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I have dim high beam headlights on my Saturn SC 2001. Replaced the bulbs, not the problem. Could it be the daytime running lights circuit? In this car the high beams do double duty as daytime running lights, only at half power. How do I troubleshoot this?
Re: I have dim high beam headlights on my Saturn SC 2001....
Those systems are a curse to repair, usually its a grounding problem, the headlight ground through the bcm, try going to cavalier drl repairs, its a website for gm car headlights
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Well, where to start... First there are 4 different headlamp systems available for 2001 Dodge Ram 1500.
> WITH Daytime Running Lights and WITH Quad Headlamps
> WITH Daytime Running Lights and WITHOUT Quad Headlamps
> WITHOUT Daytime Running Lights and WITH Quad Headlamps
> WITHOUT Daytime Running Lights and WITHOUT Quad Headlamps
So providing you with an EXACT flow chart of what happens depends on which system your truck is equipped with.
However, the general jist of it goes like this:
The Violet wire you mention is your power feed to the bulbs (high beam and low beam elements) from the headlamp fuse (HOT AT ALL TIMES). The dimmer switch basically determines which of the two headlamp elements is going to get grounded to complete the circuit. When the Violet/White wire gets grounded, that is low beam. When the Red/Orange wire gets grounded, that is high beam.
Just a little "Automotive Electrical Systems 101":
Your Headlamps work just like ALL automotive electrical circuits. The power goes from battery POSITIVE to battery NEGATIVE in order to complete the circuit. PERIOD! Every circuit on your vehicle is as simple as that. If you take a closer look at the wiring diagrams, you will see this.
Your van has dual diligent headlamp bulbs, that means each headlight has one bulb that serves as high beam and low beam. What has most likely happened is on one side the low beam filament has burnt out, and on the other side the high beam filiment has burnt out. The daytime running lights are just the high beam filament running on reduced power, so if the high beam doesn't work on one side, that same side will have no daytime running light. Replace both headlamp bulbs with matching, good quality bulbs.
Try disconnecting one of your headlights and click on the high beams. If it goes to high without any other problems, then the problem is in the other headlight high beam circuit. If all the lights go out, then the problem lies in the high beam circuit of the headlight you disconnected. You can verify this by reconnecting the first headlight and disconnecting the other one. There is most likely a short to ground in one of the high beam circuits.
If you have daytime running lights. That is, your headlights stay on automatically. You will need to check the daytime running light relays. There may be four of them to check. One of them grounds the high beams.
First, be sure that the headlights are actually coming on. These cars have daytime running lights that use the headlight bulbs at a lower voltage. If the car is only using the daytime running lights, the tail lights will not be on with the headlights. The multifunction lever always turns on the high beams when you pull on it (it's called 'flash to pass'). Make sure the headlight switch is working, and also check the headlight circuit breaker.
Sounds like you need a bulb,the daytime running lights send power to the high beam wire so they look like low beam lights are on but really they are high beam lights running on low voltage.
Yes your daytime running light just uses the headlight bulb on a lower voltage so if the headlight is not working the drl will not work as well, they are dirrectly related,,check the head light fuse,and check to make sure the bulb is good,,
dont replace the bulbs ...check the fuses first...each circuit has its own independent fuse...one for low beam one for high beam and a separate low voltage one for running lights...you may have 1 bad bulb at very worst that could have blown the fuse...why spend extra money on 2
Daytime Running Lamps
The daytime running lamp (DRL) system is designed to turn the high beam headlamps on, with a reduced light output, and without illuminating the high beam indicator lamp in the instrument panel. You have a DRL Module.
The multifunction switch is the stalk on your column.
This is 96 F150 circuit. Don't have 94.
Symptom Chart, Headlamps
HEADLAMPS
Condition
Possible Source
Action
Headlamps Inoperative
Circuitry open/shorted.
Damaged headlamp switch.
Blown fuse.
GO to Pinpoint Test A .
Headlamps On Continuously
Circuitry open/shorted.
Damaged headlamp switch.
GO to Pinpoint Test B .
High Beams or Low Beams Inoperative
Circuitry open/shorted.
Damaged multi-function switch.
GO to Pinpoint Test C .
One High Beam or One Low Beam Headlamp Inoperative
although the underhood relay panel is common, I'd check your headlamp bulbs first, these are cheaper than the fuse box. The daytime running lights work off the high beam circuit, thus, a blown highbeam bulb could be the culprit, the fusebox solution was more common on 2001 and up modles, although it's a definite possibility.
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