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Lancelot62



Member Since: 03 Dec 2023
Location: Dorset
Posts: 7

United Kingdom 2004 Defender 110 Td5 SW Bronze Green
Defender TD5 Headlight issue
Hi All,
I have a Defender 110 TD5 Station Wagon, 2004. Headlights failed a few weeks ago, although I still had sidelights and flash mainbeam. Got home by holding the flash on and found that the light relay (the pink one) was making a high pitched buzzing noise. Took it out to check the part no and ordered a new one on line.
I replaced the old one whilst I was waiting for the new one to be delivered and, hey presto, my lights worked again. I put the new one to one side in case it happened again and yesterday it did. So I fitted the new relay and that also makes a high pitched buzzing and still no lights. Swapped back to the old one, still buzzing and no lights and then, an hour later, for no apparent reason, everything was working again!
Anyone got any idea what may be the cause?

Thanks
Post #1017250 3rd Dec 2023 2:01pm
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geobloke



Member Since: 06 Nov 2012
Location: Nottinghamshire
Posts: 4410

United Kingdom 
A relay will buzz when it is not getting enough current to properly engage it. It is likely that your main light switch is faulty, not the relay. It is a very common failure on Defenders.

EDIT: Master light switch AMR6104

https://www.lrworkshop.com/parts/AMR6104
Post #1017251 3rd Dec 2023 2:05pm
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Lancelot62



Member Since: 03 Dec 2023
Location: Dorset
Posts: 7

United Kingdom 2004 Defender 110 Td5 SW Bronze Green
Thanks Geobloke.
Really helpful.
Post #1017259 3rd Dec 2023 2:46pm
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geobloke



Member Since: 06 Nov 2012
Location: Nottinghamshire
Posts: 4410

United Kingdom 
No problem Thumbs Up

It is an easy DIY fix if a little fiddly when getting the steering column shrouds off.
Post #1017260 3rd Dec 2023 2:51pm
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geobloke



Member Since: 06 Nov 2012
Location: Nottinghamshire
Posts: 4410

United Kingdom 
Just so you know:

One of the reasons the master light switch fails is because there is too much current being drawn through it and the contacts melt the plastic surround they are fitted into. This is what I mean by a known weak point.

The solution, since you are changing the switch you can protect it into the future by also fitting a stand-alone headlight loom. In this way the light switch is only switching the loom circuit and there is no load on the light switch side.

Nakatenenga do one and Boomslang and Red Bison. Plus a host of cheaper versions.

The other benefit is that if you have the standard H4 halogen headlights fitted to your Defender (the original factory ones) you will find the light output can be vastly improved with the sand-alone loom.

A two for one Thumbs Up
Post #1017268 3rd Dec 2023 3:54pm
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Lancelot62



Member Since: 03 Dec 2023
Location: Dorset
Posts: 7

United Kingdom 2004 Defender 110 Td5 SW Bronze Green
Many thanks for your previous advice. The headlights started working of their own accord for a while but then failed again. I replaced the light master switch as suggested but that didn't make any difference.
I then replaced the dip/mainbeam/indicator switch but, again, still no lights.

Just to confirm, I have mainbeam when I use the flash and I have sidelights but no dip or mainbeam. The Pink Relay is making a high-pitched buzzing sound when the lights are turned on.

I've now replaced the relay, the master light switch and the dip/main/indicator switch.
Any idea what else I may try?
Post #1034617 13th May 2024 12:24pm
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Lancelot62



Member Since: 03 Dec 2023
Location: Dorset
Posts: 7

United Kingdom 2004 Defender 110 Td5 SW Bronze Green
Just to be clear, my last post wasn't quite accurate...
I haven't actually replaced the indicator/dip switch. I did buy a new one but just disconnected the existing one and plugged the new one in without fully fitting it, to save spending time removing the steering wheel if it wasn't faulty. I didn't cure the issue but I am now wondering whether the switch relies on it earthing to the steering column or mounting plate?
Post #1034618 13th May 2024 12:49pm
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Penfold_6290



Member Since: 22 Sep 2021
Location: Dorset
Posts: 312

United Kingdom 2002 Defender 110 Td5 CSW Epsom Green
I had this on an '04 Defender a few weeks ago. Noisy pink relay, switch tested ok, etc. In the passenger compartment fuse box you have some relays, in the picture below it is item C0282. Try swapping it with one of the others, heated rear screen for example C0044, I expect that will cure your issue.



Click image to enlarge
Post #1034631 13th May 2024 3:17pm
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blackwolf



Member Since: 03 Nov 2009
Location: South West England
Posts: 17310

United Kingdom 2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 DCPU Stornoway Grey
Lancelot62 wrote:
... I am now wondering whether the switch relies on it earthing to the steering column or mounting plate?


No, it doesn't.

It is more likely that the Off/Side & Tail/Head switch has melted, I suggest testing that before going to further expense.

Generally it is a matter of pot luck which of the two switches fails first, on my Defender the first two failures were the Off/S&T/Head switch, the third failure was the Dip/Main/Flash/Indicator, and after than I finally got fed up with the rubbish design and rewired the headlights properly. Result, 200k miles of no switch problems, and lights which even with H4 bulbs in mediocre housings gave out far more light.
Post #1034642 13th May 2024 5:19pm
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Lancelot62



Member Since: 03 Dec 2023
Location: Dorset
Posts: 7

United Kingdom 2004 Defender 110 Td5 SW Bronze Green
Thanks Blackwolf,
I've already replaced the master light switch and tried a new dip/flash/indicator switch. Is there another switch that you are referring to?
Post #1034684 14th May 2024 8:14am
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Lancelot62



Member Since: 03 Dec 2023
Location: Dorset
Posts: 7

United Kingdom 2004 Defender 110 Td5 SW Bronze Green
Thanks Penfold,
I'll give it a try.
Post #1034685 14th May 2024 8:15am
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blackwolf



Member Since: 03 Nov 2009
Location: South West England
Posts: 17310

United Kingdom 2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 DCPU Stornoway Grey
Lancelot62 wrote:
Thanks Blackwolf,
I've already replaced the master light switch and tried a new dip/flash/indicator switch. Is there another switch that you are referring to?


Aha, sorry, I didn't see that you'd already changed that one.
Post #1034693 14th May 2024 8:48am
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Lancelot62



Member Since: 03 Dec 2023
Location: Dorset
Posts: 7

United Kingdom 2004 Defender 110 Td5 SW Bronze Green
Penfold_6290 wrote:
I had this on an '04 Defender a few weeks ago. Noisy pink relay, switch tested ok, etc. In the passenger compartment fuse box you have some relays, in the picture below it is item C0282. Try swapping it with one of the others, heated rear screen for example C0044, I expect that will cure your issue.



Click image to enlarge


Holy cow, it worked! Thank you somuch Penfold! I swapped Relay CO044 with CO282 as suggested and I now have lights!! I can drive to the pub in the evening again!

Can anyone explain why this has worked?
The good news is that I now have a spare master light switch and dip/indicator switch ready for when they go wrong which, by all accounts, they are very likely to Laughing
Post #1035044 17th May 2024 8:15pm
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Penfold_6290



Member Since: 22 Sep 2021
Location: Dorset
Posts: 312

United Kingdom 2002 Defender 110 Td5 CSW Epsom Green
Marvellous! Very pleased you've got sorted.

As for why...relays deteriorate so it's not unusual for a relay to fail, and the headlight relay does some heavy lifting.

Job sorted!
Post #1035299 21st May 2024 8:08am
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