Weird low beam headlight issue.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 13,597
Likes: 1,353
From: Home of the VOLS ! Knoxville, TN. Tennessee
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13, '15, '16-'17-'18-'19
Weird low beam headlight issue.
I did some searching and found a few threads about repairing the switch etc... But I did not find an answer to this question.
A couple of times in the past couple of months now, when I turn my low beam lights, the buckets will open but the light will not fire on. Switching to brights is fine, brights do work.
Turning the lights off, the buckets will not close unless the stalk is in high beam. Fuses 8 and 10 are fine.
I can walk away from the car for 10 minutes, come back and the low lights work just fine.
Now I can see that maybe the switch is bad, but the question is the problem is also there when the sentinel is on and the switch is out of the equation.
In sentinel mode, the buckets will open but no lights, and won't close until stalk is turned to high beam.
Does the sentinel sensor run through the switch ? or is it a relay problem somewhere ?
When the low lights want to work, they work in switch mode and sentinel mode. when they decide to take a break, they do it in both modes as well.
Suggestions?
A couple of times in the past couple of months now, when I turn my low beam lights, the buckets will open but the light will not fire on. Switching to brights is fine, brights do work.
Turning the lights off, the buckets will not close unless the stalk is in high beam. Fuses 8 and 10 are fine.
I can walk away from the car for 10 minutes, come back and the low lights work just fine.
Now I can see that maybe the switch is bad, but the question is the problem is also there when the sentinel is on and the switch is out of the equation.
In sentinel mode, the buckets will open but no lights, and won't close until stalk is turned to high beam.
Does the sentinel sensor run through the switch ? or is it a relay problem somewhere ?
When the low lights want to work, they work in switch mode and sentinel mode. when they decide to take a break, they do it in both modes as well.
Suggestions?
Supporting Vendor
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 8,550
Likes: 901
From: Republic of Texas
There is a small black box mounted to the passenger headlight frame with 2 wire harnesses coming out of it. This is the headlight control module. Due to a weak weather seal, the sensitive electronics in it are the frequent source of odd problems involving the headlights.
Replacement is easy and they can be found pre-owned for about $50
I'd start there.
Replacement is easy and they can be found pre-owned for about $50
I'd start there.
Drifting
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,482
Likes: 2
From: Pearland, TX
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 13,597
Likes: 1,353
From: Home of the VOLS ! Knoxville, TN. Tennessee
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13, '15, '16-'17-'18-'19
Thanks guys, I will check both.
A good friend of mine has already mentioned the control module box.
Maybe it's the logical choice, I am wondering if the ground is corroded why that would not affect both the low and high beams, or the buckets opening all together.
A good friend of mine has already mentioned the control module box.
Maybe it's the logical choice, I am wondering if the ground is corroded why that would not affect both the low and high beams, or the buckets opening all together.
Drifting
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,482
Likes: 2
From: Pearland, TX
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,962
Likes: 29
From: Van Buren Arkansas
Wounded Warrior Escort '11
Take a look at the headlamp switch connector that is attached or exiting along the steering column. There is a tan wire on one end of it which is your low beams. I'll insert a picture here of the connector. In my case, the pin/socket was bad or lose, heated up and melted the connector.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 13,597
Likes: 1,353
From: Home of the VOLS ! Knoxville, TN. Tennessee
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13, '15, '16-'17-'18-'19
Take a look at the headlamp switch connector that is attached or exiting along the steering column. There is a tan wire on one end of it which is your low beams. I'll insert a picture here of the connector. In my case, the pin/socket was bad or lose, heated up and melted the connector.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
