1999 grand am se dim lights don't work

[sabrinanichol1]

We just bought our daughter a 99 grand am and it has 79,000 miles on it. The dealer we got it from replaced the switch for the dim lights before we bought it but sure enough as soon as we drove it at night the first time the dims didn't work still. The brights,day lights,fog lights, and all other lights work just fine, just not the dims. My husband checked all the fuses and checked for faulty or loose wires and can't find anything. Also after he and my daughter washed the car the service vehicle light came on. It did go off a day later for a little while but now it is back on. could it have something to do with the lights not working and does anyone know what else the problem could be with the lights. Thanks ahead of time

Sabrina

[xeroinfinity]

Welcome to AF !!

This may sound dumb but has the bulbs been checked?
The low beams could just be blown.

On the service light, was it the SES or the SVS ?

Did anyone see any wet spots in the front floor board when it was washed ??

[sabrinanichol1]

Thanks for answering. Yes my husband put new bulbs in and no there was no water inside. The strange thing is the dealer whom is a friend of ours and has sold us 3 other cars with no problems, said that after he put the new switch in they worked. Of course we just trusted him and I don't think he would lie. The svs light was not on and it is the one that says service vehicle soon. We got the car home and my daughter and my husband went to wash it right away. She wanted to show her friends and wanted it as shiny as possible you know how it is. Thats when the svs light came on. Now everytime you put the car in gear it dings and the light comes on. The very night we got it home is when we realized the dims still didn't work. Could they have worked and something is making the switch go bad. If so what and would make it go bad within 24 hours? Any ideas would be great. or could of the dealer mistaken the day lights for the dims working and the switch was never the problem.

[xeroinfinity]

The SVS is a body control function error. IT could be anything from the DRL's relay to a burn out bulb somewhere. Thie DRL realy is in the fuse box under the hood, thier are also numberous fuses for the exterior lighting.

The only reason I asked about any water is these models are leakers! The tail lights leak causing issues and the sun roof drains are bad about leaking on to the fuse boxes at the ends of the dash.

Both could trip the SVS, but I'd check the DRL and ALC relays and fuses.

[sabrinanichol1]

Thanks I will tell hubby. Thank God it doesn't have a sunroof! He did check all fuse boxes and checked for loose wires. I think he is going to get a book with a colored wiring diagram. We know he has to be missing something. We thought maybe there might be something common to this car that it would cause this problem. The car is in very good shape otherwise. It runs like a dream and the body has very few flaws. Now he is worried though that it will become an electrical nightmare. If you think of anything else it will be appreciated. Thanks again

Sabrina

[xeroinfinity]

I bet its the DRL or ALC relay(s). Since it only happens when you put it in gear. Which would lead me to beleave a bulb is out somewhere on the exterior.

Thier are wire diagrams in the Tips and Maintenance sub forum.

Hopefully its something simple and not going to cause issues down the road.