What is your question?
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What is your question?
My running headlights are fine, but when I turn on the headlights for night driving, I get no beams, low nor high. I do have dash lights, side orange lights and tail lights come on. All fuses are good. Since the running lights work, I'm thinking the bulbs are good. Since the other lights come on, I think the switch is good. Is there a relay that might be faulty? I'm not sure what the problem could be. Tnx. for your help. D
1 Reply
Check bulbs first. Then, I would suggest checking the switch and the wiring connector to the switch. There is a lot of power going through here, and on some vehicles wiring connectors get melted and wiring gets compromised. Just a guess, but a good idea to have a look.
The bulbs work for the running lights, which I think are the same as the headlights. By running lights, I mean the headlights that are on whenever the car is running - even with the headlight switch off. It seem weird that both bulbs would go out at the same time, which is another reason I don't think it's the bulbs. The other lights that work off of the light switch: panel, side yellow lights, rear tail lights, all go on when the switch is turned on. Could a switch be only partially working? I did see a diagram of all the wires going into the switch. Perhaps it is the wiring connectors for the part of the switch that operates the headlights. That makes sense to me. I'll check it out tomorrow. Thanks for thinking this through with me. D
FYI the running lights are often different bulbs. Each circuit has it's own wire; if it's a headlight power issue, that wire at the connector could be compromised. Have a look.
Hi Dave, Thanks for your ideas. I was able to pull out the switch and disconnect it from the plastic housing that the wires go into. All contacts look good - no corrosion or anything abnormal. I also checked the wires going into the bulb housing. They also look fine. Is there a way for me to test the plastic gizmo to see if there's juice coming out of each port? Logically, this seems like where the problem would be, but it all looks clean. Also, do you think the switch could be bad even though it works for the other lights? tnx. D
I would continue to think about the switch as a cause of issues. Also, did you check for any issues with circuit protection -- fuses?
The fuses are good. The bulbs are good. I don't see any corrosion on the switch contacts. I talked to the dealership and they thought I should check the wires connecting the bulb. They also "look" good. I haven't checked any current flows yet since I'm not confident in using a multimeter. Because both headlights (hi and lo) are not working, I'm wondering if there is a relay between them and the switch somewhere? It doesn't seem like they would both have the same problem at the same time, so I think the problem is further down the line. I'm having a tough time finding a wiring diagram for a 2001 Eurovan so that I can identify if there is a relay and which number it would be. Also, I was able to identify a DRL, Daytime Running Lights relay. Could it be that it is not working properly and not allowing the headlights to switch to the regular headlights?
I'm sorry to say that all this is beyond the scope of what we can really get into detail in a web forum like this. Simply put, you have to have a wiring diagram, a DVOM, and just get into the entire system. Anything else is guesswork. When I answer questions, I try to stimulate thought and point someone in the right direction based on general operational theory and maybe some first hand experiences thrown in. Nothing can replace the value of a hands on diagnosis with a skilled technician, a shop manual, and proper tools. Definitely wish you luck!
Thanks Dave. I appreciate all your help. I'm going to replace the DRL relay and if that doesn't work, I'll go to a professional shop. What a weird problem! Again thank you. Denise\ Hey Dave, guess what? I just took the van into the dealership. I had had a new ignition switch put in about 3 weeks ago. When they fixed that, they failed to adequately plug in the hi/lo switch that is attached to the steering column. That's why the headlights weren't getting any power. Problem solved. Just thought you'd like to know. D