99 Cav, no low beam headlights

[fanbelt]

Hi,

99 Cavalier. Has been sitting for several weeks, think everything was working when it was parked. Turn on, start. Flashing headlight image at lower right side of instrument panel. Got dark, turned on headlights and flashing headlight image went out, but no lights. Put on bright and got lights. So when I get out and look at it, looks like there are no low beams.

I can do simple mechanical stuff involving unfastening screws and bolts but I have no idea how to analyze and troubleshoot an electrical problem. I think it would be unusual for both headlights to go out at once. Is there some other part that might cause the flashing image on the instrument panel and make the headlights (low beam) not work?

Thank you.

[muff34]

well no one is biting on this one .....unfortunately . Did the flashing light on dash always flash before this started? My`00 sunfire does not it is just on ,to show that daytime running lights are on. These cars are notorious for lighting problems up front. Check this link out and hopefully you can resolve your problem....http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbul...adlight+defect

Also check the headlight fuses .


Good luck Muff

[fanbelt]

The fuse box cover does not have any markings specifically for headlights. I have pulled the plastic fuses I can see through and they all look ok. There are some large square ones I cant see through, but they seem to be marked for stuff other than headlights.

I have pulled both headlamp bulbs. The filaments look intact.

The wiring across the front of my car is at the top rather than the bottom, held onto the metal by two or three special harness connectors.

I have read about something called the drl relay. I think before I put on magnifying glasses and pull all the wiring out, I would like to see if the relay is the problem, but I don't know where it is. I have started another thread to ask where it is located.

If that doesn't work, I'll have a look at the wiring.

[Schister66]

the headlight fuse would be my first guess....

[muff34]

were you looking for fuses under hood or inside the car?

[fanbelt]

Ok, I'm really stuck here.

What am I looking for for a headlight fuse? The fusebox on this car is under the hood on the driver's side. There are fuse descriptions on the lid of the box. There is nothing that says headlight. I pulled each of the little translucent plastic fuses that have two blades on the bottom and they are all ok.

I don't know what else to look for for a "headlight fuse".

[muff34]

on my `00 sunfire there is also a fuse panel on the end of the dash. open the drivers door and look for the little trap door ,or look up under dash by drivers feet

[fanbelt]

Ok, thank you.

I'll check that out tonight.

[fanbelt]

Found the fuse box, 2 blue 15 amp fuses, both ok.

( I guess the bright side is that the easy/obvious things like the unplugged cord on the back of your computer are being eliminated.)

[muff34]

your going to have to check for power at headlight with test light ,then work your way back from there. If /when you poke the wire for low beam put some nailpolish on hole to seal it up again. dk blue wire should be low beam according to wiring diagram I have

[fanbelt]

Ok, finding the inside fuse box along with info in the other thread helped me know about the drl relay too. When I pull that, the low beams remain off and the drivers side high beam also does not work. I guess I am into checking wires. Thanks for the other suggestions.

I may need some advice on how to construct this test light, but will have to post back next week for that.

[muff34]

go to a auto parts store and ask for a test light . or better yet just follow the wiring back from the headlight assembly looking carefully for splices/ joints or deteriorated wire. Check the splices ,pull on them to see if the wire comes apart. I betting wiring on this as car was fine ,then sat for a while. Check the ground wire also for headlights. No other trouble by chance with signal lights /cruise control. The multi function switch /lever may possibly be the culprit. But checking the wires is free and easy

[ChemMan]

I think it would be unusual for both headlights to go out at once.

It happened to me once, although it was a new set of headlamps, both with bad low beams!

[fanbelt]

Well, it's not the multifunction switch on the steering column.

I don't understand electricity, automotive electricity, or testing, but I guess that's what I'm down to learning about it I want to fix it myself. (I also wasn't keen on poking holes in the wires.) (Also, the battery tray doesn't seem to come out like I had hoped, so getting to the wires and connection underneath is not going to be fun.)

The cruise control doesn't work either, so I thought the combination of no low beams and no cruise made the multifunction switch a good possibility. I haven't been able to test the cruise yet, but in the driveway, the lights are all as before, turn signals, hazards, and high beams all work. DRL may or may not be working, depending on how the car feels. No low beams.

[Bacon33]

Did you try replacing the lights? I used to have a similar problem, but my high beams didnt work... It was the bulbs.