High beam trouble

[bnpimpn]

i just picked up a 95 tsi and cant figure out what is going on with my headlights. lemme see if i understand the layout of the lights first. There are 4 lightbulbs for the front, the two inner ones are the running lights? and the outside ones behind that honeycomb shaped thing are the high and low beams?

the reason i ask is because when i switch my car to high beams the little blue indicator on the dash comes on....but my headlights dont change. Is the outer most light bulb supposed to change intensity?

 

[halligoo]

Doesn't have running lights. The inner ones are the high beams.

 

[bnpimpn]

hmm, when i start my car and leave the lights off the inner ones are on but they are very dim....(could it be cause its a canadian car?), what could be the problem with my high beams not working???

 

[halligoo]

You are correct. With Canadian and California laws there are always surprizes. Were you lucky enough to get a manual with your car?

On mine, I don't have running lights and the inner ones pop on when I hit the brights.

 

[bnpimpn]

i've checked the fuses under the hood, and the relays but cant seem to find any reason as to why the high beams dont come on! i only have a chilton manual....which doesn't say much of anything about headlights.

 

[paranoidTSi]

I thought the inside light is the low beam and outside is the high beam?

 

[bnpimpn]

i dunno thats why im asking. Does anyone have any clue as to what else could be wrong??? if the switch by the steering wheel is screwed would the blue indicator still come on??

 

[bnpimpn]

some of you guys have to know how the electrical part of these cars work....

 

[halligoo]

some of u guys have to know how the electrical part of these cars work....

I pulled this from one of my manuals under the bathroom sink.

 

[bnpimpn]

man thats confusing, but thanks for the diagram. So your 100% sure that the high beams are the two inner bulbs...and not the ones with the shiney honeycomb cover??? because i just replaced the inner bulbs to be sure...and well like i said thats where my running lights shine from, so when i flick my brights on those inner bulbs should shine brighter correct?? if only i would have seen how they worked before id have somewhere to start.

 

[Korndogg]

i can tell you for sure that the inner bulbs are the high beams on my car

the bulbs are single element bulbs.. no, they should not get brighter when you turn on the high beams.... they should come on. there is on and off.. not 2 on stages

low beams = outter bulbs
high beams = outter bulbs stay on and inner bulbs come on

replace your high beam relay maybe? maybe it's stuck partially on.

 

[Defiant]

hmm, when i start my car and leave the lights off the inner ones are on but they are very dim....(could it be cause its a canadian car?), what could be the problem with my high beams not working???

Oh, god. Daytime Running Lights? That goddamned jackass idea.

Anyway, what they do is run power "backward" through both high-beam filaments for DRLs on some cars, so that each one gets half-wattage. Is your car a converted United States version?

I can't open that wiring doc, but yes, the inner bulbs are hi beams, the outers are lows.

Just think how much more you'll know about electrics once you get the bastards fixed.

 

[bnpimpn]

no, they should not get brighter when you turn on the high beams.... they should come on. there is on and off.. not 2 on stages

replace your high beam relay maybe? maybe it's stuck partially on.

well how can the inner ones be so dim for the daytime running lights....AND be the high beams?? I've swapped the headlight relay for the fog light one and there is still problems with it. So now my question is, *if the switch inside the steering colum is pooched would my blue high beam indicator still come on??* any ideas what else could be the problem?

 

[bnpimpn]

Is your car a converted United States version?
QUOTE]

nah i still live in canada....this is really buggin me though

 

[halligoo]

Just out of curiosity, Check to see if the outer bulbs are 2- filiament. If so, then try replacing them. Otherwise the Inner bulbs have issues. There is no LEGAL way to wire around the daytime driving light issue. I agree that with the others that your relay isn't kicking in.

 

[bnpimpn]

somebody on here has to know where the "high beam" relay is located...i found a high beam fuse, and a "headlight relay" but no high beam relay. And on that lil diagram it shows there as being an actual relay for the high beams.....so if Anybody knows where this is i'd REALLY REALLY appreciate it.....

 

[Trev_scott]

I hate to bring this from the dead, but I'm having the exact same problem.
Did you find out where the relay was?
I'm leaning towards the same conclusion but cant seem to find the relay.

 

[bnpimpn]

it is on the driverside. you'll have to pull the splash shield out that is infront of the tire. I, pretty sure that it was fairly easy to find once i got that spash shield removed. Ummm i think i posted what i found it to be some where on this forum....i'll see if i can find exactly where i posted my conclusion....(its been 2 years since i fixed this problem)

 

[bnpimpn]

I found it! hope you find this as helpfull as i did. lemme know how it goes. scroll to the last post i made on the bottom. http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=182318