Low Beam Headlights Not Working

[orbit398]

Hello, the low beams on my car don't come on. The high beams do. All fuses look good. Any suggestions? thanks

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

Fuses can look good while still being popped. Pull the fuse out and take a look at it. The metal part of a bad fuse will usually fall apart when it is removed from the holder. Might be a good time to clean the ends of the fuse and the "fingers" that hold it as well.

The ground for the lights is common to both the high- and low-beam circuit. If the high beams work, the grounds are likely fine.

Verify if you have power going to the lights or not. It would be odd for both low beam filaments to burn out at the same time, but that doesn't mean it is completely impossible.

Current is sent to the lights by the high/low relay, which is located on top of the fuse panel. It is definitely one suspect in this case.

--DD

[orbit398]

Can you provide a part number or Pelican site location for this suspect high/low relay?

thanks

[orbit398]

found it
Headlamp Relay, (High/Low Beam Relay)
Part #: 111-941-583-MY-INT

BTW, is there directions somewhere to test the relay I have?

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

You'd have to run power and ground to the appropriate terminals of the relay, then ground the terminal that is normally connected to the high/low switch. Checking the 74 wiring diagram (your year 914 may be different) that would be the yellow/red wire.

Again, from the 74 diagram, it looks like you might only have to provide +12V to the "56" pin. Then check to see if either "F" or "56a" have power. Ground the "S" pin of the relay, and see if power then goes to the other of "F" or "56a". Ground "S" again, and see if power goes back to the first one of those.

You can also unplug the relay, and test to see if you have power to the wire that would plug into "56", and make sure that the wire to "S" gets grounded when you pull back on the turn signal stalk. You can also double-check that the "F" connection is connected to fuses 1 and 2, and the "56a" is connected to fuses 3 and 4.

--DD

[bobswei]

In case you are still trouble shooting. I just had the same issue. I pulled the relay from another car and low/high both work now.