Defender Headlight Washer Failure: DIY or Pro Fix?

Hey there! I had a similar issue with my '04 Discovery TD (Diesel) last year. The washer pump cable connection had corroded and the relay was shot. Initially thought it was just the pump, but the mechanic found the wiring harness near the pump was damaged too. The repair wasn't too complex, required replacing the relay, cleaning the connections, and installing a new wiring harness section. Took about 2 hours at the shop. Not a serious issue, but definitely something you want to fix to avoid any electrical problems spreading to other systems. My advice: check the fuse first (easiest fix), then have someone test the pump's power supply. If you hear the pump trying to work but no fluid comes out, it's likely the pump itself. If there's no sound at all, probably electrical, either the relay or wiring. Hope this helps!

Hey! Thanks for sharing your Discovery story, sounds pretty similar to what I'm experiencing with my Defender! My local specialist ended up fixing it with a new relay and some rewiring too. Just curious, do you remember roughly what you paid for the repair? And has everything been working smoothly since then, or have you noticed any other electrical quirks popping up? Cheers!

Hey again! Good to hear you got it sorted! Yeah, I remember it well, I paid exactly 165€ for the whole job. The mechanic fixed the pump cable connection and replaced that dodgy relay. Money well spent, if you ask me! Everything's been working like a charm since then, both the headlight washers and rear window spray are doing their job perfectly. No more annoying error messages on the dash either, which is a relief! Haven't had any other electrical gremlins show up, so I reckon they caught the issue before it could cause any more trouble. These old Land Rovers can be a bit finicky with their electrics sometimes, but once you get them sorted, they're pretty solid. Glad I could help point you in the right direction with my experience. Keep an eye on those connections though, might be worth giving them a quick check during your regular services just to be safe!

Thanks really appreciate the follow-up! Just got back from my mechanic today actually. The total bill came to a bit more than yours, around 220€. They found some additional corrosion in the wiring that needed sorting out. But honestly, I'm just happy it's fixed! You were spot on about getting it sorted before it caused more issues. The mechanic showed me the old relay and wiring, they were in pretty rough shape. Actually glad I didn't try to fix it myself, as there was more to it than I initially thought. Everything's working perfectly now, both headlight washers are spraying like new, and the rear window washer is working great too. Feels good to have everything functioning properly again. Thanks again for sharing your experience, really helped me understand what I was dealing with. Guess these old Defenders just need a bit of TLC sometimes! Cheers!