300 TDI HEADLIGHTS---!!

[tazman]

Hi guys
my 300tdi Disco headlights (both) have suddenly stopped working full strength when I select headlights.  Main beam works on both,
Whenj I select side lights, the headlights glow as they should.

Any IDeas???    

Make driving in the dark interesting

Is it the dim-dip resistor that is at fault?  or could both headlight bulbs go?

cheers (in the dark at the mo!!!)

[dracula]

Could be the switch on the stalk

[Niel]

Could be the switch on the stalk

Yep, esp. if your running higher wattage bulbs....NO relays shall be used seems to have been a l/r thing in the past....

[TimM]

Whenj I select side lights, the headlights glow as they should.

............  or could both headlight bulbs go?

If the bulbs glow as normal when on side lights then the bulbs should be OK if they were blown they would not light up at all.

I'd agree with Niel and Dracula that the switch sounds faulty.

Tim.

[tazman]

Thanx guys
Makes sense, ,y wipers packed up the other month, it was corroded spindle and...........switch.
Will try it.

I take it that other than the dim dip relay (which works) there isn't a relay for the dipped beam??

Landrovers, love em :oops:  :oops:  :lol:  :lol:

[Niel]

Thanx guys
Makes sense, ,y wipers packed up the other month, it was corroded spindle and...........switch.
Will try it.

I take it that other than the dim dip relay (which works) there isn't a relay for the dipped beam??

Landrovers, love em :oops:  :oops:  :lol:  :lol:

Yep, easy enough to do though, mine has been modded and all head/spot/fog lights are now on relays.

Niel

[ChrisW]

One of the mod's LR made between the 200 and 300 models was to introduce relays into the lighting circuits  :oops:

Do the headlights 'dim up' when you switch them onto sidelight? It is the same filament as dipped beam but just running at a lower voltage (thanks to the dim-dip resistor).

The dim-dip resistor is mounted on the bulkhead adjacent to the screenwash bottle under the bonnet - try disconnecting this?

Relays are located underneath the glovebox and behind the drop down panel underneath the steering wheel although which relay it is I'm not sure.
The fusebox is also behind the drop down panel - check all is ok here.

Bit of a fluke but it could also be the headlight lamps themselves?

[Range Rover Blues]

Just being pedantic but for your info and all that the dim-dip system does not employ a resistor, it uses a high frequency wave generator or 'chopper' to switch the bulb and and off very quickly so as to appear about 1/16th the intensity.  Why, because Halogen (tungsten halide) bulbs do not like to work at anything other than their designed voltage and last significantly less time.

P.S the Halide used until recently was Iodine (ever heard of quartz-Iodine bulbs) but more recently Xenon bulbs have replaced it, most bulbs made now use this gas but some cost more because it says Xenon on the packaging :roll:

[tazman]

Thanx chaps
As mine is a 300 TDI, mine must be relayed then.
There are two relays under glove box (yellow ones), one is dim dip cos it clicks when you put side lights on, dunno what the other one is, but it does work as I have swapped them round, but it doesn'r click when headlights get wswitched on.

sounds more a more like the switch then!!  :?  :?  :?

can you imagine an electrical fault on the disco 3???  :shock:

[richardb]

Before you start looking at replacing switches, pull the connector off the back of the headlamp bulb. It may have started shorting out & burning the plastic.

Apparently it's a common fault but Land Rover don't sell the parts, Vehicle wiring products do though, google them & I'm sure they'll come up, unless someone else knows the url.

Richard

[Paul]

Vehicle wiring products do though, google them & I'm sure they'll come up, unless someone else knows the url.

www.vehicle-wiring-products.co.uk  

[tazman]

Popped the eyeballs out of the disco.  One of the connectors looked as it had been melted previously and a repair done.  Cleaned them all and put em back.

no go....still only dim lights.
Ok I am going to get a stick switch from a salvage yard and replace it.
Well tonight the family were out having some fish and chips and Ladyfreebie said, we better go as its getting dark.
I put the sides on and just to trick me, I switched to headlights, ready to sigh and....................... :shock:  :shock:  :shock:  :shock:  :shock:

I have headlights :shock:  :shock:  :shock:
Landrovers don't you just love em.  All I remember doing earlier was to give the stick a waggle.

I am dumbstruck

Thank everyone for the help, I will visit the vehicle wiring place and replace the sockets.

cheers again, I just now need to learn how to change a CV joint. 8)  8)

[dracula]

Glad you got it sorted

[Wanderer]

Broken wires in the back of the switch aren't uncommon. I had this, quick resolder of the wire and it's been fine years on.

Ed