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FD7



Member Since: 16 Feb 2021
Location: Midland
Posts: 170

2006 Defender 90 V8 Petrol ST Auto Chawton White
TD5 Headlights turning on when sidelights are on
Bit of head scratching going on here.....


Recently noticed that when I put my sidelights on, the headlights seem to be turning on also. I'm sure the headlights never did this before i.e just the sidelights turned on....

When I push the lever further to activate the headlights, there's split second flicker but ultimately both sidelights and headlights are on, as you would expect.

I don't drive the car much to have used sidelights only.... so not sure.


At this point I should also point out someone did fit an alarm in the last month... so wonder if it was them that could've caused this i.e. incorrect wiring. I'm not able to get through to them this side of the year, so thought I'd post a post before....

Does this sound incorrect and if so.... anything obvious?
Post #934377 20th Dec 2021 1:25pm
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Dinnu



Member Since: 24 Dec 2019
Location: Lija
Posts: 3414

Malta 2012 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 CSW Santorini Black
Possibly the dim dip relay is faulty if it has one. 1988 90 Hard Top, 19J Diesel Turbo, Shire Blue - Restoration ongoing
2012 90 CSW, 2.2TDCI, Santorini Black
Post #934379 20th Dec 2021 1:31pm
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FD7



Member Since: 16 Feb 2021
Location: Midland
Posts: 170

2006 Defender 90 V8 Petrol ST Auto Chawton White
It's a 2004 TD5, where is this relay whilst I have you?
Post #934380 20th Dec 2021 1:36pm
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rallysteve



Member Since: 10 Feb 2014
Location: Cumbria
Posts: 2229

United Kingdom 2002 Defender 110 Td5 DCPU Keswick Green
sounds like the dim-dip system working as it should. To disable it (so sidelight position on switch is only sidelights) it is easiest to unplug the resistor which is fitted to the driver's side inner wing. If you reach down near the air intake under the bonnet you can just unplug it.

Steve 02' 110 TD5 Double Cab Rebuild Thread
Post #934382 20th Dec 2021 1:41pm
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Dinnu



Member Since: 24 Dec 2019
Location: Lija
Posts: 3414

Malta 2012 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 CSW Santorini Black
I am not sure if I cannot help you with the location on a Td5...but according to this site: https://www.landroverexpedition.com/techni...dip-relay/

The relay on Td5 and earlier vehicles is located on the bulkhead below the instruments. If you have front speakers then you can easily get to it behind the driver's speaker. Otherwise you will have to remove the instrument binnacle and reach down. On Puma/Tdci vehicles the relay is located on the fuse board on the dash.

The site above also gives you the part number.
On my 1988 it was behind the binnacle (dim dip unit different than the later pinkish relay). 1988 90 Hard Top, 19J Diesel Turbo, Shire Blue - Restoration ongoing
2012 90 CSW, 2.2TDCI, Santorini Black
Post #934384 20th Dec 2021 1:42pm
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mark1200



Member Since: 09 Oct 2011
Location: peterborough
Posts: 74

England 2004 Defender 90 Td5 HT Caledonian Blue
When my sidelights are switched on my headlights come on but only at half power i thought this was normal and have never thought of as a problem. Or am i wrong ?
Post #934394 20th Dec 2021 3:37pm
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LandRoverAnorak



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

United Kingdom 
No, you're not wrong. It's the aforementioned dim dip system, which is a hangover from a long abandoned lighting regulation. Disabling it by unplugging the resistor as described above is good for the longevity of your headlight bulbs. 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
Post #934406 20th Dec 2021 4:47pm
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jim4244



Member Since: 13 Apr 2014
Location: Bedfordshire
Posts: 785

England 2007 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 CSW Zermatt Silver
Where is the resistor located on a 1997 300Tdi please?

Jim
Post #934417 20th Dec 2021 5:49pm
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rallysteve



Member Since: 10 Feb 2014
Location: Cumbria
Posts: 2229

United Kingdom 2002 Defender 110 Td5 DCPU Keswick Green
Same place as described above
Steve 02' 110 TD5 Double Cab Rebuild Thread
Post #934418 20th Dec 2021 5:56pm
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dorsetsmith



Member Since: 30 Oct 2011
Location: South West
Posts: 4554


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Post #934432 20th Dec 2021 6:59pm
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LANDROVER



Member Since: 13 Feb 2016
Location: EAST OF ENGLAND
Posts: 208

United Kingdom 
LandRoverAnorak wrote:
No, you're not wrong. It's the aforementioned dim dip system, which is a hangover from a long abandoned lighting regulation. Disabling it by unplugging the resistor as described above is good for the longevity of your headlight bulbs.


I only just noticed this and my brother was convinced it was not like this and now it is!

So just to confirm..... pushing the light switch forward one click brings sidelights and slightly illuminated headlight's.
Second click is sidelights and dipped headlights.

So basically the headlights are always illuminated regardless of position just varying brightness.

This will save me looking for a problem that isn't there Laughing

Thank you!
Post #935073 25th Dec 2021 11:36pm
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LandRoverAnorak



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

United Kingdom 
Yes, that's right. 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
Post #935076 25th Dec 2021 11:53pm
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blackwolf



Member Since: 03 Nov 2009
Location: South West England
Posts: 17391

United Kingdom 2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 DCPU Stornoway Grey
LANDROVER wrote:
...So just to confirm..... pushing the light switch forward one click brings sidelights and slightly illuminated headlight's.
Second click is sidelights and dipped headlights.

So basically the headlights are always illuminated regardless of position just varying brightness.
...


True provided that the engine is running or the "ignition" is on. If the ignition is off, the the sidelight position just turns the sidelights on, not the dim dip.

Be advised that the use of dim dip will significantly shorten the life of incandescent headlamp bulbs and that the factory wiring is incompatible with loom upgrades to prevent the inevitable switch failure which all standard defenders inevitably suffer from in the end, and is also incompatible with LED headlamp upgrades. Fortunately dim dip can be disabled and "normal" headlamp function instigated simply by unplugging the connector from the dim dip resistor under the offside wing (adjacent to the factory radio aerial). Some people replace the dim dip relay with a jumper to eliminate the relay as a possible source of failure, but the relay is actually generally quite reliable.

The most charitable comment you can make about the dim dip idea is that overall it has absolutely no redeeming virtue and was a stupid idea dreamt up by cretins! Apart from the technical shortcomings it didn't even achieve anything useful, and one of the few occasions when EU legislation has done the UK motorist any favours was when the EU ruled that it was illegal for the UK to make dim dip a national legal requirement.
Post #935097 26th Dec 2021 9:10am
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Dinnu



Member Since: 24 Dec 2019
Location: Lija
Posts: 3414

Malta 2012 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 CSW Santorini Black
I guess on newer models there is better electric logic... but I can state that on my MY88, the dim dip (headlights on low power) only come on if there is sufficient oil pressure Laughing Thats because it closes the circuit by grounding through the oil pressure switch.

I have reinstated mine only because I think it looks cooler with the headlights dimmed. 1988 90 Hard Top, 19J Diesel Turbo, Shire Blue - Restoration ongoing
2012 90 CSW, 2.2TDCI, Santorini Black
Post #935101 26th Dec 2021 9:31am
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blackwolf



Member Since: 03 Nov 2009
Location: South West England
Posts: 17391

United Kingdom 2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 DCPU Stornoway Grey
Is it the oil pressure, or is it the "engine running" signal from the ECM (which is I think really an "alternator output present" signal - at least it is on the 2.4)? Not that it makes much difference really....

"Engine running" is used for things like the heated front windscreen so that the screen heater can't be turned on if just the "ignition" is on.
Post #935103 26th Dec 2021 9:37am
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