*** - Headlights not working - ***

[Dan]

Today, my lo-beam headlights are not coming on. Both sides. Switched or automatic. Checked both L and R fuses and they are OK. The high beams work though on both sides. I swapped relays and no difference so its not a fuse or relay.

I pulled the drivers side bulb out and it came on while I was taking it out, but went off and no luck after that.

Bulbs in & out, connectors clean. Any ideas? I can't drive it w/o headlights!

BTW, I have the DRLs on w/parking lights so I can get by in a pinch but......

Its going in next tuesday for other chit but I need them in the mean time. Anything?????

[Dan]

Today, my lo-beam headlights are not coming on. Both sides. Switched or automatic. Checked both L and R fuses and they are OK. The high beams work though on both sides. I swapped relays and no difference so its not a fuse or relay.

I pulled the drivers side bulb out and it came on while I was taking it out, but went off and no luck after that.

Bulbs in & out, connectors clean. Any ideas? I can't drive it w/o headlights!

BTW, I have the DRLs on w/parking lights so I can get by in a pinch but......

Its going in next tuesday for other chit but I need them in the mean time. Anything?????

[rodster]

Well, since nobody else has jumped in on this ...

Have you check continuity in the bulbs? While the odds of both bulbs going bad at the same time are remote, it might be worth checking. FWIW, I've had a few bulbs around the house with a broken filament and as I turn the bulb to replace it the filament momentarily connects and lights. It's odd that your bulb worked while you were futzing with it, yes?

Have you checked for voltage at the lamp sockets?

Could the DRL mod (the jumper or the diode if you installed one) be the culprit?

Disclaimer: I get along with electricity so long as everything works.

[Dan]

Thanks rodster, I'll have time today to check the bulbs and for current at the socket. Hopefully its something easy to fix!

[ree]

One note about the DRL mod. I ran with if for a while and then pulled it when I added aux lights. Right after pulling the jumper, my DRLs no longer worked. It turns out that the wire had bent the clip for one of the feet of the DRL relays. I was able to bend the foot on the relay to make contact again.

Did you actually hear the relay and the replacement click? Although remote, you could have a problem in the switching circuit where no current is actually making it to the relay (mice eating wires? ). Roll down the driver window close the door and then with the truck off reach in and turn the light switch to full on, and you should be able to hear the headlight relay click if the switching circuit's intact.

[Dan]

I checked that last night. I swapped the low and high beam ones and they both seem operational. I hear them clicking.

I'm about to head out to the garage now....

[ree]

Yeah, if you're getting intermittent light when you fiddle with the bulb, then the relay must be working.

It does sound a like floppy filament. Are you sure that both bulbs were working before? Maybe one's been out for a bit and you finally noticed when the second one died.

[Dan]

Son of a bish, both bulbs went bad! Just like you said, they have a loose filament. I couldn't see it last night but can today in the sun.

They both were definitely working a day ago. I had the truck out in the driveway with the lights on helping my buddy with his truck and would have noticed.

Weird they went bad at the same time. Off to WaulMaut...

[ree]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Dan:
Son of a bish, both bulbs went bad! Just like you said, they have a loose filament. I couldn't see it last night but can today in the sun.

They both were definitely working a day ago. I had the truck out in the driveway with the lights on helping my buddy with his truck and would have noticed.

Weird they went bad at the same time. Off to WaulMaut... </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

This is a good thing! Low cost solution.

Funny how this happens.

[VTSTOMPER]

Dan, stop taking that thing off sweet jumps! How did the door leak thing turn out?

[rodster]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Dan:
Weird they went bad at the same time. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

That is weird but good news. Glad it's an easy fix!

[Dan]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by VTSTOMPER:
Dan, stop taking that thing off sweet jumps! How did the door leak thing turn out? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

LOL, I know!

I'm taking the truck in next tuesday for a couple warranty things and I'm going to let them do it. I haven't had any more time to fool with it.