Headlights turn off while driving

[minghia]

Hey guys, first time poster on the forum. This is a great forum.
I have 2 questions related to my cavalier that someone might be able to answer. I have a 2000 2.2L Cavalier and I'm experiencing some electrical problems.

1)
Most times when I'm driving at night and have the headlights on, the headlights mysteriously/intermittently turn off and stay off, however the daytime running lights (DRL) do not turn off. As the headlights turn off, the headlight indicator light turns back on in my cluster (notifying me that my headlights aren't on).

What I have to do to fix the problem is put on the highbeams for a couple seconds then turn them off, and my headlights turn back on. Sometimes I have to try this 3-4 times for it to work.

I've been reading/searching a lot through this forum and read a lot about electrical problems that cavaliers have (faulty duct tape installed in the wiring harness instead of electrical tape), and so on.

2)
Sometimes when I'm turning left and have my left turning signal on, it flashes fast. When it does flash fast, I went outside to check if my lights were flashing and only my front ones were flashing fast, and my rear lights were not even flashing at all. I checked the rear lamp and no filaments are broken on either the left or right bulbs.

When I'm testing it at home, I checked every light (emergency, left turning, right turning, brakes, headlights, highbeams, DRL) and they all seem to be fine. Does anybody have a clue?

Thanks guys.

[public]

You have a loose or corroded connection somewhere. Check the back of the ligt switch and the main harness under the dash. The aluminum connectors can get really corroded.

[minghia]

Thanks for the reply.

I was thinking that it might be the turning switch module (hazards+turning+headlights+cruise control module) since when the headlights go off while driving, the indicator light turns on also.

If it were a wiring/connector problem, wouldn't that indicator light still be off? (since there is no feedback that the headlights have shut off)

How easy is it to remove the headlight switch module that's attached to the steering column? Where do I start? I would like to check out the connector that you're refering to.

Thanks again.

[MagicRat]

Before you do that, try changing the circuit breaker for your headlights. Unlike all the other curcuits in your car, (which have fuses) headlights have a circuit breaker which usually resets itself it tripped.
Your breaker may be defective and/or there is a short in your headlights which is overloading the breaker. It should be located on your fuse panel and looks like a fat, all silver coloured metal fuse.

[cujotom]

Try replacing your headlights first...

[oneroundko]

Originally Posted by minghia

Hey guys, first time poster on the forum. This is a great forum.
I have 2 questions related to my cavalier that someone might be able to answer. I have a 2000 2.2L Cavalier and I'm experiencing some electrical problems.

1)
Most times when I'm driving at night and have the headlights on, the headlights mysteriously/intermittently turn off and stay off, however the daytime running lights (DRL) do not turn off. As the headlights turn off, the headlight indicator light turns back on in my cluster (notifying me that my headlights aren't on).

What I have to do to fix the problem is put on the highbeams for a couple seconds then turn them off, and my headlights turn back on. Sometimes I have to try this 3-4 times for it to work.

I've been reading/searching a lot through this forum and read a lot about electrical problems that cavaliers have (faulty duct tape installed in the wiring harness instead of electrical tape), and so on.

2)
Sometimes when I'm turning left and have my left turning signal on, it flashes fast. When it does flash fast, I went outside to check if my lights were flashing and only my front ones were flashing fast, and my rear lights were not even flashing at all. I checked the rear lamp and no filaments are broken on either the left or right bulbs.

When I'm testing it at home, I checked every light (emergency, left turning, right turning, brakes, headlights, highbeams, DRL) and they all seem to be fine. Does anybody have a clue?

Thanks guys.

I'd replace all the bulbs, even if they aren't all bad, sometimes when one is faulty then it affects the other one(s).

They're not that expensive and they need to be replaced every once in a while anyways.

[jmb3450]

Try this: When your lowbeams are turned on but not lit - pull back on the turn signal lever slowly like you're going to turn on your high beams, but not far enough to actually click into high beams. Do your low beams come on at some point? If so, it's your headlight switch. I had that problem w/ my 98 cav.

[minghia]

Originally Posted by jmb3450

Try this: When your lowbeams are turned on but not lit - pull back on the turn signal lever slowly like you're going to turn on your high beams, but not far enough to actually click into high beams. Do your low beams come on at some point? If so, it's your headlight switch. I had that problem w/ my 98 cav.

Yes... that was the problem. I swapped out the headlight switch 2 months ago, and fixed the problem.

Thanks.

[OldNole1972]

While driving my 1997 Safari Sahara motorhome at night within minutes of turning on my high beams both the high and low beams go off. I'm forced to immediately switch on my fog lights to see where I'm going. As long as I do not turn on the high beams the low beams will stay on. All the running lights stay lite when the headlights go off. Any suggestions not already mentioned?

[JStumpalump150]

wow, i have been gone for a little while but nothing has changed apparently, people are still bringing back dead threads and posting blindly without reading what section it is