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johnnyturbo2002

Member Since: 21 May 2009
Location: Poniente Granadino
Posts: 371

2008 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 CSW Java Black

Help! What to do?

So, yesterday the wife informs me that the light switch finally bit the dust. I was hoping it would last till October when I have the extended warranty checkup...but I guess today is action day. So, I would like to hard wire the light so when the ignition is on, the lights are on. (we always have them on anyway, so it seems the logical and simplest thing to do). My quesiton to all of you who are more in the know than me is: Can I just junp the fuses? if so , which ones, and if not, What should I be doing? Any help is greatly, greatly appreciated!!!!

Thanks
John 2008 Defender 110 60 year Edition (sold unfortunately)
IN the hunt for another Puma for the wifey!
2008 Kia Sorento LX 😁 2.5crdi

29th Aug 2012 7:28am

LandRoverAnorak

Member Since: 17 Jul 2011
Location: Surrey
Posts: 11324

I can't tell you which specific wires to connect off-hand, but you're going to need a relay that's triggered by an ignition live. This will, essentially, replace the existing manual switch. Darren

110 USW BUILD THREAD - EXPEDITION TRAILER - 200tdi 90 BUILD THREAD - SANKEY TRAILER - IG@landroveranorak

"You came in that thing? You're braver than I thought!" - Princess Leia

29th Aug 2012 7:35am

blackwolf

Member Since: 03 Nov 2009
Location: South West England
Posts: 17382

2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 DCPU Stornoway Grey

It's not clear from your post whether you mean sidelights or headlights or both.

You have two problems that I can see:-

1) To hardware the lights as you describe is not trivial, since it is not just a case of bypassing the switch (which would result in the lights being on irrespective of whether the ignition is on and a flat battery in next to no time). To combine bypasing the switch with an ignition-on-only feed is not trivial and is almost certainly more work and more costly than replacing the switch (which is cheap and easy to do).

2) It would be illegal to drive a vehicle on the road if the headlights cannot be turned off, since there are several situations in which it is illegal to have the headlights on when on the road. It is unlikely that you would be pulled over and done for this (unfortunately I have never heard of anyone being done for this, much as they deserve to be) but it is a risk.

I would suggest that the easiest remedy by far is to replace the switch

29th Aug 2012 9:43am

JSG

Member Since: 12 Jul 2007
Location: Berkshire
Posts: 2412

2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Stornoway Grey

blackwolf wrote:
It would be illegal to drive a vehicle on the road if the headlights cannot be turned off, since there are several situations in which it is illegal to have the headlights on when on the road.

Are you sure about that - a number of motorbikes have permanently wired on headlamps these days? John

http://www.hampshire4x4response.co.uk

2011 Tdci 110 CSW XS

29th Aug 2012 11:45am

johnnyturbo2002

Member Since: 21 May 2009
Location: Poniente Granadino
Posts: 371

JSG wrote:
blackwolf wrote:
It would be illegal to drive a vehicle on the road if the headlights cannot be turned off, since there are several situations in which it is illegal to have the headlights on when on the road.

Are you sure about that - a number of motorbikes have permanently wired on headlamps these days?

Volvo's used to and probably still do always have their lights on...Motorbikes should have them on just so others can see them more readily.
Thanks for your reply, I will try to get it sorted this afternoon... 2008 Defender 110 60 year Edition (sold unfortunately)
IN the hunt for another Puma for the wifey!
2008 Kia Sorento LX 😁 2.5crdi

29th Aug 2012 12:15pm

bpman

Member Since: 21 May 2008
Location: Oslo
Posts: 8069

2008 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 SVX Station Wagon Santorini Black

hi JT,

i concur with the others, get a new switch and if you have the time and inclination, wire in a couple of relays for the dip beam and full beam.

if you still need an ignition "on" live, then of you have an heated screen, then there's an option, or take it from the alternator.

when you remove the switch you will notice they are made from cheese, (well a soft plastic) and when they get warm they melt, this is why 100w bulbs are not recommended unless you add relays into the circuit.

LED headlights draw significantly less current compared to halogens (if you need a reasoning tool for the wife) and they have dropped in price recently.

good luck!
steve

29th Aug 2012 12:22pm

pope10001

Member Since: 15 Oct 2011
Location: Dulverton
Posts: 489

1992 Defender 90 200 Tdi HT Zermatt Silver

Hi John,

Surely if you bodge/hardwire the lights on this will invalidate your extended warranty anyway? Plus if you were going to wait until October to get it done, then get it done now under warranty, 2 months isn't going to make much difference! Trust me on this, if they can find any little way of getting out of a warranty work they will and bodging your headlight switch is a definite get out of jail free card for the warranty company! DON'T RISK IT!!!!

Regards,

Mark

29th Aug 2012 12:27pm

blackwolf

Member Since: 03 Nov 2009
Location: South West England
Posts: 17382

Two situations when it is (as far as I know and it certainly used to be) unlawful to have your headlights on:-

1) when reversing

2) when stationary other than in stationary traffic (i.e., you've pulled up at the side of the road).

Motorcycles don't reverse, so 1) is not relevant. Volvos and other cars with daytime running lights do not use the obligatory dip beam for this purpose, hence not relevant.

I have however never, ever heard of anyone actually being done for either of these and the plice themselves are amongst the worst offenders - round here they always seem to have main beam headlights on if stationary at an incident at night thus making life very difficult for passing traffic. They have no exemption from this.

29th Aug 2012 12:46pm

johnnyturbo2002

Member Since: 21 May 2009
Location: Poniente Granadino
Posts: 371

thanks fo rthe info to all,
getting it sorted tomorrow morning with a local garage that specializes in Defenders...the reason for the "wait till October" is that the dealer that I bought it from is about an hour and a half away, so I usually wait until I have some time off to do a drop and sort for a few days. (It basically came down to a less expensive truck in Germany than an outrageously expensive truck in Switzerland...)
SO, thanks again for the help.
great bunch of guys on here! 2008 Defender 110 60 year Edition (sold unfortunately)
IN the hunt for another Puma for the wifey!
2008 Kia Sorento LX 😁 2.5crdi

29th Aug 2012 5:16pm

johnnyturbo2002

Member Since: 21 May 2009
Location: Poniente Granadino
Posts: 371

blackwolf wrote:
Two situations when it is (as far as I know and it certainly used to be) unlawful to have your headlights on:-

1) when reversing

2) when stationary other than in stationary traffic (i.e., you've pulled up at the side of the road).

Motorcycles don't reverse, so 1) is not relevant. Volvos and other cars with daytime running lights do not use the obligatory dip beam for this purpose, hence not relevant.

I have however never, ever heard of anyone actually being done for either of these and the plice themselves are amongst the worst offenders - round here they always seem to have main beam headlights on if stationary at an incident at night thus making life very difficult for passing traffic. They have no exemption from this.

guess I was referring to the daytime running lights that are almost the same as the low beam headlamps. (?)
thyanks for clarifying
JT 2008 Defender 110 60 year Edition (sold unfortunately)
IN the hunt for another Puma for the wifey!
2008 Kia Sorento LX 😁 2.5crdi

29th Aug 2012 5:19pm

bm52

Member Since: 04 Apr 2010
Location: Kent
Posts: 2189

2014 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Havana

interesting post. i drive with my dips on and it is now automatic for me to switch them on as i finish turning the key and as you can't really turn the key off with the lights on it acts as a reminder

i also use the headlight leveler to drop the lights a bit in day time to minimize risk of glare for other drivers.

i also carry a spare switch..............just in case. so far no problems at all. once the warranty is over i do plan to add a live feed and a relay for dip and beam.

did someone say it's OK to take a live feed from the alternator - i thought you should always take the feed from the battery? BM52

29th Aug 2012 7:03pm

WelshGas

Member Since: 01 Oct 2010
Location: Vale of Glamorgan
Posts: 935

2010 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Santorini Black

Feed from the alternator if you want an Ignition switched feed.

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29th Aug 2012 8:34pm

Shax

Member Since: 05 Oct 2010
Location: London
Posts: 391

2010 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Stornoway Grey

I ordered some bits from VWP, so I can plug a lead into the existing headlamp socket, that switches a relay (low current) that then feeds the bulbs from a dedicated hi-amp feed from the battery... Really simple to do, not expensive, and will let you got to stupidly high wattage bulbs to melt the reflectors, and retains the existing switchery... 80/130 watt bulbs with Crystals really do light up the road! ... ,-------,
.. I [__][_]|__
.. I __ |"_|"__|
.. "(o)====(o)"
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PAUL
G7ALW 14.200 USB
26FB458 / 27.275 SSB

29th Aug 2012 10:37pm

bm52

Member Since: 04 Apr 2010
Location: Kent
Posts: 2189

Shax - i would be very interested in the parts you used. BM52

29th Aug 2012 10:40pm

custom90

Member Since: 21 Jan 2010
Location: South West, England.
Posts: 20371

Shax - I don't believe that wattage is legal though

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29th Aug 2012 10:48pm

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