Got my fuses checked and my headlights still don’t work but high beams do what else could it be
My head lights don't come in but high beams do . I had my fuses checked but still not lights only high beams . Head lights don't work big beams do
My car has 34500 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
It is possible both bulbs are burned out. The filament in each bulb should be tested with an ohmmeter. The bulbs can also be powered off the car to see if the filaments work but be wary of short circuits if you try something like that. Best to let a trained person deal with it. If the bulbs are good, check for corrosion and/or faulty connections in the bulb socket, wiring, grounds and/or terminals. Finally, check for power at the bulb socket. If there is no battery voltage at the bulb socket, obviously the circuit will have to be traced to find the fault. If you want these steps performed by a certified Mechanic, dispatched by YourMechanic right to your location, please request a headlight bulb circuit diagnostic and the responding certified mechanic will get this resolved for you. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.
How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?
Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced mechanics :
The likely cause is a fuse, headlight relay, headlight switch, dimmer switch or a wiring fault. About the only cause that is an easy fix is a blown fuse. Consult your owner`s manual to locate the main fuse for the headlight circuit and replace that fuse with one having the same amp rating.
A bad headlight relay is among the more common reasons we see for low beam headlights not working while the high beams do. You see, the low and high beams each have their own relay, which is essentially an electrical switch. Like fuses, sometimes relays go bad.
You`ll need to replace the bulb, switch, or relay. If just one bulb fails to work in either high beam mode or low beam mode, it may be the bulb. Most headlight failures that are limited to just high or low beams are related to a relay or the high beam control switch.
Used in “flip-up” lights, which fold out of the body of the vehicle, headlight closure relays are essential for headlight operation. This relay is located in your main fuse box or panel.
Connect the test light to battery power. Touch the test light probe to the socket`s ground on the connector terminal. If the test light glows, check the bulb socket and connector for corrosion or a bad contact. If the test light doesn`t glow, check the ground side of the circuit for an open.
All the electrical systems in your car, including the headlights, are protected with fuses. These are designed to `blow` and break the circuit if too much power comes through them. This protects all the components on the circuit.
Push the point of the tester through the wire insulation behind the socket to make contact with the wire. The tester should light for two of the three wires (the ground wire won`t light). If it lights for two wires, the wiring is good. Simply replace the socket.
A bad alternator, ageing headlight lenses and a corroded ground wire could also be the cause of dim headlights. Dim headlights may also point to a bigger issue with the vehicle`s electrical system or battery.
Headlight Fuse or Relay
If a headlight fuse blows, it could cause the headlights to stop working. Most headlight systems are also designed with a relay that switches the power between low beam and high beam headlights. If this relay goes bad, it could allow power to the high beams, but not the low beams.
When one of the bulbs is fused or disconnected, electricity stops flowing only through the faulty bulb. For other bulbs, there is still path for electricity to flow. Hence, the remaining bulbs still continue to glow.
There exists a single path for the current to flow in a series circuit thus when one bulb fuses the entire circuit breaks and none of the bulb lights up and the circuit becomes open.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
Got my fuses checked and my headlights still don’t work but high beams do what else could it be
ANSWER : It is possible both bulbs are burned out. The filament in each bulb should be tested with an ohmmeter. The bulbs can also be powered off the car to see if the filaments work but be wary of short circuits if you try something like that. Best to let a trained person deal with it. If the bulbs are good, check for corrosion and/or faulty connections in the bulb socket, wiring, grounds and/or terminals. Finally, check for power at the bulb socket. If there is no battery voltage at the bulb socket, obviously the circuit will have to be traced to find the fault. If you want these steps performed by a certified Mechanic, dispatched by YourMechanic right to your location, please request a headlight bulb circuit diagnostic and the responding certified mechanic will get this resolved for you. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.
On the driver side of my car the low beam headlight doesn’t work. I checked all fuses and changed the bulb, but it still doesn’t work
ANSWER : Hey there. When you say you checked the fuses & the relays, and everything was getting power, did you check the actual outlet for power? You can use a voltmeter to test the available voltage at the bulb socket. You can also use an ohmmeter to test the resistance of the socket and make sure the socket itself has not failed. If this is the case, you will need to rewire a new bulb socket into place. If performing this at home, your main concern should be with making sure the new connections are protected from the environment. If you do not have the right amount of available voltage at the socket, you will want to trace from the fuses and relays to the socket every foot or so until you find where the voltage drop occurs. This is where your issue is and it must be corrected by whatever means necessary, which can only be determined once the issue was found. You may have a short or a damaged wire/connection along the way. If you would like to have this taken care of, a qualified professional, like one from YourMechanic, can come to your car’s location to diagnose the headlight problem and follow through with repairs.
My dash board don’t work my front light work when I change my light into high beam and my back window won’t go down
ANSWER : As unfortunate as it is, your vehicle would be considered flood damaged. Diagnosing electrical problems in a flood damaged vehicle is nearly impossible. This would take many hours or even days to determine which wiring harnesses and circuits have been affected. Then nearly all of the wiring under the dash would likely require replacement as well as many sensors and switches. On a BMW vehicle, the amount of wires and switches are likely more than that of a lower end vehicle. Due to the inefficiency in cost, you would likely be able to purchase another BMW like yours for less than what it would cost to fix your car. Many insurance companies would consider this type of damage to total out the vehicle unfortuantely.
Both R&L low beam headlights quit working simultaneously.
ANSWER : Hi there. Check the switch to the headlights and see if there is a break in the wiring. Check the fuses and see if there is any fuse that are blown. If the fuses are good and there is no break in the wiring, then either the switch has failed or the ballast resister has failed on the low beam circuit. Turn on the switch and check for power coming out of the switch. If there is power to the switch and power out of the switch, then I recommend replacing the ballast resister. If there is no power coming out of the switch, then the switch needs replaced. If you need further assistance with diagnosing the low beams, then seek out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you.
One of my car’s headlights does not work
ANSWER : Hello. There are 2 devices in the front wiring of your vehicle called "Signal Acquisition Modules." One is for the left side of the front, the other is for the right. They act as an electrical "router" and power distribution module for electrical loads up front. These modules take signal pulses from light switches and other controllers, and turn on power to the requested device.
The SAM units have fuses in them, just as a traditional box would. I would check the fuses in each SAM for both low and high beams, then check the igniters for the xenon low beams. If this seems a bit intimidating, I recommend having a certified mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic, come to your location to inspect for any electrical problems and suggest the needed repairs.
2007 Mustang Low-Beam headlight on only one side only comes on for 10 seconds then go outs, however high beams work fine!?!?
ANSWER : Hey there, thanks for writing in about your 2007 Mustang. The low beam circuit is monitored by the the Smart Junction Box. It’s the fuse box in the right kick panel. Basically what this means is if the resistance, or the current flow in the circuit is not within the specified range, it will turn off the power to it. That’s why you won’t find a fuse for the low beams. It will re-check the circuit every time the ignition key is cycled. The circuit flows from the SJB through the fuse box under the hood, and then to the headlights. Inspect as much of the wiring as you can. Especially where it might have been tampered with for the HID lights. If there is a short to power or ground, or too much or not enough resistance, it will turn off the power. This is not the case with your fog lamps and high beams. They are powered by a relay that is fused, and the circuit is not monitored. It will simply blow a fuse if there’s a problem. If you need more help, consider YourMechanic, as a certified technician from YourMechanic can come to your car’s location to diagnose and repair the headlight problem.
Both High Beam and Low Beam Not Working
ANSWER : It’s possible that your headlight switch is the source of the problems you’re having; (especially if it’s all headlights that are not working correctly). It’s also possible that you may have an exposed wire somewhere creating a short in the system. The best thing we can recommend is have a professional mobile mechanic come to your location to complete a headlights is not working inspection; so they can pinpoint the source of your issues and recommend the right repairs.
My headlights are not working correctly – 1996 Chevrolet Blazer
ANSWER : Hi there. Most of the time this is caused by a bad headlamp switch. When the switch fails, it will cause this to occur. If the switch is fine, then it may have an issue with the headlamp relay. I typically take my voltage meter and test the circuit starting at the headlamps until I find where the voltage is being lost.
If you want to have your headlamps fixed, consider having a certified mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic, come to your home or office to inspect the headlights and suggest any necessary repairs.
