headlight problem - car is evil - Page 2

kwren · #16 08-18-2008, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wannarace928

Ok, so I disconnected the negative on the battery so it wouldn't drain it over night. And when I hooked the battery back up, the lights didn't come back on. Everything seems to be working normal. Obviously it had a problem though and i'm guessing whatever caused it will happen again.

I'm not sure if I should continue troubleshooting though or wait for the problem to return and then try troubleshooting.

Wait! Cannot be trouble shoot electrical circuits when electrical components are all working correctly.

Would be great if it just vanishes and we never hear about that trouble again!!!!!

Keith

wannarace928 · #17 08-18-2008, 07:00 PM

Trouble came back.

I took the car to the grocery store and when I got out I set the alarm and walked around the front of the car, and those lights where dim again. I brought the car home and disconnected the battery and reconnected it and the problem is still there. It didn't fix itself this time.

I was wondering, do the lights flash when you set the alarm?

kwren · #18 08-18-2008, 11:35 PM

the alarm is the most likely culprit.
It does have power when the headlight fuses are removed and can send power to the headlights

kwren · #19 08-19-2008, 12:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wannarace928

Found a wiring diagram for the lights.

no headlights

oab_au · #20 08-19-2008, 01:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kwren

the alarm is the most likely culprit.
It does have power when the headlight fuses are removed and can send power to the headlights

Yes I'll go along with that. As the lights are dim the high and low are in series. The power is probably fed by something connected in the 'high beam indicator' circuit?

Harvey.

plantchick · #21 08-19-2008, 08:53 AM

Know nothing, but can add these diagrams (US Manual). Think they're the right ones. The main wiring guide and troubleshooting file (6-3 4) is too large to attach @ 2164KB. Kevin, if you pm me an email addy, I'll send it if it'd be useful.

A question, though; my alarm/immobiliser (aftermarket) only activates the turn signal lights ('blinkers' for us Aussies), front and rear, and that's all I've ever seen. Do others do differently?

Tania.

kwren · #22 08-19-2008, 09:48 AM

Mine flashes the headlights

Keith

cozykat · #23 08-19-2008, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wannarace928

Removed the 2 fuses and the headlights stayed on.

sounds like a normally open relay getting stuck closed. i have a manual, I'll check to see if it has a wiring diagram for the lights...

Quote:

Originally Posted by wannarace928

The hesitation/starting problem was due to the wires inside the fuel tank shorting out.

The wires had somehow slightly come out of the connector.

I am still having a click click problem trying to start my car.. starter was replaced so I know its not that... the search continues... there is something at play besides the ignition switch because a friend bypassed it in his SVX (for a remote start) and also has the same issue as me.
/thread hijack

Quote:

Originally Posted by plantchick

A question, though; my alarm/immobiliser (aftermarket) only activates the turn signal lights ('blinkers' for us Aussies), front and rear, and that's all I've ever seen. Do others do differently?

Tania.

I have both a stock and aftermarket alarm installed (the aftermarket cause a short inmy system so I don't use it). Only my turn signals flash.

Quote:

Originally Posted by kwren

If either relay was stuck, removing the fuses would still remove the voltage to both sides. That is assuming that the correct fuses were removed, and I do. That only leaves feedback voltage from an undesirable source and that would account for the lights being on and dimmer.

In the diagrams, it looks like the headlight relays are after the fuses?? Also I noticed we have daytime running lamp relays?? Does anyone have daytime running lights?

kwren · #24 08-19-2008, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cozykat

In the diagrams, it looks like the headlight relays are after the fuses??

sounds like a normally open relay getting stuck closed. i have a manual, I'll check to see if it has a wiring diagram for the lights...

And of course, if the headlight relays are "after" the fuses, and they are, relay points stuck would be a mute point when the fuses are removed... the lights stay on. The voltage that keeps the lights on even with the headlight fuses removed has to be coming from the security system.

There are more than one for headlights. I have two different diagrams but there may be several. One wiring diagram with security system and one wiring diagram without the security system. Naturally, both are fused to eliminate the power supply to the headlights when the headlight fuses are removed.

With the security system in the equation the power to cause the lights to be on with the headlight fuses removed "comes in the back door", but it has to revert back to the security system.

Of course there are additional relays involved in that part of the equation as well.

Keith

kwren · #25 08-19-2008, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cozykat

I am still having a click click problem trying to start my car.. starter was replaced so I know its not that... the search continues... there is something at play besides the ignition switch because a friend bypassed it in his SVX (for a remote start) and also has the same issue as me.
/thread hijack

Might look into the Bosch relay solution.
Mine starts like a dream for the last year after going through the click click thing for months.

http://ourlifeline.net/cozykat.htm

There you go!

Keith

wannarace928 · #26 08-19-2008, 05:04 PM

So if it is the security system that is causing the problem, is there a fuse or relay or something I could remove to "disable" the security system so that it is not getting power?

kwren · #27 08-19-2008, 06:23 PM

That is a toughy

I don't think you could get by with unplugging the security system. several things go through the unit. Might enable both the start and run feature... probably would

I will work on it... Hope someone else knows.

Keith

kwren · #28 08-19-2008, 07:01 PM

might get it to not come on again by removing the battery negative like you did before and then forgo using the security system??

Just a possibility it might work out.

Keith

wannarace928 · #29 08-20-2008, 07:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kwren

might get it to not come on again by removing the battery negative like you did before and then forgo using the security system??

Just a possibility it might work out.

Keith

I turned off the security system with the little button inside the car. Unplugged the negative on the battery over night. And hooked it back up. Problem is still there.

I pulled just about all of the fuses in the fuse box under the hood today to see if any would make the lights go out. Didn't work.

svxistentialist · #30 08-20-2008, 08:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wannarace928

I turned off the security system with the little button inside the car. Unplugged the negative on the battery over night. And hooked it back up. Problem is still there.

I pulled just about all of the fuses in the fuse box under the hood today to see if any would make the lights go out. Didn't work.

Wannarace, have you asked Jason about this? Is he clued up on the electrics?

It occurs to me there could be one simple solution. I think you mentioned you have the wiring diagram? Well, my understanding of these diagrams falls well short of engineer level. However I noticed a couple of diodes in the circuitry. Diodes are electronic one way valves put there to ensure the current only goes where you want it to go. If one of your diodes was shot, it could be allowing current to leak back to your headlamps. Diodes are cheap. It might be cost effective to just replace the ones in the diagram and see if your problem goes away.

Joe