I am having some trouble... the headlights on my car work on low beams but not high beams. The head light switch (turn signal switch) does click in to put the lights in high beams. Do I need a new turn signal switch or is it electrical? I replaced all the fuses so I know that is not the problem. I did a direct test to make sure the bulbs were not blown and they worked fine. (took a stereo wire and put one side the battery and the other side straight to the high beam's headlight) What do I do?!?!?!
Thanks!!!

 

Sorry about this but it is suppose to say ,
"The head light switch (turning signal switch) does NOT click in to put lights in high beams." I do apologize about that.

 

You probably need a new headlight relay. That's where the high-beam function comes from. When you pull the stalk back you are grounding the relay. The energized relay sends voltage to the highbeam fuses and from those on to the headlights themselves.

Another possible fault is that pulling the talk back isn't creating a ground circuit as it should. If you pull the plastcic column shrouds off and examine the end of the stalk you'll see a little spring steel tab. This is the ground contact.

All that being said....

Are all *four* of the highbeam elements inoperative? That is, the two inboard lamps themselves AND the 'high beam' elements of the outboard lamps? If indeed all four are inop it certainlay suggests an upstream problem as described above.

If only two of the four are inoperative I'd look for bad grounds. At least two of the headlight grounds are on the sheet netal alongside the radiator.

Here's more reading:

Headlamp Circuit Checklist

Oh.....

Post back if you need help removing the plastic column shrouds

Cheers
DD

 

you are going to need a test light.


There is a thin blue wire on the head light relay. Ground it and it should flip the relay.


If you get no change you have a defective power source or relay coil.


If it does flip check the ground source to the switch, check the switch, and check the bulkhead electrical connection on the firewall. I hope its not corrosion in the bulk head connector because access to it is limited by the brake servo.


Additionaly hook a test light to the battery and ground it with the thin blue wire. When you flip the switch on the column the test should illuminate.


Good luck.

 

Thanks y'all so much for the reply! I will try what both of you suggested and I will get back with results. I may reply back with questions. Thanks again!

 

Thanks again for the advice! I traced the headlight wires back to the relay and the high beam lights had broken off from the replay. Order new replay and should be in next week! Thanks!!!