LED Headlight Problem

Hi, I’ve just fitted some Nolden GL-180 LED headlights to my 1999 Defender Td5. When I switch on the side lights (also LED) the dipped beam also comes on and flickers. This didn’t happened with the standard headlights. The headlights are plug and play with no additional wiring, you just plug them in and they should work.

I can’t understand why powers going to the headlights when they are not switched on. Do I have a wiring a problem, faulty headlight switch, earth problem etc, or are the headlights faulty?

I would appreciate your thoughts..

andy vash said:

Hi, I’ve just fitted some Nolden GL-180 LED headlights to my 1999 Defender Td5. When I switch on the side lights (also LED) the dipped beam also comes on and flickers. This didn’t happened with the standard headlights. The headlights are plug and play with no additional wiring, you just plug them in and they should work.

I can’t understand why powers going to the headlights when they are not switched on. Do I have a wiring a problem, faulty headlight switch, earth problem etc, or are the headlights faulty?

I would appreciate your thoughts..

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Search for dim/dip and see if you have the relay behind the dash binnacle. If not, it could be faulty units.

Do they work normally when you switch to dipped beam?

Once you switch the lights on they work ok, dip and main beam.

Sounds like the dim-dip circuit. Normally a big resistor drops the voltage when the sidelights and ignition are on. LEDs draw less current so a higher voltage passes to the headlights. Simplest way is to find the resistor under the RH wing and unplug it. Then there is an open circuit instead of the resistor. Longer term you should find and remove the pink relay and bridge the relevant terminals with a wire.

Hi, that makes sense, if l put the side lights on with the ignition off the headlights don’t come on and flicker. I only have the problem when the side lights and ignition are on together. I’ve looked and l cannot find the resistor, could it be somewhere else, l have a td5.

andy vash said:

Hi, that makes sense, if l put the side lights on with the ignition off the headlights don’t come on and flicker. I only have the problem when the side lights and ignition are on together. I’ve looked and l cannot find the resistor, could it be somewhere else, l have a td5.

Click to expand...

Im sure it’s the same location on all models. Open the bonnet, all the way up to the windscreen is easiest (if you can’t strap it up out the way, get someone to hold it up). Stand on the drivers side of the vehicle. Lean over the wing, and search for a black 2 wire connector. The wires should be brown (they are on my TDI). Disconnect that.

The other way, in my eyes easier, is to remove the dash binnacle. Search for the “pink” relay, remove it, open it, gut it, and short it. If you can wait until Thursday, I can strip mine and take photos for you.

Found the resistor, unplugged it and It’s fixed the problem.
Thanks for all your help