Intermittent headlights

This site contains affiliate links for which LandyZone may be compensated if you make a purchase.

Pedwards

New Member
Posts
5
Hello, first post, be gentle with me.... Hope post not too long, thought detail might be useful.

2003 Defender 90 TD5. Every so often the dipped beam (normal headlights not high beam) goes off for a second or sometimes longer. Did it odd times about 6 months ago, now does it every trip at night. I've searched for solutions but nothing seems to match my particular problem.

Feels as if it happens only when I do something electrical like come off main beam, flash or even select reverse (ie related to reverse light comes on or just change in loading?). Then I can't replicate issue again! Totally intermittent and not just one thing causing it. Possibly flashing the lights in panic brings it back but that might be coincidence. Side lights remain on, not affected. It's both dipped lights, not jus one.

So what have I done? Fuses, all good. Headlight bulbs checked, replaced, all good. Connectors on back all good. Read about dim/dip relay issues. Could feel relay click but the was never any dim/dip on my car, ie the side lights on plus 60% dim headlights I've read about not happening on my car. I did the mod of removing pink dim/dip relay behind the speedo and bypassing (pin 2 & 8 was it?). No change. Unable to locate the dim/dip resister in wing I've read about but think this may have been bypassed already if I don't have dim main headlights when just switched to side lights?

I then replaced the Horn/Indicator/Flasher stalk switch. No change. All wiring I can see looks good. Happens in both dry and wet, 97% of time all is good, then on a busy dark road the dipped beam goes!

Help - is there another headlight relay other than the pink dim/dip I could look at? Not located one. I'm a 2003 model. Feels it's when I change electrical load something gives up for a moment before returning, like a relay or something. Thanks a lot in anticipation.
 
Hello, first post, be gentle with me.... Hope post not too long, thought detail might be useful.

2003 Defender 90 TD5. Every so often the dipped beam (normal headlights not high beam) goes off for a second or sometimes longer. Did it odd times about 6 months ago, now does it every trip at night. I've searched for solutions but nothing seems to match my particular problem.

Feels as if it happens only when I do something electrical like come off main beam, flash or even select reverse (ie related to reverse light comes on or just change in loading?). Then I can't replicate issue again! Totally intermittent and not just one thing causing it. Possibly flashing the lights in panic brings it back but that might be coincidence. Side lights remain on, not affected. It's both dipped lights, not jus one.

So what have I done? Fuses, all good. Headlight bulbs checked, replaced, all good. Connectors on back all good. Read about dim/dip relay issues. Could feel relay click but the was never any dim/dip on my car, ie the side lights on plus 60% dim headlights I've read about not happening on my car. I did the mod of removing pink dim/dip relay behind the speedo and bypassing (pin 2 & 8 was it?). No change. Unable to locate the dim/dip resister in wing I've read about but think this may have been bypassed already if I don't have dim main headlights when just switched to side lights?

I then replaced the Horn/Indicator/Flasher stalk switch. No change. All wiring I can see looks good. Happens in both dry and wet, 97% of time all is good, then on a busy dark road the dipped beam goes!

Help - is there another headlight relay other than the pink dim/dip I could look at? Not located one. I'm a 2003 model. Feels it's when I change electrical load something gives up for a moment before returning, like a relay or something. Thanks a lot in anticipation.

Do you have any other lighting, spots, front fogs etc?
 
Yes, 4 spots on top of external roll bar. They are switched by switch on dash and only come on if main beam is on. They function correctly. I've not had the main dipped beam issue when using these spots. Presuming not related...
 
Yes, 4 spots on top of external roll bar. They are switched by switch on dash and only come on if main beam is on. They function correctly. I've not had the main dipped beam issue when using these spots. Presuming not related...

Presume away, however if they've been wired up wrong ................... :rolleyes:

Check that their main feed is direct from the battery,

The switching circuit from main beam is fine as long as it's not the other way round ;)

If it is wired up wrong and the main beam or side light feed has been used to power the spots they will have melted the header behind the dash.

Not disasterous but a time consuming job to bypass.

Check how your spots and relay is wired up before proceding further ;)
 
Thanks for swift response. I'll do that as soon as my fingers will work in the -5 out there, cheers. The spots have been fitted for 9 years and the problem has only existed for maybe 3-6 months but I will isolate them to remove from equation. Good call.

Can I ask anyone, other than the pink dim/dip relay behind dash, is there any other relay that triggers headlights on a 2003 model? Thanks again.
 
You could invest in a Haynes manual (3017) if you haven't got one - loads of good info in there with wiring diagrams etc................ the headlight dim/dip is on page 13.29

Looking at the diagram you have:
Headlight relay (4 wires connected to it)
Dim/dip relay (7 wires connected to it)
Dim/dip resistor (2 wires connected to it)

The diagram does look complicated - but i would check your dim/dip relay is operating correctly ;)

Fuses that are associated with headlights:
15 - 5A
22 - 10A
23 - 10A
20 - 10A
24 - 10A
25 - 10A

(All in the passenger side fusebox)
 
Last edited:
Thanks. Got manual, looked at diagram again, can see a general headlight relay. Will investigate that tomorrow, anybody know of identical relay on car I could swap it with? Also I read the smaller headlight switch can melt contacts, will investigate and maybe replace that switch as well as dim dip already replaced.
 
I have had the same problem where the side and dipped headlights only work intermittently. I had looked for the usual problem in the light switch but all looked fine. When the lights are working with the instument panel out I can hear/feel the dim dip relay in the dash clicking. When not working this relay is quiet. I had also read that the switch from low to high beam on the indicator stalk could be at fault so I have now fitted a new stalk and switch just to be sure but still the same promlem as yours that started just how you described it. I intend to replace the dim dim relay next as I can't see what else it could be, I will let you know.
 
The light stalk will almost definitely need replacing !! As a unit ,it just unplugs iy has plastic clips !!
Contacts get burnt from overloading by spots etc !!!
Good luck !!
 
I had the same problem on my 90 300 tdi amd it turned out to be the pink dim dip relay behind the clocks in dash . Ps bought a new relay and it was faulty.
 
The headlight rely is the middle yellow one on my TD5 the two others to the left are the same, I tried switching mine but it made no difference! When the lights decide to come on I can't make them fail when they decide to stay off I can't get them back on!
 
The light stalk will almost definitely need replacing !! As a unit ,it just unplugs iy has plastic clips !!
Contacts get burnt from overloading by spots etc !!!
Good luck !!

They can but if you find your light switch needs replacing, just make sure your spots are wired up properly i.e. switching the relay NOT main power for the spots

The headlight rely is the middle yellow one on my TD5 the two others to the left are the same, I tried switching mine but it made no difference! When the lights decide to come on I can't make them fail when they decide to stay off I can't get them back on!

Next time it fails

1, Try a direct power feed from your battery.
2, try a direct feed from both sides of the fuse,
3, try a direct feed from the headlight relay main input and output,
4, try a direct feed to the switch input and from the output,

Depending on which one makes the lights work you will find the area where the fault is.

As I've said before if extra lighting has been wired up wrong I'd be pretty certain the fault will either be in the switch or in the header behind the dash.

T'is also not unheard of, to be the wires chaffing in the left hand wing behind the wiperwasher bottle ;)
 
Now I am stumped, two new switches/stalks and a new dim dip relay and still not working. However when fiddling with the dim dip rely the lights came on for a brief spell and then went out again! So hard to see where the wires go behind the instrument panel and if they have chaffed. The fault is intermittent but more recently they don't work for long periods but can suddenly come on whilst driving in the day. (I do keep the switch in the on position just to see when it happens!) By the way my 90 is bog standard with no extra lights. Does anyone know where the eathing points are for the headlights although main beam is working using the flash on the stalk? The other funny thing that happened was when I pressed the fog light switch they came back on but then went again and the same thing would not work again!
 
Last edited:
Getting even stranger now! Went to wash the salt of this morning at the local jet wash, lights not working. Got to car wash, engine warm heater on, lights started working! Got back home lights would switch on but when I turned down the heater fan the lights turned off! Turned back up heater fan lights stayed off. I am now suspecting a bad earth but not sure where to look for that.
 
Getting even stranger now! Went to wash the salt of this morning at the local jet wash, lights not working. Got to car wash, engine warm heater on, lights started working! Got back home lights would switch on but when I turned down the heater fan the lights turned off! Turned back up heater fan lights stayed off. I am now suspecting a bad earth but not sure where to look for that.


Ya missed this bit then??




T'is also not unheard of, to be the wires chaffing in the left hand wing behind the wiperwasher bottle ;)
 
Hello

Did anyone ever find the cause of this one? I now have the same problem!

I've replaced the light switch and dim dip relay so far.

Next I'm going to try the indicator stalk and then the maybe bypass the wiring.

I have flash at all times but the headlights never stay on for more than 10mins or so and then they won't work for a couple of days!

Thanks
 
Hello

Did anyone ever find the cause of this one? I now have the same problem!

I've replaced the light switch and dim dip relay so far.

Next I'm going to try the indicator stalk and then the maybe bypass the wiring.

I have flash at all times but the headlights never stay on for more than 10mins or so and then they won't work for a couple of days!

Thanks

Erm :rolleyes: Ffs :D :D

Yet again newbie arrives gets the answers they wants and buggers off without feeling the need to tell anyone what the problem was.

If you read through adilaws 7 posts I believe you too may find the answer you're looking for.

You could bypass the wiring. But that would be the best way to find the fault.
I would still suspect the header joint behind the dash as it does seem to enjoy overheating and going open circuit.

I rewired mine with a thicker wire. Cant recall what gauge now though 30 amp rings a bell :rolleyes: :D :D
 
Thank you once again for your replies, it really has been infuriating trying to trace the fault. AA for 2 hours they said fit new light switch and dim dip relay it made no difference, the lights would cut out after 30 mins or so.

I had a look at the yellow relays below the main fuse box near the gear leaver on Saturday, I found one had a burnt/corroded terminal. I cleaned it up best I could and refitted.

Fingers crossed that's cured it, I've been driving around all weekend with the headlights on and their still working!!!!

Drove around the Peak District today looking at jobs 7am until 4pm with the lights on, did a bit of fording and their still working:)
 
Hi guys I'm having the same issue with intermittent lights work as and when they want but but can always flash full beam but when lights are working I noticed last week that when I'm on side lights only ie position 1 on switch my headlights are on dim aswell and also my trailer warning light is always lite on dash and I also noticed today when I got to work removed the ignition keys the red alarm immobiliser light came on thought I'd give the lights another try and when I turned the lights on although the lights still didn't come on the alarm light went out but came on again when I turned lights back of did this a couple of times 2000 td5 130 any help much appreciated
 
Back
Top