Discovery 1 headlight issue

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DiscoBrendan

New Member
Posts
9
Location
Halifax West Yorkshire
Hello all, I have a discovery 1 and no dipped beam. I have main beam, at dipped position I have rear lights and side lights. Got a vault meter on it today and I have power at the stalk but no power at the dipped fuses under steering wheel. I was thinking wiring issue between stalk and fuse box, been advised it could be due to a bad earth. Has anyone had this issue and fixed it? found loads of posts regarding dipped beam but none matching my circumstances. I love the disco but god its a headache lol
 
DiscoBrendan said:
Hello all, I have a discovery 1 and no dipped beam. I have main beam, at dipped position I have rear lights and side lights. Got a vault meter on it today and I have power at the stalk but no power at the dipped fuses under steering wheel. I was thinking wiring issue between stalk and fuse box, been advised it could be due to a bad earth. Has anyone had this issue and fixed it? found loads of posts regarding dipped beam but none matching my circumstances. I love the disco but god its a headache lol
Click to expand...
You think YOURS is a headache?!
Try a Disco 2!!!!!

If the earth was bad I'd a thort it would be bad for the whole lights system.
So I'd just continuity test all down the wiring, switches , fuses relay until you find exactly where there is a break.
Don't jump about the place, stick with one thing and finish it. But you could quickly test from the bulb holder to the body/chassis/ other suitable earthing point to see if you have an earth there.
Then go back to what you were originally on.
You could test bits by applying a live positive from the batt to each part of the system, i.e. to the fusebox where there should be power, to see if they come on. If they do you know it's either the stalk switch or the wire from it to the fusebox. Could simply be a loose connector.

Oh and welcome to the forum by the way!
You could go to the "introduce yourself" section and .......do so!
:):):):):)
 
HAVE YOU CHECKED THE DIP RELAYS
Discovery 1 MY97 - Electrical 153.png
 
Stanleysteamer said:
You think YOURS is a headache?!
Try a Disco 2!!!!!

If the earth was bad I'd a thort it would be bad for the whole lights system.
So I'd just continuity test all down the wiring, switches , fuses relay until you find exactly where there is a break.
Don't jump about the place, stick with one thing and finish it. But you could quickly test from the bulb holder to the body/chassis/ other suitable earthing point to see if you have an earth there.
Then go back to what you were originally on.
You could test bits by applying a live positive from the batt to each part of the system, i.e. to the fusebox where there should be power, to see if they come on. If they do you know it's either the stalk switch or the wire from it to the fusebox. Could simply be a loose connector.

Oh and welcome to the forum by the way!
You could go to the "introduce yourself" section and .......do so!
:):):):):)
Click to expand...
Thanks for the reply, started raining last night and the dipped came on and wouldn’t turn off‍♂️ They did this before and eventually after fiddling with the stalk they went off so replaced the stalk. Unhooked battery last night so it won’t drain. Me and my brother are going to give it a full check this afternoon. On the plus side at least they’ve come on and I can now drive at night lol
 
mystery said:
HAVE YOU CHECKED THE DIP RELAYS View attachment 264513
Click to expand...

I’ve read many posts about the dim dip relay trying to locate it and not one gave a straight answer. People giving different locations, it’s this colour it’s that colour and none helped. Was told it was #4 on passenger side footwell but plugs were different colour, was told it was behind the washer bottle but the plug there just seems to stop it starting when unplugged.
 
DiscoBrendan said:
I’ve read many posts about the dim dip relay trying to locate it and not one gave a straight answer. People giving different locations, it’s this colour it’s that colour and none helped. Was told it was #4 on passenger side footwell but plugs were different colour, was told it was behind the washer bottle but the plug there just seems to stop it starting when unplugged.
Click to expand...

Forget about the dim-dip function there’s no legal requirement to have it functioning, I sure u know as most owners with D1s equipped with this system do that it only functions when the engine is running, and switching directly to dip beam overrides the dim-dip function.

I isolated my dim-dip system more than 20 + years ago after fitting LED side light bulbs, which when switched on looked a bit naff along with the dim head light bulb and its still unplugged.
To isolate just pull the plug from the gold coloured resistor on the bulkhead by the washing reservoir. Simples.

Theres only one dim-dip relay, not two and it can be found below the glovebox on the end of the bank of relays on the drop down ‘gate bracket’ its the last one and coloured yellow when fitted at the factory.

And so back to your issue, its not unusual for the lighting switch to fail as that takes the full current load, there’s no switching relays as some believe, well not when the vehicle left the factory. Theres a few posts on the various forums on this subject :)
 
discool said:
Forget about the dim-dip function there’s no legal requirement to have it functioning, I sure u know as most owners with D1s equipped with this system do that it only functions when the engine is running, and switching directly to dip beam overrides the dim-dip function.

I isolated my dim-dip system more than 20 + years ago after fitting LED side light bulbs, which when switched on looked a bit naff along with the dim head light bulb and its still unplugged.
To isolate just pull the plug from the gold coloured resistor on the bulkhead by the washing reservoir. Simples.

Theres only one dim-dip relay, not two and it can be found below the glovebox on the end of the bank of relays on the drop down ‘gate bracket’ its the last one and coloured yellow when fitted at the factory.

And so back to your issue, its not unusual for the lighting switch to fail as that takes the full current load, there’s no switching relays as some believe, well not when the vehicle left the factory. Theres a few posts on the various forums on this subject :)
Click to expand...
We cleaned up and reconnected one of the earths, all was fine worked off the stalk lights on lights off. 10mins down the road no lights. It’s one thing after another with it if I can’t get it sorted it’s gone not worth the headache
 
DiscoBrendan said:
We cleaned up and reconnected one of the earths, all was fine worked off the stalk lights on lights off. 10mins down the road no lights. It’s one thing after another with it if I can’t get it sorted it’s gone not worth the headache
Click to expand...
Is that both headlamps and both the dip/high beam. If u believe that an earth is the issue then have u had a look at the earth connection block behind both footwell kick panels, it they haven’t been interfered with then they should be nice and clean, so leave alone.
 
discool said:
Is that both headlamps and both the dip/high beam. If u believe that an earth is the issue then have u had a look at the earth connection block behind both footwell kick panels, it they haven’t been interfered with then they should be nice and clean, so leave alone.
Click to expand...
Cleaned the earth on drivers side panel under the bonnet and all was well both dip and high beam then 10mins later back to no lights.
 
discool said:
Intermittent faults are a pain, so alsomcheck the 12v supply to the switch and then beyond.
Click to expand...
Yeah a massive pain lol, checked and we had power to the stalk but then none at the fuses, starts raining and we have dipped beam on permanently, cleaned earth point and all was well for 10 minutes then back to none its like the car is laughing at me
 
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