It's amazing, the same switches used since 1985 but with a different connectors, I have a Ninety from 1986 and replaced headlight switch and horn and hi beam lever also. Same colors as yours but the conector in the 90 is a old style rubber type.

I downloaded the wiring diagram for your model Defender and the headlight circuit is no different to my 300TDI, the relay is in series with the light switch and is only there to cut the lights when the key is off. Your light switch and high/low beam switch still carry the full lighing current. If you fit the relay kit your switches will last forever .

@offtrackfamily

10 ай бұрын

where did you upload the wiring diagram? I'll pass on the message :)

You can tell it's a proper Land Rover because you need power tools and pry bars to work on it. 😂 Seriously though, I'm impressed with your husbands skills and your enthusiasm. 👍

@offtrackfamily

10 ай бұрын

Always end up like that 😅

Watching your husband pull the plastic puzzle apart just to get to the switch made me appreciate his patience. For the price of the newer vehicles makes me wonder what is in the plastic!

@offtrackfamily

10 ай бұрын

He likes to get things done when it's required, hates the work and leaving problems unsolved. He might like the outcomes and benefits of acquiring skills and knowledge but would rather go running or go training. Not sure about his patience 🤔 😆

@offtrackfamily

10 ай бұрын

And yes, not too sure why new car are so expensive regarding all the plastics

Interesting and very helpful information about Defender Puma issues... I had problems with our ignition switch sticking and not turning on our Puma, it was suggested to me to use graphite powder , I put a good dose in the key hole (which i did a number of years ago) and it fixed the problem.

@offtrackfamily

10 ай бұрын

Do you mean you couldn't turn the key tu start engine like us?

@jeffwright1073

10 ай бұрын

Yes... although I could get the key to turn after alot of trying. Once I put the graphite powder in the key hole and turned and moved the key everything worked fine. Now I always carry some graphite powder in with the tools.

@offtrackfamily

10 ай бұрын

Good to know 👍 thanks for sharing

Wir verwenden LED Hauptscheinwerfer bei all unseren Defendern und haben seither nie mehr einen Lichtschalter mehr wechseln müssen. Die sind heute extrem gut und günstig geworden. Die Lichtausbeute ist grandios im Gegensatz zu den originalen Kerzchen.

@offtrackfamily

10 ай бұрын

Switching to LED headlights can indeed help with that issue 👍

It's a common issue with the defender, use a relay in between the switch and the lights 🙂

@offtrackfamily

10 ай бұрын

There's already one on Defender Pumas

@thedevilstears1

10 ай бұрын

@@offtrackfamily Thats strange then, as usually a melted light stalk switch at the steering wheel means there is too much current going through it (they are poorly made and landrover never updated the design since the early 90's and 110's from back in the late 80's) at the connector which i thought should not occur if there is a relay in the circuit. Out of curiosity, are the two spotlights at the front on relays? and if so are they on the same or their own relay as the normal headlights?

Yes, working on Defender electrics can be a major pain in the ass, especially problems caused by rotten chassis earth points. Two things may have helped here (although I could just have been lucky): almost every light in my Defender is LED, so currents through relays, switches and cables are reduced quite significantly, prolonging their lifetime. Second: had my key once stuck in steering wheel lock, used brake cleaner to flood the lock washing out any residue and then after drying sprayed some graphite spray (just graphite, no solvents) into the lock, wiggling the key all the time. No similar problems since then.

Landrover wiring seals letting the smoke leak out again. we used to see it all the time in the indicator/dip switch when people fitted uprated bulbs. an extra relay was the fix on TDi and older models, if i remember correctly after 2007 there's a headlamp relay as standard. My old 90 has a large appetite for electrical components, it's just part of the ownership experience.

@offtrackfamily

10 ай бұрын

Part of the game, yes! You are right on Puma Defenders there's a relay for switches

For one moment I thought how does he have those tools with him to fix on the road.. Then I saw you were parked at your home. hahaha.

@offtrackfamily

10 ай бұрын

Haha yes done on the parking lot. Was part of the inspection prep ;)

Happened to me I just cut the switch end of the lever and join all the cables and boom all sort it Now I installed a new one but I do keep the old one with all the cables join up as a back up The ignition switch is what you call the part on the back of the Neiman by the way As well some garages and some stores replace the original ignition switch the is made of metal with the plastic ignition switch and even the heat of the sun melts them here in Australia I do carry a new metallic authentic ignition switch on my spares as well to prevent me leave me on the road Funny games with the old Landies hay

@offtrackfamily

10 ай бұрын

Having a backup for a common failure is a good idea 👍

I do enjoy your videos Emilie. I have a 2003 TD5 Defender 110 Three door. I'm looking to add a rooftop tent. Did you sell your previous roof top tent, rack etc..? I'm sure the new setup is better, but I did like the square tent. Keep up the great work. Regards, Paul

@offtrackfamily

10 ай бұрын

Thanks Paul 🙂 we don’t t have anything left from our previous setup

It’s better to install a Swedish light amplifier, the current will go directly from the dynamo to the lights and runs not over the switch, the light switch only will shift the relais which comes with the amplifier set on or off,I did use a steel center point to loosen the one turn bolt on the neiman to change it for a new one, worked great, took me about 15 minutes max,I would be afraid to set the car on fire with that flex😂

@offtrackfamily

10 ай бұрын

Seems you have all the the right tools and skills, and that you know everything very well. We should definitely have you around for all our jobs.

👍👍👍

@offtrackfamily

10 ай бұрын

👍🙂

My tdi300 had a relay for for the lights so no current flows through the light switch and they turn off automatically when the key was removed

@offtrackfamily

10 ай бұрын

Nice for the lights 👍 There's a relay on our Defender, seems it's a poor quality switch manufacturing.

👍👊

@offtrackfamily

10 ай бұрын

👍🙂

Use an auxilary relay. It can avoid this issue on switch.

@offtrackfamily

10 ай бұрын

There's already one on Puma Defender. We tried to add a second one but was useless

Since I add 2 relays in order to get a bit more than 12 volts at the bulbs I did not experience more problems with the main switch. You can buy a proper loom or diy.

@offtrackfamily

10 ай бұрын

What Defender do you have? We tried out loop relay Red bison from Paddock. When redoing our setup we realised it was useless because there's already a relay on Defender like ours so we removed it.

@alfredo9173

10 ай бұрын

@@offtrackfamily it is a 110" SW 2007. And the main switch was replaced by a genuine one IIRC. I use standard power halogen bulbs.

@offtrackfamily

10 ай бұрын

@@alfredo9173 Good to know, thanks for sharing

my Puma is on it's 3rd switch! :D it's a bad design.

@offtrackfamily

10 ай бұрын

Yes apparently very common failure amongst Defenders

Mine is on its 4 ignition barrel 😢

@offtrackfamily

10 ай бұрын

Oh no ! How many km does the car have?

@michaelatack4644

10 ай бұрын

312.000 km I’ve taken all but the ignition key and fuel cap key off to help the wear on the barrel

I changed the Headlights switch 5 times. In my case, I had 2 + 4 headlights and every time I turned them on after a while - I found that it didn't work anymore. I disabled them (extra headlights) and since then I have no more problems. I think you have an extra consumer and that's why it burns all the time . Maybe the headlights are custom and consume too much? . Anyway, I think you exaggerated with the angle grinder.. Better consult an electrician

@offtrackfamily

10 ай бұрын

We don’t have any extra consumers. There’s a relay for our stock headlights and ARB spotlights have their own loop. In 200’000 km not too bad to have that switch burn out once and also one time for the indicators one. Any tips for removing neiman another way are welcome.