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2001 TD5 Defender lights will not turn on


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For quite some time my TD5 defender would have the habit of momentarily turning the lights off whilst driving, at first I though I was imagining it! However the other night when I went to drive home - no lights! Brake lights, indicators, hazards, flash still working but no side lights, tail lights or headlights. Ended up driving on hazards for three miles when lights suddenly came back on. Next three nights lights work fine but today not working and I can't get them to come back on. I have looked at the toggle switch by taking it out and having a good look at it and there is no evidence of the melting issues that I have read about. It appears that the TD5 uses a relay unlike earlier models so I tried switching with another of the same type, still no joy! I have ordered a new switch just in case and a new relay but I am not hopeful that this is the problem, any other ideas?

regards

Adrian

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Adilaw,
First check that you are getting power to the switch on the steering column. If you are then you will next need to have a look at the relays. I had a similar problem and found that there was no power at the switch. I cobbled together a repair by running a new cable from the fuse box under the driver's seat to the switch and all worked well for a year.

However...my wiring loom has recently tried to turn itself into an electric heater element and I am in the middle of repairing it. I traced the fault to a broken power cable somewhere in the loom where it runs over the gearboxes. This had then shorted into a thinner wire which got hot and caused my problem. The broken power cable turned out to be the original supply to the lights. On further investigation, it appears that the insulation had rubbed through on a hand full of cables as they are not wrapped before they are covered with the ridged tubing and age and vibration had taken its toll.

Hence, if you do decide that you need a new power supply to the switch then the perfect solution is to pull the loom out and fix it (very time consuming but actually not very complex). However if you do just put in a new cable then I suggest that you disconnect the original one at the fuse box under the seat so as not to run the risk of suffering the same fate as mine.
Good luck.
TB

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Hi,

I had the same problem. Have you got any additional lights fitted that come on with full beam?

I had my suspisions but wanted it checked.

I paid for an auto electrian to diagnose.

i was right, the bloody light switch.

Check out Rimmer Brothers or similar for a new headlamp switch.

Original or after market, they're cheap enough!

regards

landypc

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