High beam problem

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Sep 27, 2005 | 07:25 PM

jmesox

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Pro

Joined: Feb 2004

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From: Rochester NY

High beam problem

My low beams work. When I put the high beams on the low beams go out. Only the high beams stay on. I think it may be the column switch. Any opinions?

Thanks

John

Sep 27, 2005 | 07:43 PM

Last Mango

Instructor

Joined: Aug 2004

Posts: 184

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From: Boca Raton FL

One of us is missing something ... I'll play.

The low beams should go off when the high beams are on.

What do I win?

Sep 27, 2005 | 07:53 PM

Evil-Twin

Team Owner

Joined: Mar 2001

Posts: 21,325

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From: small town in S.E Pa. PA

St. Jude Donor '03-'04

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmesox

My low beams work. When I put the high beams on the low beams go out. Only the high beams stay on. I think it may be the column switch. Any opinions?

Thanks

John

It could also be a lose nut behind the wheel.

Sep 27, 2005 | 08:31 PM

jmesox

Thread Starter

Pro

Joined: Feb 2004

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From: Rochester NY

Ha! Ha! on my Pontiac all four lights go on. The low beams continue to illuminate near areas and the high beam are for distance.

John

Sep 27, 2005 | 11:11 PM

striper

Le Mans Master

Joined: May 2005

Posts: 6,366

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From: Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Hey jmesox, there is nothing wrong, they are supposed to work that way.

Sep 27, 2005 | 11:38 PM

SpeedyZ

Drifting

Joined: Oct 2004

Posts: 1,384

Likes: 8

From: Southwest Virginia

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmesox

Ha! Ha! on my Pontiac all four lights go on. The low beams continue to illuminate near areas and the high beam are for distance.

John

If your Pontiac is a four light system which it sounds like it may be, then it will work the same way. The low beam will go off, the high beam in the same light will come one, and the two extra high beam only lights will come on. So even in that system your low beams will be off when the high beams are on.

If your Pontiac is two light system and both high and low stays on then I think your Pontiac has a problem because I don't think any car is designed that way. I don't think the DOT allows that. I know on a Subaru if you don't flip the switch all the way it will light all the lights (high and low) at the same time, but don't run them long like that because it will melt the wires because it draws too much current for the system.

I could be that it looks like they both stay on just because the Pontiac may have much better lights than the C5, which wouldn't be hard to do.

Sep 27, 2005 | 11:39 PM

Roc87

Burning Brakes

Joined: May 2002

Posts: 831

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From: Albuquerque NM

My '97 Silverado did that, as did my wifes '97 STS, it's possible to wire in a relay so you don't lose the lows when you switch on the high beams. It was very easy on the silverado (Drls never worked since I bought it), but the STS required 2 relays because of the DRLs (The high beams are the drls and would cause all 4 lights to be on during the day, although dimmer).

Sep 29, 2005 | 12:46 PM

JimInGV

4th Gear

Joined: Sep 2005

Posts: 4

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undefinedundefinedundefinedI have a question relating to this....on my 99 all the lights go out when I try to switch to brights?? is that a relay problem or a switch problem??