One headlight works then shuts off when beams are on

Tiny
KMELQUIST
  • MEMBER
  • 1988 NISSAN 200SX
  • 143,500 MILES
Replaced headlights, checked relays, headlights come up and only passengers side works but when hi beam is switched it it goes off I tested relays and they work. I cannot locate the headlight sensor could that be the problem? Any ideas? Or locations?
Friday, July 27th, 2012 AT 1:16 AM

43 Replies

Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
So you have pop up head lights and both low beams work but the left high beam is inop?
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Friday, July 27th, 2012 AT 1:20 AM
Tiny
KMELQUIST
  • MEMBER
  • 23 POSTS
No only low beam on passenger side works both headlights are new
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Friday, July 27th, 2012 AT 1:36 AM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
So passenger side low beam only and when you switch to high beam no head lights?Do I have it right now?
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Friday, July 27th, 2012 AT 1:39 AM
Tiny
KMELQUIST
  • MEMBER
  • 23 POSTS
Yes
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Friday, July 27th, 2012 AT 1:43 AM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
Have you checked the wires to them for being broken etc?
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Friday, July 27th, 2012 AT 2:16 AM
Tiny
KMELQUIST
  • MEMBER
  • 23 POSTS
Yes all the way back to relays
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Friday, July 27th, 2012 AT 2:32 AM
Tiny
KMELQUIST
  • MEMBER
  • 23 POSTS
What is the location of the headlight sensor?
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Friday, July 27th, 2012 AT 4:28 AM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
The head light sensors are usually right up on top of the dash pad right on top of the dash.I dont thats bad from whats going on. Do you have a multimeter to do some testing?
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Friday, July 27th, 2012 AT 4:32 AM
Tiny
KMELQUIST
  • MEMBER
  • 23 POSTS
Yes I do.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Friday, July 27th, 2012 AT 4:46 AM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,814 POSTS
Check the fuses if you have not done so.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Friday, July 27th, 2012 AT 1:32 PM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,814 POSTS
Diagram shows location of light sensor.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Friday, July 27th, 2012 AT 1:41 PM
Tiny
KMELQUIST
  • MEMBER
  • 23 POSTS
I have checked all fuses
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Friday, July 27th, 2012 AT 2:31 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
KHlow2008 can you find a head light wire diagram for this car?I cant find one in our online repair info we use.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Friday, July 27th, 2012 AT 9:02 PM
Tiny
CADIEMAN
  • MECHANIC
  • 3,544 POSTS
U need a test light to see if the socket is getting power when u turn them on. U maYbe have a bad bulb
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Friday, July 27th, 2012 AT 9:41 PM
Tiny
KMELQUIST
  • MEMBER
  • 23 POSTS
I've done that not bad bulb or pigtail
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Friday, July 27th, 2012 AT 9:48 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
We need a wire diagram for the head lightd at this point. Do you have one cadieman?
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Friday, July 27th, 2012 AT 10:03 PM
Tiny
KMELQUIST
  • MEMBER
  • 23 POSTS
I have a wiring diagram from Mitchell repair online.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Saturday, July 28th, 2012 AT 12:23 AM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
Really it didnt list the headlight wire diagram when I looked on there can you post it?
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Saturday, July 28th, 2012 AT 12:32 AM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,814 POSTS
Saturntech9, for pre1992 models there are not many system diagrams. You need to check the wiring under engine compartment.

Kmelquist,
Perform the following test first.
At headlight connector, test the following wires for battery voltage with headlight switch turned on.

Lowbeams
Red/Yellow (right side)
Red/Blue

Highbeams
Orange (right side)
Orange/White.

If you have battery voltage with any lights not working, ground the Pink (right headlight) or Pink/Black (left headlight) and retest. If lights comes on, the light sensor or its wiring is faulty.

If battery voltage is not available under the lighting positions, you have a bad light switch.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Saturday, July 28th, 2012 AT 1:39 PM
Tiny
KMELQUIST
  • MEMBER
  • 23 POSTS
Ok where is the light switch located?
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Saturday, July 28th, 2012 AT 3:38 PM

Please login or register to post a reply.

Sponsored links