the headlight stalk ( all things I would have tried replacing ) he found a failed relay ( yellow ) adjacent to the fuse box. All sorted now.
 
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