Defender 90 2010 Headlight Problem

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Boo71506

Member
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16
Location
Uk
I havea defender 90 2010 tdci. When I turn on my side lights my headlights come on. 1st position nothing all off. 2nd side lights, rear, and HEADLIGHTS are on, then 3rd all the same but headlights are slightly brighter. If I remove the illumination/clock fuse F20 it fixes the problem and it back to normal.
I have also done some tests and the light swith is not the problem. Any ideas?.
 
I havea defender 90 2010 tdci. When I turn on my side lights my headlights come on. 1st position nothing all off. 2nd side lights, rear, and HEADLIGHTS are on, then 3rd all the same but headlights are slightly brighter. If I remove the illumination/clock fuse F20 it fixes the problem and it back to normal.
I have also done some tests and the light swith is not the problem. Any ideas?.

That sounds like dim/dip, but I don’t think the pumas had it, so I’m not sure. Search for dim/dip, and then see if you can find the relay.
 
OP- did you get anywhere with this? I had an MOT failure on this exact issue last year- resolved by removing the interior lighting fuse for the retest. I'd like to effect a permanent repair, but I have neither the skill nor the patience to trace what I presume is an earth fault if someone far cleverer has already done it!
 
Dim dip relay is the culprit. It's an old feature which got carried over to some 2.4tdci models. It passes voltage to the low-beam filaments through a resistor when the ignition and sidelights are on, the idea being that you use them in built-up areas with street lighting. It shouldn't be an MOT failure either!

To disconnect it, the simplest way is to find the plug for the resistor (2-pin econoseal, in the engine bay under the right-hand wing) and unplug it. Longer term you can disconnect the pink relay behind the dash and bypass it with a wire.
 
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