Low beam headlight not working (ae86)

[Julz01]

Yo guys

my low beams have been on the blink the last week, they would work and then not but when I flicked my highbeams on they would work again, Ive changed the fuses and tried different lights but Im just wondering if it could be the headlight relay. They are now not working at all, the dash lights and parkers are so ruled out the actual switch being the problew

I was working today so couldnt go to any other auto joints cause supercheap doesnt have them but a mate went and he got told to go to toyota to get it, Called them up and they said $50 for a new headlight relay.

Would I able to get one off another car with the same pins and just use that or do I have to get it from toyota and hope that its the problem.

any infor would be helpful

thanks

[Chrisso]

Most likely it's the contacts on the stalk/steering column. I had a considerable amount of trouble with high & low beams when I first got my sprinter. Pulled it out cleaned it and no worries. Also fixed the dial switch as I had dimmer/dash light problems.

If I can find the guide, I'll post you a link, but it was off these forums.

Chris

[fixeruperer]

yeh its prolly the headlight switch (the one that your turn clockwize) contacts are dirty pull it apart and clean it or find another spinter one.
ye ol flick highbeam trick only works for so long .

[Mos]

I don't think it's the switch itself (the dial one) but it's possible.
I think it's more likely to be the dimmer switch (high/low beam) - if high beam works but low beam doesn't, it's the dimmer. If hi beam and low beam doesn't work, but flash works, it's likely the dial switch.
Given that your high beams do come on it's very unlikely to be the headlight relay (and yes, you can use relays out of other cars).
The dimmer switch gets a hammering, especially if you have higher wattage bulbs - *ALL* of the bulb current passes through the dimmer switch. As long as you use factory wattage bulbs, the contacts cope, but once you go up it starts to get nearer its rating and contact lifetime is reduced - rewiring of the headlights is the better long term answer.
Mos.

[Julz01]

thanks for the input guys , my high beams flash works they high beams dont stay on, so I guess its more then likely its the actual switch , might take it a part and give it a clean tomorrow, what sort of stuff should I use to clean it?

[fixeruperer]

contact cleaner.

you spray it on it cleans and dries very fast.

[urantia]

Hey Guys, I got the a simular problem with my hiace. Low beam works, High beam doesnt, but the spring loaded high beam(flasher?) works. (hopefully that makes sense)

When i turn the headlights on i can hear the relay click.

I bought another second hand switch but i get the same behavior.

So it seems the bulbs are fine, and if the relay clicks when you turn ur headlights on i guess that gets ruled out too? that must mean both of my switches have the same problem?
Anything else it could be?

[urantia]

I don't think it's the switch itself (the dial one) but it's possible.
I think it's more likely to be the dimmer switch (high/low beam) - if high beam works but low beam doesn't, it's the dimmer. If hi beam and low beam doesn't work, but flash works, it's likely the dial switch.

Mos, what would you think it my hi beam doesn't work, low beam does, and the flasher does??

[urantia]

Ok well i guess i'll answer my own question.

urantia, most likely its in the dimmer switch contacts. Try filing them up to clean the contacts and try again and see how you go.

(yes i solved my problem - 2 dimmer switches both wich bad high beam contacts).