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| geobloke Member Since: 06 Nov 2012 Location: Nottinghamshire Posts: 4410  
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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 |
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3rd Dec 2023 3:05pm |
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| Lancelot62 Member Since: 03 Dec 2023 Location: Dorset Posts: 7 
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Thanks Geobloke.
Really helpful. |
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3rd Dec 2023 3:46pm |
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| geobloke Member Since: 06 Nov 2012 Location: Nottinghamshire Posts: 4410
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No problem
It is an easy DIY fix if a little fiddly when getting the steering column shrouds off. |
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3rd Dec 2023 3:51pm |
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| geobloke Member Since: 06 Nov 2012 Location: Nottinghamshire Posts: 4410
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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 |
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3rd Dec 2023 4:54pm |
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| Lancelot62 Member Since: 03 Dec 2023 Location: Dorset Posts: 7
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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? |
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13th May 2024 1:24pm |
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| Lancelot62 Member Since: 03 Dec 2023 Location: Dorset Posts: 7
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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? |
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13th May 2024 1:49pm |
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| Penfold_6290 Member Since: 22 Sep 2021 Location: Dorset Posts: 287 
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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 |
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13th May 2024 4:17pm |
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| blackwolf Member Since: 03 Nov 2009 Location: South West England Posts: 16953 
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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. |
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13th May 2024 6:19pm |
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| Lancelot62 Member Since: 03 Dec 2023 Location: Dorset Posts: 7
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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? |
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14th May 2024 9:14am |
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| Lancelot62 Member Since: 03 Dec 2023 Location: Dorset Posts: 7
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Thanks Penfold,
I'll give it a try. |
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14th May 2024 9:15am |
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| blackwolf Member Since: 03 Nov 2009 Location: South West England Posts: 16953
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Aha, sorry, I didn't see that you'd already changed that one. |
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14th May 2024 9:48am |
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| Lancelot62 Member Since: 03 Dec 2023 Location: Dorset Posts: 7
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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  |
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17th May 2024 9:15pm |
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| Penfold_6290 Member Since: 22 Sep 2021 Location: Dorset Posts: 287
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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! |
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21st May 2024 9:08am |
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