96 Headlights not working
Thread Starter
8th Gear
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 8
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From: Atlanta
96 Headlights not working
A few weeks ago one of my headlights stopped working. The motor did not seem to be getting any power as it did not make any noise when I pressed the switch. Troubleshooted the headlight control module and found that it was getting power, but not sending the proper output signal to the headlight. When I connected the motor on the bad headlight directly to power it worked properly. From this I determined the module itself had gone bad and I ordered a new one.
Today I installed that new module and both headlights seemed to work properly a few times, but then after a short drive tonight when I went to turn off the headlights neither one went down. Is this module also defective? Is my car burning them out or did I just get unlucky with the one I ordered. At a bit of a loss here and wondering if anyone has any ideas. Thanks!
Today I installed that new module and both headlights seemed to work properly a few times, but then after a short drive tonight when I went to turn off the headlights neither one went down. Is this module also defective? Is my car burning them out or did I just get unlucky with the one I ordered. At a bit of a loss here and wondering if anyone has any ideas. Thanks!
Thread Starter
8th Gear
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 8
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From: Atlanta
Interesting development this morning. I went downstairs and at some point during the night, the headlights flipped themselves down. This is such odd behavior. Anyone have any idea what would cause that? The headlights were turned off and I guess at some point it recognized the signal but how could there be a multi hour delay.
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Joined: Sep 2013
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From: Cape Coral, Florida
I don't have a wiring diagram for a 96 in front of me but I'd locate the black ground wire on the module and then disconnect the module connector...take a 12 volt incandescent test light connected to B+ and probe the connector terminal that is the ground wire and while probing that terminal if the test light is bright the ground is good....an incandescent test light only draws 300-400 milliamps but if you can find an old headlight bulb that draws a few amps that would probably be better in testing.
Thread Starter
8th Gear
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 8
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From: Atlanta
I don't have a wiring diagram for a 96 in front of me but I'd locate the black ground wire on the module and then disconnect the module connector...take a 12 volt incandescent test light connected to B+ and probe the connector terminal that is the ground wire and while probing that terminal if the test light is bright the ground is good....an incandescent test light only draws 300-400 milliamps but if you can find an old headlight bulb that draws a few amps that would probably be better in testing.
Thread Starter
8th Gear
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 8
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From: Atlanta
Tested all the outputs and all the inputs of the module and they seemed to be right so I thought I would plug it in and now it seems to be working fine. Hoping this will stay working but have a feeling it’s going to randomly stop working again some time soon. Not familiar with how the ‘black box’ module works internally but is there some reason it would intermittently work?
