 | Home > Maintenance & Modifications > Replacement headlight harness - Highly recommended |
 
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| geobloke Member Since: 06 Nov 2012 Location: Nottinghamshire Posts: 4410  
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Good afternoon folks. Thought I would show you how I got on with fitting the £7 lighting harness off eBay. All in all it was a perfect fit for the front of the Defender and works very well. There are a few things I will be changing at some point in the nearish future though; earth o-rings are a little light weight and the main power fuse holder is not in a great position. Easily sorted though.
Notes of fitting; I mounted the relays on to the mounting plate of the EGR valves I no longer have fitted. The mounting plate is in the perfect position for the wiring loom and it is tucked nicely under the wing top away from the worst of the weather. The nearside cable is routed behind the PAS reservoir, along the radiator overflow pipe and then down past the air-con condenser (i think that is what it is anyway) and to the headlight. The trunking is cable tied to the overflow pipe and the plastic rad top trim fits back on top with no problem at all. The nearside earthing point is the mounting nut for the air-con condenser and the offside is the front bolt holding the EGR mounting plate in place. Both of the original H4 female headlight connectors have been sealed with amalgamating tape. The main positive is taken from a junction box I mounted in the engine bay a year ago when I installed 4 spot lights under my old bumper. This uses a length of winch power cable straight back to the positive battery terminal under the passenger seat. [URL=]  [/URL]
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The loom seems to work perfectly and later this evening I will pop out and test the lights again. In the meantime here they are in daylight; [URL=] [/URL]
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7th Feb 2014 2:40pm |
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| x-isle Member Since: 26 May 2011 Location: Midlands Posts: 1327  
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I'd love to see a comparison of lights before and after.
Anybody got this?  Craig Rogers
2007 Puma 110 XS 2011 Evoque Coupe Dynamic Lux www.craigrogers.photography |
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7th Feb 2014 2:53pm |
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| geobloke Member Since: 06 Nov 2012 Location: Nottinghamshire Posts: 4410
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Regardless of whether there is a noticeable difference or not in light output, the knowledge that the main light switch in the cab is now isolated from carrying too much current is my reason for doing this modification. I will however take some photos for you this evening if I get a chance... |
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7th Feb 2014 3:20pm |
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| Diablo Member Since: 26 Oct 2011 Location: Basingstoke Posts: 335 
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Mine got noticeably brighter when I relayed them - largely because they have near 13.5v on them now, rather than the 11ish they had before.
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7th Feb 2014 3:55pm |
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| x-isle Member Since: 26 May 2011 Location: Midlands Posts: 1327
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That's good enough for me.
Don't bust a gut to go and take photos! Craig Rogers 2007 Puma 110 XS 2011 Evoque Coupe Dynamic Lux www.craigrogers.photography |
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7th Feb 2014 3:56pm |
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| ZeDefender Member Since: 15 Sep 2011 Location: Munich Posts: 4731  
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I also read somewhere about dim-dip systems, that running lights under-voltage reduces bulb life
Tell someone you love them today because life is short.
But shout it at them in German because life is also terrifying and confusing... |
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7th Feb 2014 4:37pm |
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| Dave T Member Since: 07 Jun 2013 Location: Glasgow Posts: 490 
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Ok, so I have ordered two of those looms that geobloke gave us the link to.
Looking for a good power source under the bonnet, what do people think about using the fuse/link block on the passenger side with the four large fuses/links, it's a 300 tdi without air con. Looking at the wiring diagram, it looks like these fuses/links supply the glow plugs, the ignition switch, at least part of the lighting system (side lights I think) and heated rear window. I don't think I have the dip/dim system unless it's just broken Would this be a reasonable source or are there any good reasons not to use this? 2015 RRS Autobiography SDV6 1994 Def 90 300tdi |
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9th Feb 2014 8:32pm |
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| ZeDefender Member Since: 15 Sep 2011 Location: Munich Posts: 4731
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Is there a reason why you can't come straight off the alternator? Would seem the best option. Tell someone you love them today because life is short.
But shout it at them in German because life is also terrifying and confusing... |
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9th Feb 2014 9:20pm |
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| VeeTee Member Since: 06 Mar 2011 Location: Somewhere Posts: 1512 
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Easy with a 300 Tdi, did it with mine. Cheers, Vincent
1959 Polynorm 1/4 Ton Trailer, Olive Drab Green (sold) 1970 M416 Military Trailer (Camping Trailer Conversion), Epsom Green (sold) 1975 Series III 88 V6, Light Green (sadly sold) 1996 Defender 110 CSW 300 Tdi, Epsom Green (sold) 2000 Freelander 1 TD4 3-drs, Silver (sold) 2006 Freelander 1 TD4 5-drs Facelift Automatic, Tonga Green (sold) MySite |
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9th Feb 2014 9:55pm |
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| Dave T Member Since: 07 Jun 2013 Location: Glasgow Posts: 490
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do the lights not vary a little when close to tick over if straight from the alternator? Where exactly did you wire it into? 2015 RRS Autobiography SDV6
1994 Def 90 300tdi |
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10th Feb 2014 7:02am |
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| landy andy Member Since: 15 Feb 2009 Location: Ware, Herts Posts: 5806 
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Has anybody wired theirs so that when on high beam the dipped beam also stays on?
Thought this might be possible, if using relays, so not over loading original wiring. Andy |
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12th Feb 2014 9:07am |
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| blackwolf Member Since: 03 Nov 2009 Location: South West England Posts: 17603 
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I am told that running both filaments will shorten the life of the bulb dramatically, it is not normally done.
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12th Feb 2014 9:48am |
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| Diablo Member Since: 26 Oct 2011 Location: Basingstoke Posts: 335
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It's easily do-able, but as blackwolf says, the bulbs aren't designed too - they'll get much hotter than intended to and probably not last as long.
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12th Feb 2014 12:08pm |
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| Dave T Member Since: 07 Jun 2013 Location: Glasgow Posts: 490
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Whilst awaiting my harnesses I thought I would measure the voltages at back of the headlights and at the alternator output. Was 10.3 and 13.7. This should make a huge difference, just can't wait now. I will try and remember before and after pictures. 2015 RRS Autobiography SDV6
1994 Def 90 300tdi |
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13th Feb 2014 3:48pm |
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