Headlight Electrical Gremlins
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,613
Likes: 0
From: Orlando FL
Headlight Electrical Gremlins
My headlights stopped rolling up last night. I checked the 10amp fuse when I got home and sure enough it was blown. And luck would have it that 10amp fuses were the ONE rating that I didn’t have handy. I picked one up this morning, slipped it in and…..STILL nothing. When I got to work I rechecked the fuse (its fine). Then I hand rotated the headlights up to the open position and pulled the switch again…..no light came on! Interestingly, the fog lamps still work fine, so I don’t think that it can be the switch. I can’t imagine that both lamps went bad at the same time, and even if they did, the motors would still rotate the assembly up. All this being said, electrical work is not really by best friend, but I know that I can learn from all the helpful folks here. Is there a fuse or relay that the FSM talks about? I haven’t had a chance to look yet.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
Likes: 30
From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
The headlights are fused, the headlight door motor uses a fusible link.
Unplug the motor and jump 12v to the motor. If it won't run, the motors need looked into. If it does work, check your motor relays and the fusible link and the motor ground connection.
Unplug the motor and jump 12v to the motor. If it won't run, the motors need looked into. If it does work, check your motor relays and the fusible link and the motor ground connection.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,613
Likes: 0
From: Orlando FL
upon reading the FSM and some experimenting, i think that its the switch. Not only do the motors not roll over, but the lo beams and the hi beams will not come on AND the indicator on the dash for the high beams does not operate. I'll be replacing the switch first....any other thoughts?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,587
Likes: 0
If you are planning to keep the car, or be able to sell it change the troublesome lights to newer 88-96 type. Go to mid-america ..they have a kit. Also research the relay actuator (s) for servicability. Check past threads.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 24,460
Likes: 7
From: sw Ohio
Then only thing the actuators do is control the motors moving the headlight assemblies up and down. If the lights dont work this is not the problem. Nor is it a motor problem. The only sure way to know whats wrong is check all the wiring for shorts with a multimeter. Otherwise your just guessing and replacing things one at a time.
