Headlights Dim/DRL Not Working

[lance_kidd]

I'm trying to get this car fixed up a little and am catching up on all the stuff I should have done a long time ago. I have a 2001 Grand Prix SE. I just sanded, polished and cleaned the headlights and replaced the bulbs because for the past two or three years the headlights have been very dim. Also when I switch to bright, there is almost no change at all. There is a little, but nothing like what it should be.

I bought the car when it had 7000 miles on it and the daytime running lights worked for about a year and then I noticed they were not working. I've checked the fuse under the dash compartment but it's not blown.

I read on one similar post here that someone got some four gauge wire to run from the negative battery post to ground. I do have the ground wire hooked up though. Does anyone think that additional grounding is needed and how would I go about it? Does drill a hole somewhere in the frame and attatch it?

I don't have a clue about these lights though. I don't know if this has anything to do with anything, but as I was looking under the hood yesterday, I noticed a wire that isn't plugged in and was wondering if someone could look at the picture and tell what in the world it is suppose to go to. I didn't know if maybe that had something to do with it or not. I just had the upper and lower intake manifold gaskets replaced, so maybe they left something loose. The plug that's loose is coming out of the wires that are coming out of the fuse box under the hood.

[TDWPgtp]

hey not to be a smartass but have u tried new headlight bulbs? they do fade over time. i noticed a considerable difference when i got new ones. also there may be a chance that ur battery is bad, or going bad cuz a cell in my old battery died and alllll the electronics in the car were barely lit up or on.

as for that plug, it is the same in my car. i THINK i read that that plug isnt used for our year or something but im not 100% sure...

[lance_kidd]

I changed the bulbs, and all the other lights in my car are fine. Other than the fuse under the dash, what would be the next logical step to check to see why the DRL's aren't working? Maybe that has something to do with it.

I don't really think I've seen anyone with this problem who found a resolution, but I'm hoping to get lucky. If I do find one, I will post it so others can see. Thanks.

[BNaylor]

Originally Posted by lance_kidd

I don't know if this has anything to do with anything, but as I was looking under the hood yesterday, I noticed a wire that isn't plugged in and was wondering if someone could look at the picture and tell what in the world it is suppose to go to. I didn't know if maybe that had something to do with it or not. I just had the upper and lower intake manifold gaskets replaced, so maybe they left something loose. The plug that's loose is coming out of the wires that are coming out of the fuse box under the hood.

The electrical connector in the pic under the main fuse box is the fuel pump test connector and not used in normal operation so don't worry about it. We all have it.

[Bearwulf]

Locate & clean ALL connections in the circuit. Sounds like lousy connection. The extra ground to body & eng. won't hurt either. All circuits have their own grnd. systems on these newer vehicles. This could be in the main lighting conn. going thru the firewall.

[doctorhrdware]

I have a 97 GP and I have the same connector that is not being used. I noticed it when I had to change my battery when it died. So I do not think that is the problem.

[richtazz]

As Bob stated in post #4, that connector is a fuel pump test plug, so all 97-03 GP's have it hanging thereand it is unrelated to the OP's issue. Do you have any other electrical gremlins like interior lights, fan speeds dropping intermittently, etc...? If so, you may have a bad ignition switch/harness assembly where the contacts are starting to arc. This is a pretty common issue on these cars.