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Headlights are out, but high beams still work

Discussion in 'Diagnosis/Help' started by spiedr0722, Jan 1, 2013.

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  1. spiedr0722

    spiedr0722 Well-Known Member Donated!

    So my headlights went out last night.. I had drove to a friends house and the car sat for a good two hours. They worked when I parked the car, but when I came back out, they wouldn't come on. The headlights still pop up and my high beams still work. I checked the two 15A fuses and they are good and the relay is still clicking. I still have sealed beams if that helps any. Hoping to switch to Autopals as soon as this situation gets figured out.
     
    spiedr0722, Jan 1, 2013
    #1
  2. 4thgenceli

    4thgenceli Test Dummy

    So lo beams don't work, but high beams do?

    Sounds to me like the bulbs are done for and need to be replaced.
     
    4thgenceli, Jan 1, 2013
    #2
  3. spiedr0722

    spiedr0722 Well-Known Member Donated!

    That is correct! What I don't get is how they could go out with the car off
     
    spiedr0722, Jan 1, 2013
    #3
  4. Awesome-Trac

    Awesome-Trac Well-Known Member

    Did both low beams go out?
     
    Awesome-Trac, Jan 1, 2013
    #4
  5. spiedr0722

    spiedr0722 Well-Known Member Donated!

    Yup both of them are out. High beams still work though
     
    spiedr0722, Jan 1, 2013
    #5
  6. Awesome-Trac

    Awesome-Trac Well-Known Member

    Ok Stig had the same problem except his was the complete opposite where high beam didn't work so my suggestion is to check the high/low beam switch located on the steering wheel column which usually wears out over time. What other parts of the system did u check? Fuse,wires of short, bulbs cause for low beams to go off at the same time sounds like a switch to me
     
    Awesome-Trac, Jan 1, 2013
    #6
  7. spiedr0722

    spiedr0722 Well-Known Member Donated!

    Ive checked the fuses and the relay! Its raining right now so all the wiring and the switch will have to wait. But if the switch was bad, wouldn't the headlights not pop up until high beams are turned on?
     
    Last edited: Jan 1, 2013
    spiedr0722, Jan 1, 2013
    #7
  8. spiedr0722

    spiedr0722 Well-Known Member Donated!

    Anybody have a spare facelift switch they wouldn't mind letting go of?
     
    spiedr0722, Jan 2, 2013
    #8
  9. solder_guy

    solder_guy Well-Known Member Donated!

    Your headlight switch is bad. When mine went bad, I used a rigged relay to keep my lights on until I got where I was going. Then I had to remove the relay everytime. I finally got a good replacement switch and I still have that rigged relay just in case.
     
    solder_guy, Jan 6, 2013
    #9
  10. vicdat

    vicdat Well-Known Member

    Could be that fatigue has broken the wires from years of flip-up use...thats what happened to the Burpcar a while back
     
    vicdat, Jan 14, 2013
    #10
  11. spiedr0722

    spiedr0722 Well-Known Member Donated!

    i really hope its not the wiring...... All the wiring looks mint though (knocks on wood) we should be putting the new switch in this week///fingers crossed
     
    spiedr0722, Jan 14, 2013
    #11
  12. spiedr0722

    spiedr0722 Well-Known Member Donated!

    Changed the switch and still the same....No lows, only highs. I just dont understand......
     
    spiedr0722, Jan 29, 2013
    #12
  13. solder_guy

    solder_guy Well-Known Member Donated!

    Check the relay .. Or make a rigged relay to verify that the wiring is good.
     
    solder_guy, Feb 12, 2013
    #13
  14. Cappy

    Cappy Guest

    My two cents: I had this problem except with one light. I replaced the bulb and now both work perfectly.
    Also in a 300zx i was gonna buy, the exact same problem as the one you described occured. Turns out it was just a wire shorting on the stereo? Anyway i never did end up buying that car
     
    Cappy, Feb 12, 2013
    #14
  15. spiedr0722

    spiedr0722 Well-Known Member Donated!

    Relays and fuses are all good. They were fixed for a little.. They would work intermittently. They wouldn't come on when I turned the switch, but if I turned it off and back on they would on occasion. Also if the car sat during this time they wouldnt work when the switch turned on but would work randomly 10 sec later. Then It rained one day and they havent worked again since. While they were broken I ordered AutoPals and checked them on it but still no low. Im thinking something is either loose or had gotten wet when it rained. But I dont see how a fuse didnt blow if something got wet. My brain is just fried..... haha
     
    spiedr0722, Feb 14, 2013
    #15
  16. solder_guy

    solder_guy Well-Known Member Donated!

    I bought a big tube of dielectric grease at NAPA to use on all of the electrical connectors to keep water or moisture out and prevent corrosion. I also use it when I disassemble switches to keep things working properly. (I too have a convertible)
     
    solder_guy, Feb 14, 2013
    #16
  17. spiedr0722

    spiedr0722 Well-Known Member Donated!

    Ive got the same stuff! But the problem is I dont have a wiring diagram that matches up or tells me where connectors are!
     
    spiedr0722, Feb 14, 2013
    #17
  18. racerb

    racerb Well-Known Member

    Hey guys I've got 2 complete headlight switch control stalks in my barn, it's the whole piece that encircles the steering shaft. So not only do you get headlight control, you get windsheild wiper stalk also, just let me know who needs it. We can discuss price when your ready to take it off my hands.

    racerb :science
     
    racerb, Feb 14, 2013
    #18
  19. spiedr0722

    spiedr0722 Well-Known Member Donated!

    I may need it! I already bought a Light switch (the actual stalk for the lights) and that was only a temporary fix. So maybe changing out the whole column switch will fix everything! Is it from a facelift model?
     
    spiedr0722, Feb 14, 2013
    #19
  20. Stig

    Stig ST162 Guru Donated!

    I foresee a lot of this happening in the near future.
    The light switch is busted inside and you can't fix it, you can use the 86-87 switches on a 88-89 but be aware the 86-7 doesn't have adjustment for the intermittent wipe so I'd recommend swapping only the light switch and splice it into the main plug
     
    Stig, Feb 16, 2013
    #20
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