Ke20 headlight problem.

[maurice c]

Hi guys looking for ideas on this one. ke20, bog standard no changes. Excellant condition , no wiring bodges or anything. Problem is that the headlights dont turn on, just stopped one day. Low beam and high beam dont work but the parking lights do. All fuses have been checked with a multimeter and seem fine.

Thought that it may have been the switch but all contacts inside it seem good. Readings are as follows
Position off
Green 12v+
Green 0v
R/w 0v
R/b 0v
Position 1 (Parking lights)
Green 12v+
green 12v+
R/w 12v
r/b 0v
Position 2(Lights on)
Green 12v+
green 12v+
R/w 0v
r/b 0v

I havent looked at the switch in the column for the high beam yet and am wondering if a problem in this area could knock the high and low beams out. It seems a little loose.Anybody got any ideas or had a similiar problem? Thanks.

[oldcorollas]

iirc, all power for headlights goes thru the switch in the column, and they die.
check that.
are you getting power at the headlights?

[maurice c]

Nahh nothing, the column switch seems loose as I said, I know that it will switch power between the low and high beams and i'm thinking that a failure at this point could leave me with neither.

[oldcorollas]

could do, since power MUST go thru there.

now is a good time to fit a relay, so you don't have 10 amps running thru that switch

[maurice c]

Yeah how silly is that, I actually have actually seen an improved wiring diagram for the headlights. There is a relay for the high beam. If I do fit an aftermarket relay it has to be really low profile as the car is absolute standard.

[oldcorollas]

you could fit it in the steering column shroud.
or alternatively, on the front side of the battery. the wires have to take 10 amps.. so not skimping is better

maybe steering column shroud is better.
the switch just powers the relay, you can take IGN power directly from that switch and connect to the relay.. and then use the original wires to send power back out... all you need to do is provide a ground.
(2 relays tho, cos you don't want high beam going thrui the switch either)

no need for any external wiring at all.

[maurice c]

First thing will be to strip the shroud though and see what the contacts look like.

[celica28]

Nice one Maurice,

I think 2 low profile relays will be the go after the switch has been cleaned. Might even look at seeing if TOYOTA still have teh switch unit available. You just never know your luck in the big city!

Phil
Celica28

[MRMOPARMAN]

i had a similar problem with my ke25 recently.. turned out a wire had broken that was on my alternator.. for some reason the parkers and low/high had different power sources.

i must admit though it may have custom wiring, as its got a 4age in it

[maurice c]

Well, that one I have no explanation for but I must also admit that its a case of,

"I'm not a gynaecologist but i'll take a good look"

[maurice c]

The relay that sit at the front of the engine bay? Can anybody comfirm that thats for HIgh beam only? Thanks guys.

[maurice c]

The relay that sit at the front of the engine bay? Can anybody comfirm that thats for HIgh beam only? Thanks guys.

[maurice c]

Well it turned out that the problem was the relay that sits above the drivers side headlight,. it powers both hi and low beam. I initially though that it was for the high beam as the switching wire is colour coded r/y making me think that it was a positive switch for the high beam. Its a negatively switched, three pin. The dash switch completes the earth for the relay and switches the lights on. I dont know if toyota still make a headlight switch for the ke20 but I repinned a bosch to replace it and it works perfectly now. Case closed.