mjr

It is a 90.

Given up fixing the lights. Looked at an 02 plated Defender Td5 today. 73k on the clock, hard top with sliding windows fitted but only rubber mats in back (no seats), new alloys, county pack (EW & Central Locking, radio cassette (can you still buy cassettes?). Service complete until 48k and then quite patchy but would be serviced before I collect it. Nice colour and bodywork in good condition. Didn't look much underneath as it had just come in and was very muddy. Dealer looking for £10,250 for it (no vat), with 12month warranty on breakages I have mainly been looking at Tdi engines up until now so not sure if this is a good price or not? Any thoughts or anything to look out for??? Cheers Mark

When I unplugged the dim/dip unit it made no difference. The headlights didn't come on from cold. I don't seem to hear any click from the VSR (assuming it is the thing that sits below the dim/dip unit behind the instrument panel). Will try replacing it and see if that helps (I didn't realise it had anything to do with the lights!). As for not having relays, well, something clicks behind the fuse panel and it looks like a red connector plugged into a brassy looking metal square box about 1inch square sat on the back of the fuse board next to 2 other similar looking (but black connectors) units). Thanks for the help, will let you know of any progress. Mark

Just been working on it again, and still none the wiser. Dipped lights came on after around 5mins after being switched on even without engine running (just ignition turned). Cannot work out what would cause a delay like this. Tried changing bulbs but made no difference.

The battery warning light does not come on when I start the car so I presume that the altenator is doing its job?

I wonder whether anyone out there can help with some suggestions? I have a defender 90 2.5TD 1988. Last week the headlights did not come on when I pushed the stalk forward (sidelights came on at first stage, headlights did not come on at second stage of the light switch). As it was not too dark I left home as I could get full beam by pulling the dip/full beam stalk towards me and it is a country track. After a couple of hundred yards I tried the headlight switch again and the headlights came on. Since then it seems to be getting longer and longer before the headlights will come on. It takes about 5mins now before the lights will come on. Now I leave the lights switched to on and leave the car running and after 5mins once they magically turn themselves on I leave the house and get in the car. Once on the lights stay on, and most times I can get them back on immediately if I turn them off. I have tried changing the headlight switch but this made no difference, I tried unplugging the dim/dip relay thing behind the dash (black box with fins on lower edge) but this didn't help either. I have checked the connections to the headlights and they seem fine (and I presume the bulbs are fine as they come on eventually). Whenever I switch the lights on I can always hear a click (relay?) behind the fuse panel, even when the lights don't go on. This morning I can now no longer get full beam by pulling the stalk back towards me, and the interior light has stopped working (not sure if linked but both went out at same time). Any suggestions gratefully received as I need to get my MOT this week! Thanks mark