1995 GSX headlight problem

[dsmsolberg]

Hey guys. Recently my headlights on my 95 gsx stopped working... The headlights worked previously to it being garaged for the last 2 months, but I'm not sure if that's relevant. There has been no changes to anything since it was garaged.

This is all the tests/information I could gather:

The lights won't turn on. ALL other lights work (blinkers, tail lights, brake lights, etc)
The dimmer lights work
All relays/fuses are good, and have been replaced to make sure
Here's the funny thing... When the lights are 'on' I can ground out the headlight relay under the hood and the lights actually come on.. So I know they're good. When grounded out though, the do not turn off when the switch is set to 'off' So obviously the bulbs are good, and there are no shorts (or so i assume)
When the relay is grounded out, the headlights CAN be switched from low to brights, and the high-beam icon is shown on the dash... but when the relay is NOT grounded out, the hi-beam icon does not show up at all.

I've checked my Chilton (I think it's a Chilton, I'm at work now) and the diagrams are just TERRIBLE. Has anyone had this happen to them before? Anyone have any ideas on a fix/further troubleshooting?

Thanks

 

[dsm03]

replace the bulbs?

 

[dsmsolberg]

Bulbs work, the lights come on when the headlight relay is grounded out. Both low beam and high beams work while the relay is grounded out.

 

[dsm03]

Maybe its a relay issue than if they work when grounded...

 

[dsmsolberg]

That's what I was thinking too... I did replace the relay when troubleshooting, but the new relay didn't resolve the problem. Is there an in-line fuse from the switch to the relay that could be bad?

!!! I forgot to mention that the car had to be jump-started after sitting for 2 months. Is there anything that comes to mind that could have been damaged/burned out after being jump started?

Thanks

 

[spawn87]

i would say check the wiring that it hasn't come loose or cough in the steering culum and that the harness is still in tacked . dont know how it is in your area but could be a mouse that did some damage.

 

[dsmsolberg]

i would say check the wiring that it hasn't come loose or cough in the steering culum and that the harness is still in tacked . dont know how it is in your area but could be a mouse that did some damage.

We do have the little vermin here...

So because I can ground the relay out, and get the lights to work, all wires from the relay to the headlight themselves should be good right? Maybe a wire from the switch to the relay?

I checked (as best as I could without getting the car on a lift) all wires and nothing looked damaged, and everything was tight.

The only thing I can think though is that there is an inline fuse I'm missing that must have blown, or a wire is torched. Correct me if I'm wrong:

Switch should be good since all other lights turn on and lights/brights turn on when relay is grounded out
Bulbs can't be bad since grounding relay out turns them on...

Any chance of getting a diagram of the headlight wires (even if drawn in paint haha) that I could trace to check the wire consistency?

 

[Absit]

Have you considered cleaning/replacing the switch?

 

[dsmsolberg]

Have you considered cleaning/replacing the switch?

If the switch was bad would my tail lights, turn signals, dash lights, and side markers still turn on? I mean, could only the headlight function be broken inside the switch? I've never taken one apart, so I'm not exactly sure how they work. I presumed there were only 4 contacts:

a dim contact, turns on side markers and tail lights
a 'on' contact, turns on head lights/dash lights
a 'bright' contact, turns on brights
and turn signals of course

Is there a separate contact for both the head lights and dash lights? I guess I just assumed because the dash lights turned on the head light problem wasn't in the switch. (If I'm completely wrong about this, please excuse my ignorance )

 

[dsmsolberg]

Update: Took apart the switch, don't see anything faulty. Checked/put back together, everything is the same, all lights work minus the headlights..

 

[dallasadkins90]

I know this is an old post but did you ever resolve this problem? i just bought a 95 gsx today and decided to drive it to work . i work second shift so i get off at night and no headlights. that was the least of my worries when buying the car. now im paying for it