Hi. I have a '88 Hiace. Recently, very occasionally the headlights failed to work. If i switched the switch on and off a couple of times, they would come on. The other night, i smelt a bad electrical burning smell and saw wisps of smoke coming up through the dash. The headlights then failed to come on regardless of what i did. No fuses are blown.
I have discovered upon inspection, that the headlight relay has burned out. Finding the replacement part is not easy! What concerns me however, is that if i DO replace it, or modify it so i can use any adequately rated relay, will it burn out again? -
SO MY QUESTION IS: Will relays eventually burn out in this way (it is 22 years old...) and if it were another problem, would it have blown the fuse first? Im assuming that the fuse is on the 'headlight side' of the circuit...
Thanks, ****
Re: Hi. I have a '88 Hiace. Recently, very occasionally...
Yes it will burn out again the wiring from the switch to the headlight module has a short use a voltmeter to trace it and replace wiring then put in the relay
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I have learned from experience that the things you changed are seldom the problem. It is probably a problem with the lamp control module (LCM), a little mini-computer switching device that controls the lighting circuits. It would be tucked up under the dash somewhere. An electrician (or you) would check for power in on the appropriate wires and then check for power out on the appropriate wires that go from there to the headlight dimmer switch and then routed to the headlight assemblies. You really need a wiring diagram to know what you are looking for. A yellow wire out from the LCM goes to the dimmer switch-this should be hot with headlights turned on.
Check the dimmer switch! Head lights should still work if dimmer! But no interior dash lights! Fuse for lights is under hood in fuse center! If it is the headlights I would check the switch and if applicable the relay! I assume you have checked for ground at the light and power at the headlight fuses!! Good luck
Hi David, Look for grounds, especially the headlight switch it self... Most of the time the issue you describe is resolved by replacing the headlight switch. There is a variable resistor that fails, over time.
If the headlight switch itself is loose, proper grounding would fail, and current runs other places.
Both the radio and the gear shifter are affected by the dimmer and on or off status of the headlight switch.
check the wirings for loose connection. Isolate and check on the wrongly switched bulb. Check also the grounding connection near the bulbs. If it has been tampered already, you need to trace the wirings either with a tester or test lamp. goodluck!
Sounds like you have a problem with a ground. Electrical wierdness like this can almost always be attributed to a bad ground. Have you done anything to the car recently that could have affected a ground? Replaced the dimmer switch or light switch?
there is a circuit breaker in your headlight switch so if your tail lights get shorted it wont burn out the wiring. and when these get older they get weak and shut down. just replace your headlight switch and all should be fine if you dont have a short.
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