Headlights are SCREWED!

2.2literHERO · #1 03-17-2005, 09:59 PM

alright, heres the status...

96 Sunfire SE 2.2L

DRL light on the instrument cluster freaks out when i start the car, then they go out. They also flicker with the dash light.

Dashboard Illumination Clips out every once in a awhile as well and is fixed by turning lights on and off again.

Only the RIGHT [passenger] headlight is dimmed during headlight operation for both Low and high beams.

Here's the kicker: when the lights dont want to turn on i have to shut down the car, highway or not, in order to reset the system...HAHA

Here's whats been done: Switch in the column has been replaced, no change, ground re-location and replacement, NO CHANGE, would replace the DRL switch or circuit or whatever, DONT KNOW WHERE IT IS! help, help, help. and if i hear one more thing about duct tape, ill lose it.

PyroTech · #2 03-19-2005, 05:16 PM

"Only the RIGHT [passenger] headlight is dimmed during headlight operation for both Low and high beams."

i am having the same problems, someone answer this guy

tvnvideoman · #3 03-23-2005, 08:44 AM

Try the relays... had the same problem when I first bought mine back in 2002. Took the dealership 3 wks to figure it out. (there is 2... sorry I can't remember which one)

PyroTech · #4 03-23-2005, 05:13 PM

there is the drl relay and there is the bcm/bcu. Does that ring a bell?

tvnvideoman · #5 03-23-2005, 06:40 PM

I really don't remember... I'm surprised I remember that much... If it helps, I believe... not positive... that it was by the actual headlight assembly. Again, the details are vague, but thats about all that I recall. This June will be 3 years, and I have done so much, its nothing more than a distant memory. Sorry. (I'm now also recalling something about the daytime running lights... maybe the relay is associated with them???? Sorry not more info)

2.2literHERO · #6 03-27-2005, 10:25 AM

Thanks alot, I really do appreciate it, but other than stereo stuff, Im not too familiar with the car's electronics. Where are these relays located?

PyroTech · #7 03-28-2005, 06:58 PM

ok, i think i found the problem that i am having it involves a faulty/broken wire "earth"... and the drl relay is located in the drivers side fuse box btw. Its black square about an inch by inch.

tvnvideoman · #8 03-29-2005, 05:49 PM

I'm at a loss on where or what the relay does/or is. All the work I had done was under warrenty, and as mentioned before, it took nearly 3 wks. I pretty much said... Fix it and I don't care what you have to do to fix it. I wasn't into the details... Sorry... hope you can get someone to help you that may have more experience.

2.2literHERO · #9 03-29-2005, 07:46 PM

I appreciate the help from all of you, vague or not...Thanx

2.2literHERO · #10 03-31-2005, 09:46 AM

and p.s.
what is "earth"

homerr · #11 03-31-2005, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2.2literHERO

and p.s.
what is "earth"

It is also known as the chassis ground.

2000 sunfire · #12 03-31-2005, 07:16 PM

HELP, i have the same problem, happened yesturday. have u found an anwser yet? as soon as i turn my day lights on, service light goes out, i have no right high beam

wainsun · #13 04-16-2005, 12:00 AM

I just bought a sunfire for my daughter to drive and seem to be having similar problems. As I was driving during the daylight the DRL indicator flickered and would sometimes stay on, but more often would stay off. I drove the car home tonight in the dark for the first time and found that the high beam indicator was on all the time in the dash if I had the headlights on. I could get a difference in the headlights when I flicked the high beam lever, but as best I could tell I was only going from DRL to low beams. I left the headlights on what I thought was high beam and no one flashed their lights at me!

I've been reading the posts and see a few possible solutions, but I'm wondering if anyone else has experienced this high beam indicator situation.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2.2literHERO

alright, heres the status...

96 Sunfire SE 2.2L

DRL light on the instrument cluster freaks out when i start the car, then they go out. They also flicker with the dash light.

Dashboard Illumination Clips out every once in a awhile as well and is fixed by turning lights on and off again.

Only the RIGHT [passenger] headlight is dimmed during headlight operation for both Low and high beams.

Here's the kicker: when the lights dont want to turn on i have to shut down the car, highway or not, in order to reset the system...HAHA

Here's whats been done: Switch in the column has been replaced, no change, ground re-location and replacement, NO CHANGE, would replace the DRL switch or circuit or whatever, DONT KNOW WHERE IT IS! help, help, help. and if i hear one more thing about duct tape, ill lose it.

wainsun · #14 04-16-2005, 04:42 PM

Well, this morning I got up and decided to try to start with the easiest of solutions...the bulbs. I went to the auto parts store and bought 2 new bulbs. I did a few tests on the old ones and proved that power was indeed getting to them and they appeared to have both filaments working. Great!, that's not it. Then I noticed that the bulb numbers were different than the ones I had just bought. I phoned for verification and was assured the new ones were correct. Could this have been the problem? You bet! Plugged in the new bulbs, and now I have daytime lights, low and high beam and the indicator light works as it should. Lucky day! Especially after reading all the horror stories on here. I am touching wood as I write this, because I don't know how someone would have gotten both headlights screwed up since they don't often go out at the same time. Either way, I am not going to say that is the problem with any of your vehicles, but if you have a partsman giving you the wrong bulb it does throw the car for a loop.

ThePrairieProphet · #15 04-16-2005, 08:36 PM

glad you found the problem that easy. i had a similar problem awhile ago, and it took 200 smack for them to find a bad wire that cost a nickel. they found and replaced, fixed my problem right up. i figured it was, unfortunately i have not the equipment to find exactly where it was. anyone still having light troubles, i would say try your control arm (signal switch or whatever) as i've replaced 2 already in as many years. that is after fuses and that relay. the relay in my '97 is up along the wiring between the two headlights, just inside the front bumper under the hood. and yeah, check bulbs too first. always start with the cheap stuff.

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