wanderlust4ever Posted June 27, 2016 Share Posted June 27, 2016 Alright lads. I am currently on a long trip to Malaysia and back in my defender 130Tdi and iam currently in Kyrgyzstan where everything was going well till the police stopped me as my headlights were not working. Checked the fuses everything okay,checked the bulbs everything okay,my guess is the light relay switch on the steering column what do you think. Bye the way the sidelights are working, fullbeam is working but not the halfbeam. Anybody got any ideas. Many Thanks for your help. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arjan Posted June 27, 2016 Share Posted June 27, 2016 Could be the light switch - but also the indicator switch as dipped beam goes through it. Check the diagram for what colour does what - mine are custom wired so useless. In the column you can check the multiplugs to see if there are any problems - and if the live feed is there.. Bon Courage ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bodumatau Posted June 27, 2016 Share Posted June 27, 2016 this has happened to my a few times on my Td5's, trick with roadblocks is to hold the brights on with the stalk until the policeman is happy. usually the cheap nasty bits inside the switch burn out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mo Murphy Posted June 27, 2016 Share Posted June 27, 2016 Disconnect the wiring and twist wires together to get dip beam when you need it until you can get a replacement switch. Mo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davo Posted June 27, 2016 Share Posted June 27, 2016 Are the headlights running through relays? If not, try and sort that out because otherwise the full current goes through the switch and will eventually ruin it. Stupid design. Adding one relay for high beam and one for low beam is time-consuming but easy. Also check every connector you can find for corrosion and check every earth you can find as well - the latter is notorious on these cars for becoming a little corroded and causing havoc. If you can get to the switch itself it's easy enough to check for current coming in and out with a light or multimeter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maverik Posted June 27, 2016 Share Posted June 27, 2016 Had this problem not long ago, the little copper pads in the switch had warmed up and the mount had softened causing the pressure of the contact to allow the pad to sink away thus missing the contact. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AMB Posted June 27, 2016 Share Posted June 27, 2016 I had a similar problem to that which Maverik has just described. Temporary cure involving bending contacts, a little mild cleaning of the contacts where it had been arcing and some Electrolube. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wanderlust4ever Posted June 29, 2016 Author Share Posted June 29, 2016 Many Thanks for all of your help. Decided to buy a new switch, 20 quid for a lucas one. However send Paddocks, Rimmer Bros, and Cradocks a email 2 days ago still no reply. Been intouch with Caspian motors in Almaty, they want 90 quid for a new switch the robbing buggers. Anyway many thanks once again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wanderlust4ever Posted June 30, 2016 Author Share Posted June 30, 2016 Everything is sorted out got a new switch coming from Craddock's.Be here in Bishkek via TNT in 5 days. Brilliant service. Many thanks for all yer help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Badger Posted July 4, 2016 Share Posted July 4, 2016 This has happened to me, it was the stalk switch, bits inside had worn out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muddychris300tdi Posted July 4, 2016 Share Posted July 4, 2016 It sounds like dim dip relay to me. Big pink relay behind gauges. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muddychris300tdi Posted July 6, 2016 Share Posted July 6, 2016 Let us know how you get on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wanderlust4ever Posted July 16, 2016 Author Share Posted July 16, 2016 All right lads. Very sorry for the late reply.Cant get internet everywhere. Managed to get everything sorted out. Ordered a new light switch via Craddock's. It arrived in Bishkek within 20 hours brilliant service. Changed everything over within the hour and the job was a good en. We are now about 200 mile from the Russian border where we will be crossing over into the Altai region,supposed to be very nice. Anyway many thanks for all of your help very much appreciated. Good luck to all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve b Posted July 16, 2016 Share Posted July 16, 2016 The Altai looked amazing in the Long Way Round , somewhat of an overlooked gem in the Russian landscape , some pic's would be lovely if you can cheers Steveb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wanderlust4ever Posted July 21, 2016 Author Share Posted July 21, 2016 Hi Steve. Just crossed over the border today from Kazakhstan to Russia. We will be in Biysk in a few days. That is the beginning of the Altai. Will post some pics in the days to come. But the internet isn't 100%. If you ever get the chance do the Pamir highway do it for sure,it has to be one of the most beautiful places on earth and the people the most friendlist. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snagger Posted July 21, 2016 Share Posted July 21, 2016 The usual cause for complete headlight failure is exactly what Mav and AMB report, and that is due to the switch oveheating from excess load. The head lights really need to be run from a relay with uprated wiring too, and doing this not only protects the switches but also allows the bulbs to run brighter as the feeds are not giving significant resistance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve b Posted July 21, 2016 Share Posted July 21, 2016 looking forward to pic's and a little commentary on the area when you can , you are very lucky to be doing this trip . As snags , mav and AMB have said running the load through relays is worth the effort , particularly if you are running headlights on all the time as you have to in Russia (?) . cheers Steveb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sighnbox Posted July 28, 2016 Share Posted July 28, 2016 Had the same on the way to Wales in the dark was the dip switch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snagger Posted July 29, 2016 Share Posted July 29, 2016 I has the same on my 109, signbox - it was the contacts in the dim/dip switch melting into the plastic mounting. But I did also find the dash toggle main lighting switch (mostly metal on SII and SIII) got very warm running halogen bulbs. The relays and uprated wiring made all the difference and brightened the lights too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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