Mystery headlight problem

ReadySalted · Jan 12, 2015

Okay all,

Defender 200tdi 92 with OEM spots on bumper A-Bar.

On the headlight switch:
-The side lights work as normal
-On dipped beam the nearside light comes on, but the offside light comes on very dimly.

On the main beam stalk:
-Push it on, and the spots come on aswel as the main beam (dim offside light)
-Push it off, and nothing turns off. It all stays on with no obvious change.

(I have to turn the lighs off completely and then back on again to turn main beam off).

Fuses all okay, earths look okay, checked and cleaned all connections in inner wing. What next?

PS Thanks

Oldseadog · Jan 12, 2015

Re check your earths and your feeds.

The earths will give you a dim light as the -ive from the lamp will follow the +ive back through the next nearest earth.

Check the feeds whilst you are at it.

Check for a pool of water in one or both of your spots.

Bypass the relay with a length of plain wire and see if the same thing happens on each circuit.

mick the builder · Jan 12, 2015

Oldseadog said:
Re check your earths and your feeds.

The earths will give you a dim light as the -ive from the lamp will follow the +ive back through the next nearest earth.

Check the feeds whilst you are at it.

Check for a pool of water in one or both of your spots.

Bypass the relay with a length of plain wire and see if the same thing happens on each circuit.

+ 1 on earths for dim lights

ReadySalted · Jan 12, 2015

Okay so I took the relay for the spotlights off, and the relay appears to work fine. Replaced it and now neither of the headlights work, just the side lights, but the sidelight/ dipped beam switch makes the main beam dash light illuminate.

I'm guessing that when replacing the relay I blew a fuse and if I replace that fuse I'll be back to square one. Will check and get back to you.

(came inside for a coffee as ****ing down and hands have frozen solid haha)

ReadySalted · Jan 12, 2015

Since revisiting the problem, removing connectors, reconnecting, checking the dash switch etc etc. the problem is literally this:

On dipped beam - NS HL too bright, OS HL too dim

On main beam - NS HL stays same, OS HL brightens to dipped beam, and they won't turn off on the stalk.

Wondering if it's the main beam relay, but not sure where it is in the engine bay?

Devs90 · Jan 12, 2015

If you have old type glass fuses wiggle the fuses too

harry2012 · Jan 12, 2015

Nah 200tdi is modern blade fuses.

Have you checked the actual connectors on the bulbs. My 92 200tdi had a similar issue and one of the headlight bulb connectors wasn't on properly.

Mystery headlight problem

ReadySalted

Active Member

Oldseadog

Well-Known Member

mick the builder

Well-Known Member

ReadySalted

Active Member

ReadySalted

Active Member

Devs90

Active Member

harry2012

Active Member

Similar threads