Headlight problems...

Hi all,

So last night jumped in my 110 Puma, fired her up, flicked the lights on, about 1 second later headlights both went off...Side lights are fine, main beam is fine, no headlights.
Must be a fuse I thought. Nope.
Might be the switch? Nope.
Hang on... don't puma's have a headlight relay ??? yes, they do, but that's not the problem either.
Bugger.
Unlikely to be both bulbs at the same time surely ???
Anyone had a similar issue ?
Cheers in advance.

If everything else is fine i would check the bulbs before doing any more in depth fault finding. I had both tail lights go at the same time, had assumed it was an earth problem but both bulbs had blown.

Just checked the bulbs, look fine.

Likely relay in the secondary fuse board

Checked the relay (unless i did the wrong one...) Land Rover informed me that the 3 black with white lettering relays just above the fuses are for electric windows, heated screen and headlights. They are all the same part. Interchanged all 3, everything else works but no lights

Update, still haven't found the solution but in case anyone else is having the same trouble as me.

To confirm the issue.

The side lights, main beam "always on" and "flash", fog lamp, dash lights all work as they should - just no f@$"ing headlights (dipped beam). Both stopped working yesterday just after I switched them on - stayed on for about 1 second. Checked one bulb, it was fine.

There appear to be 2 relays for the headlights, this ties in with the hayes manual wiring diagram (I know, I know, I was desperate).

Fusebox 1 (under seat) here...




Another one in Fusebox 2 (under dash) here...




I've checked both relays and they are working fine.

Also check the voltage through the switch... Brown in supply, Red is sidelights, Blue is headlights. The switch works fine showing 14v from supply and to the feeds when switched.




Tomorrow I will try and check the voltage at the head lamps (ran out of time today)...

Switch burned out?edit, replied before reading your last post.

dim-dip relay

Hi Mystery.

Many thanks, I have ordered a replacement, will let you know how I get on.

you can bypass it never seen the point of them either using expensive bypass relay retailing at £15 + or you could fit a jump lead using two male spade connectors and short lead or remove guts from faulty relay and solder jumper from pin 2 (30) to pin 8(87) or re purpose the dim-dip to daylight running using the dim-dip resistor connection in engine compartment as wiring point for daylight running lamps and re configuring the dim-dip relay base and adding a switch diagram 2002 model but basically the same food for though

Shouldn't be a dim-dip relay on a 2.2 defender. It was there on the 2.4 for some models but never on any 2.2 I've come across.

Haved you checked the indicator/dip switch? Although there's a headlight relay, the full load from that relay still goes through the dip switch.

Problem solved (for the moment at least...)

Ok so... turns out that even though my local Landrover service centre confirmed there is a dim-dip relay for my 2012 puma and it cost £30, there isn't. Wasted an hour and a half of my life trying to discuss this with the very pleasant (but unfortunately not very knowledgeable) parts technician about it this afternoon. Then got my £30 back. I did manage to get a print out of the lighting wiring diagram for my truck.

Following the circuit diagram and having ruled out both relays (photos earlier in this thread), both fuses and the switch - all of these had already been tested, I was convinced it was either a bulb issue (unlikely for both to go at once ???), or a break in the loom (please lord - not a break in the loom.... that will take all bloody weekend to trace...).

First up, check the plug on the back of a headlight for voltage. Voltage was correct... changed the bulb. New bulb works just fine. Changed the other bulb, and hey presto - I've got headlights again ! Both the old bulbs look fine with no obvious failure points.

WTF ?!?

So for now, problem solved, but I can't help wondering what happened to cause both headlamp bulbs to fail at the same time. Power spike ? from what ? and why didn't the fuse(s) blow ???

If it happens again I'll let you know (so like, probably on the way home tomorrow night...)

Many thanks for all the advice.

Paulus Mcginger said:

I can't help wondering what happened to cause both headlamp bulbs to fail at the same time.

Click to expand...

Regulator failure. I'd be checking the output voltage from the alternator ASAP .... under full load too...