High Beams don't work
 

Okay guys ... and gals ... gets into the 320 the other night and heads off into town, get onto the open road and flick the switch from low to high beam and nothing ... flick back to low beam and all is well ... back to high and again nothing. All other lights on the car are working normally, inside and outside, but both high beams and the high beam indicator are dead ... checked bulbs & connectors ... all okay, broke open the manual and traced the wiring diagram until I was cross-eyed :duh: found that they run from fuses 15 &16 in F1, raced out checked and cleaned fuses they are both fine, according to the manual it looks like the wires go from the fuse box into a connector under the dash and into the combo switch on the column.

Anyone else had this problem? Ideas or thoughts on what to look for before ripping the dash out and attacking the steering column? Is there another power source I am missing? :wall:

TIA
Kevin

I would try changing the fuses and bulbs first, if that does nto work, perhaps the connectors ont he headlights or the wiring in the headlights is somehow disconnected.

If all else fails, there may be a relay that is used for the high beams that is bad, or the combination switch is bad.

Start simple first, then go into more if that does nto resolve it. Seems strange to me that both bulbs would go bad. did you test them.?

AshMan

Okay, both bulbs have been tested and both work fine on high and low beam when connected to a battery, pulled the headlamp conectors, they are clean and dry, pushed them on and off a few times to make good contact. Fuses 15 & 16 are both 8 amp rating so swapped them out with some new 8 amp so they also are good ... still no high beams. :wall:

So unless there is a relay, or another fuse I am missing or cant see on the wiring diagram, it looks to be the combo switch on the column ... are these hard to R&R, any special tools or instruction needed?

Thanks

Kevin

Most likely. Or in the worse case scenario there is a break or cross in the wiring somewhere.

have you used a test light to ensure there is voltage going to the connector on the headlight from the combination switch? If there is voltage there when the combination switch is activated, then have you check to make sure the wiring inside the headlight has voltage and if so is there voltage going to the bulb in this scenario.

I would definately get a test light and or multimeter to test for voltage if you havent done so already.

AshMan

Sorry
 

Sorry to bring up a thread 3 years old, but I have the exact same problem. What was the end result? I have electrical issues right now myself and was wondering if changing the combination switch made the high beams work again?

Been there. My problem is intermittent and is in the combimation switch. I find that vigorously exercising the combination switch (slapping it back and forth) can restore the function for a while.

I lost my high beams too, first the manual pullback on the stock went out but i could still turn them on in the locked position but now they don't work at all, i guess i is the combo switch on mine as well, i just hope i do not loose my wiper control as it has been raining here big time lately