Main/dipped beam switch melt

I am on my second 1994 RR Classic and I am experiencing the same problem for the third time... can anyone help or have any of you had the same trouble??
My headlamp main/dipped beam switch has just burnt out yet again leaving me with no main beam and dipped headlights that are about as much use as candles! When I replace the stalk with a new one (expensive too!), it all works fine for a few months until the dipped beam becomes dull, but can be coaxed into it's former brightness with a little wiggle of the stalk. This remains the case for a week or so until I can smell that familiar aroma of burning plastic. Then all I am left with is a very dim glow that provides no light on the road ahead, and no permanent full beam, only attainable on flashing. I have been advised that in the case of my current Rangie that the problem has been caused by the illegal 100w bulbs fitted by the previous owner. If I change them to the standard wattage bulbs, along with yet another new stalk, will this finally cure a most annoying and expensive problem?

I would say so. Just looking at the cct dia in Rave and I'm amazed that there's no relays in there for the headlamps. More stupidity from Lucas and/or Land Rover. The bulbs you have fitted take nearly double the current that normal 55W ones do. As most stuff fitted to British cars in the eighties and nineties was engineered down to a price rather than up to a standard, the light switch will have been designed to take its rated current and very little more. So, you can either replace the 100W lamps with the normal Toc-H 55W items or wire a relay into the circuit to power the headlamps.

Derek Ward said:

I would say so. Just looking at the cct dia in Rave and I'm amazed that there's no relays in there for the headlamps. More stupidity from Lucas and/or Land Rover. The bulbs you have fitted take nearly double the current that normal 55W ones do. As most stuff fitted to British cars in the eighties and nineties was engineered down to a price rather than up to a standard, the light switch will have been designed to take its rated current and very little more. So, you can either replace the 100W lamps with the normal Toc-H 55W items or wire a relay into the circuit to power the headlamps.

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100% spot on.

100% spot on.

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Oh bugger! I forgot - this is the P38 owners club forum....

Derek Ward said:

Oh bugger! I forgot - this is the P38 owners club forum....

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they had their own forum but it kept breaking down so they use this one instead.

Derek Ward said:

Oh bugger! I forgot - this is the P38 owners club forum....

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99% P38. but there was aL322 as well as this classic post this week lol

Thanks Derek, I'll give the 55w ones a go, with a new stalk, and apologies to you P38 guys. I didn't realise this was your forum....still, I'm sure you will sympathise when it comes to annoying electrical gremlins..

Millies Dad said:

Thanks Derek, I'll give the 55w ones a go, with a new stalk, and apologies to you P38 guys. I didn't realise this was your forum....still, I'm sure you will sympathise when it comes to annoying electrical gremlins..

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nice to see a fellow classic owner. hope it works changing the bulbs

1992lse said:

nice to see a fellow classic owner. hope it works changing the bulbs

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Long live the classic!! (more reliable than a P38; well just)

classics rule!

fett said:

classics rule!

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the best 4x4 xfar

Well, I'll be joining you week after next when I get mine. (See the other thread on lift kits). As if I didn't have enough trouble with a P38........:doh: - Looking forward to something a bit simpler though. I was contemplating a (whisper it) jeep but they don't generate the same enthusiasm somehow....

I had one of the first 4 door V8 Classics years ago, and as I said, I'm on my second '94 200tdi now, and yes they have a few niggley problems, but I absolutely adore them and as the Top Gear Bolivia Special proved at Christmas, the Classics just can't be beaten!!..

I had the same probs ,i found out that high wattage bulbs had been fitted by a previous owner,but still the h lamps where poor,i got over this problem by fitting a set of clear headlamps +high wattage bulbs from paddocks .i fitted a new dip switch as well but this time i wired it through 2 relays so that the dpiswitch only used for triggering the relays ,its worked like this for 3 years no bother,i can sitch my spot lamps with the head lights if i want the relays take the power not the dipswitch,,,hope this helps...dave

dont worry about being on the p38 forum were all up a certian creek sans paddle just have to hope the natives arnt restless oooer ,hello dereck did i hear you mention the "J" word its not like you to use bad language on the net lol......dave

Hi Big Dave - I know, but it was in small letters.... I needed something with a tailgate rather than the blasted door that discoveries have and the choice is a bit limited - Range Rovers and anything from the States really. I had a ford explorer for a while a couple of years ago - a bit of a tank but it went quite well. They suffer from terminal engine problems as well though. The other thing I've found surprising with j..ps is that there seems to be very little in the way of off-road equipmemt for sale. Loads in the States but the carriage is pretty horrendous for anything large like springs etc. So, there's only Rangies and Rangies really - silly of me looking elsewhere!.