All,

When it rains it pours with this car....all this started because I noticed the lights weren't on so I decided to fix the bezel around the HUD and the bulb that was burned out for the seatbelt warning lamp....I have had the dash pad out twice today, just to give you an idea how the day has gone...

The real problem...

I took the multifunction switch apart and cleaned it/adjusted it as per the forum thread. Great, got the running lights working. Now, when I reassembled it and plugged it in I noticed the high beam flash to pass function was not working, so I tried plugging the fog light module back in. As I started tinkering with it, realized the high beams DID work but then they stopped (in the normal position, not ever in the flash to pass position) and the switch started to smell funny. I popped it out, recleaned the contacts inside and put it back in. Now I don't have any head lights at all high or low beam. The noise from the dash that tells you your lights are on sometimes will bing now, even when you turn the lights off and the headlamp motors will not go down. When you pull the flash to pass it is not lighting up the hi beam indicator on the IPC (I checked the race car, that part works in my other 2000 with the car off). I am sure whatever I blew is all related, hoping its not the BCM. Off to check schematics but could use a fresh set of eyes. Car is a 2000 coupe with twilight sentinel.

I am truly stumped. I have been at it with this car now for almost 12 hours, I am beat. It has me so flustered I don't know what to do. Seriously, after 7 weeks of getting beat up on this car I am just cooked.

There has to be a power supply to the lights, I briefly and angrily looked over the schematics and saw there is a breaker but that should have reset, right? Is it possible there is a fuse somewhere I blew?

Thanks for any suggestions. I am sorry to bother the forums with my problems, would much rather offer good advice ...

Cassidy

 

I think if I was you, first thing to check is the large connector from the switch to the car. Look for burned pin/sockets. When you've cleaned those switch internal contacts, did you clean the connection after filing, sanding or whatever method you use, with iso alcohol? There is a slider inside that makes the connections for you. Are you sure you mated it with the rotating headlamp switch in the correct position? Look at the gear there in relation to the slider that actuates those contacts. Turn off the twighlite sentinel for now while you are troubleshooting and work manually.

 

I think the problem is in the switch, only thing that makes sense. I pulled it out and started running checks. The fuses in the box up front are good for the headlights, low and high. I think the switch itself is screwy. The flash to pass circuit does not complete by using the turn signal pull back and I am not sure I have continuity in the other position either. I will get home and check. Chances are I put the gear a tooth off or something in the other part of the contacts. I guess worst case scenario I will buy a new switch but I will give it one more go on this one. Should not be this hard, I am too experienced to botch something like this...

Thanks for the reality check,
Cassidy

 

All right,

Looking at the schematics, EVERYTHING runs through the switch. I disassembled the switch and realized I have some continuity but not through all the correct circuits. After spending an inordinate amount of time diagnosing the hi/lo circuit, I noticed the spring tension on the contacts is bugged out. A quick search on Amazon found the switch for 150, game on.

Will let you know if this fixes it....geesh. Opened it to FIX it not to BREAK it!

Cassidy

 

Ok, so my advice if you find the thread in the future...just go get a new switch. If you have more wrong than just the running lights not coming on, just save yourself the headaches and find a new one on line. GM ones are as cheap as aftermarket if you order them from the right place.

Amazing that the switch has that much stuff going on inside. The rest of the car is a mainframe computer and this blasted subassembly looks like a 50's jukebox inside...

Problems ALL solved (of course I swapped the one out of the race car and now will put the new one in the car I will keep!)

Cassidy