 | Home > Maintenance & Modifications > Auto lights for classic Defender - automatic headlamp sensor |
 
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| MatLandy Member Since: 11 Sep 2020 Location: Paris Posts: 189   
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Not me, but my sons tend to forget to switch the lights on properly when taking the 110 Puma. We live in an area where street lights are good (it doesn't help), plus they are also used to modern cars where most things are now idiot proof (lights, wipers, parking brake, etc.). The other day I saw the young one (18 ) coming back at night with only the sidelights on, he said the dash was illuminated the same as with low beam so he didn't realized.
Anyway, I decided to remedy to this, and sourced an Automatic Headlight Sensor Kit from Amazon for about 35€. 
Sensitivity is adjustable, which is good, and I spend the first few days with a small screwdriver at hand while driving to fine tune it and get the desired behaviour in all conditions (underground parking, tunnels, etc.), all good now. I have kept the wiring as simple as possible, putting the automatic kit in parallel to the headlight switch, so both the column switch and the automatic sensor kit are redundant. I can turn the sidelights or low beams on manually any time if the automatic kit fails to do so. Main beam remains manual, no change there. wiring, best way to explain : Click image to enlarge I spliced directly into the column headlight switch wires for Permanent +12V, side/tail lights, low beam connections. Ignition live is taken from cigar lighter, as well as the ground. No other connection needed. I used some "wago" splicing connectors like these https://www.wago.com/gb/electrical-interco...ectors/221 , no soldering or crimping ! Click image to enlarge The light sensor is put against the windshield, in the middle, below the wipers, mostly out of sight with the puma dash, but not out of reach (in case I want to push the on/off button on it). Click image to enlarge The automatic kit box location, again, best way to explain is a picture (I have a LHD): Click image to enlarge Thought I would share, in case it may interest others. /Mat Last edited by MatLandy on 11th Jan 2025 9:16am. Edited 1 time in total |
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10th Jan 2025 4:49pm |
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| Alpine Member Since: 23 Feb 2024 Location: brabant Posts: 10  
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Nice modification. Anybody found a system for lights and wipers?
Automatic wipers (with speedcontrol ?) would also be great! |
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13th Jan 2025 10:40am |
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| swt Member Since: 24 Aug 2018 Location: Cumbria Posts: 164  
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That looks fun and, to the extent that you run on automatic, you are also bypassing the switch, which is a common point of failure.
Wago connectors are great - as a further step it would be very straightforward to introduce a little piggyback connector and thus avoid cutting into any wires at all. While we are on mods to the stalks, one I've always wanted is a simple way to do a single wipe of the windscreen. Achieving this with the standard controls has always seemed a bit fiddly to me. |
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13th Jan 2025 9:10pm |
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| MadTom Member Since: 10 Sep 2013 Location: Olomouc Posts: 632  
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WAGO is nice, but not in Defender - short time OK, but long time moisture and vibrations can damage the wires. I had to cut out lot of them used in Defenders and other cars, and replace with proper solder joints or proper connector, that are cripmped not on on wires, but also on the isolation, to make it mechanically stable.
I use heatshrinking tubes with glue inside over solder joints or over crimped connection of faston pins or crimped cable eyes, to protect the from mechanical damage. "Drobek" = The Small One - Discovery 2, "Blufínek" = The Blue Thing - Defender 130, and for me at least Ford Mondeo  |
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15th Jan 2025 2:17pm |
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| MatLandy Member Since: 11 Sep 2020 Location: Paris Posts: 189
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Alpine : There is a similar kit to the one I used which is a "2 in 1" with both a rain and light sensor that gives you the possibility to have automatic wipers as well. Just google for "2 in 1 Auto Sensor Universal Car Wiper Rain and Light Sensor". For now I want to keep my wipers manual, as I've never been satisfied with such feature on modern cars anyway.
MadTom : on WAGO connectors, if the wires are nicely attached together with cable ties and and secured to a non moving part of the car, in a way that the WAGO connector is not hanging loose of the wires, I believe this provides a long lasting and solid connection. I will not use them in the engine bay or under the car though where they would be exposed to the elements. /Mat |
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17th Jan 2025 9:51am |
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