headlight problems highbeam/lowbeam
 

I have an "84 XJ6 with headlight issues. The low beams work fine but when I try to switch to High beam "darkness" all four headlights are out. I can hear, what I think is the headlight relay making noise when I flip the switch, but cannot figure out why the high beams don't wanna come on. Do I need a new relay? :confused:

yes I changed the bulbs out, fuses are intact, and such. That's what I hear from local mechanics. :p


I've found relays at my favorite online shop autohaus.com for $160+
but don't know if that is even the problem.

I went to jaggraveyard with no luck at all finding headlight relays. (maybe I'm wording my searches wrong)

Note: the relays that I find don't look at all like the one in the vehicle.

The headlight relay for your XJ6 is just forward of, and slightly below, the brake master cylinder (assuming this is a U.S. left hand drive car). It is a large rectangular silver relay, Hella manufacture. If you look on the inboard relay connections, you will see a pair of blue/ red wires (low beam), a pair of blue/ white wires (high beam), and a blue wire (feed from headlight switch). In your case, if you swap the blue/ red and the blue/ white connections, you should have all four highbeams... and darkness when you hit the flash switch and operate the relay, no lowbeams. That will confirm that the relay is bad: no power to terminal 56a in either position, but fuses and lamps all in proper working order.

If that's the case, and you want a good used original equipment relay, please click on my screen name above and send me a private message.

If the relay tests OK and you still have only low beams, you'll need to do some checking with a testlight. Doug Dwyer posted some troubleshooting tests for these circuits about two months ago, I didn't read the post but he is a credible source and the fuse and bullet connector problems are probably discussed in detail there.

Dixie,

which Fuses have you checked? the ones in the engine compartment located near the brown coolant tank?

there are 5 fuses there in the little fuse box: 1 for each headlamp, and the fifth is for the auxiliary cooling fan located under the front bumper.

Jose

JTO and Jose have given you plenty to go on but here's the checklist that was mentioned


http://www.jag-lovers.org/xjlovers/xjfaq/headlamp.htm

Cheers
DD

I have not found a fuse bus in the engine compartment. I have two fuse buses in the passenger compartment one on driver side with 7 fuses one on passenger side with 5 fuses both under the dash board.

there is one crazy fuse connect under the hood that I did find, right in the center just below the windshield. but I don't think it's factory. I think it's jury rig from the looks of it. It may be to the windshield wiper system though.

The headlight fuse box is on the left side, near the coolant tank, as Jose said. The plastic cover is, oh, maybe 1.25" x 3.5". You can't miss it.

Not sure about the other fuse you mentioned. The horn fuse is in an in-line fuse holder approximately above the battery...but that's a long way from center. Jaguar did use a lot of mysteriously placed in-line fuses, though.

Cheers
DD

Relay
 

I think I replaced my relay long time ago and my headlights still don't work. The link given by Doug seems to be the best way to start in troubleshooting the problem. When I get home, I will have to start cleaning contacts and may change fuses along the way.