2002 Saturn L100 Right Side High Beam Malfunctioning

Tiny
GARYRUNNER
  • MEMBER
  • 2002 SATURN L100
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 55,000 MILES
When I activate the high beam, the one on the right side does not illuminate.

It's perplexing because I found that all of my headlamp light bulbs work when I turn the lights on at the different settings. I stepped out of the car to visually confirm that the driver side high beam and low beam light bulbs are operational as are the right side high beam and low beam light bulbs. However, when I go to the highest setting and activate the high beam, the one on the right side does not illuminate.

This leads me to speculate that the headlamp wiring or switching mechanism is malfunctioning because all of the light bulbs are sound. I've already checked all of the fuses that could possibly be involved and they're all intact. What would you suggest that I do next? Thank you.
Saturday, June 13th, 2009 AT 7:09 AM

7 Replies

Tiny
RACEFAN966
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What do you mean by different settings? There is low beam and high beam. Have swapped sides with that high beam to see if it goes to the other side? Let me know what you mean and what you find and we will go from there.
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Saturday, June 13th, 2009 AT 9:00 AM
Tiny
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I won't be able to swap sides with the "high beam to see if it goes to the other side" today because of commitments I have already made but will do so as soon as I am able. Could you please tell me exactly what I must do to swap sides? Sorry, I'm not experienced enough to figure this out.

As to the word "settings", I was referring to the progression one goes through when turning on the headlights, i.E. Off, Parking Lights, Headlights, and finally High Lights.

When I turn the headlamp control switch up one notch, the parking lights go on [while the larger headlamps and high beam headlamps remain off]. When I rotate the control switch yet another notich up, the larger headlamps go on as well [while only the high beam headlamps remain off]. When I pull back on the turn signal/multifunction lever to activate the high lights, only the one on the left lights up.

I know both high beam bulbs work because when the engine is running, the head lamps are switched off, and the gear selector is not in park both daytime running lamps [high beam headlamps at half the normal brightness] go on. However, when I turn the headlamps on, only the left high beam headlamp lights up.

Complicating the situation is its intermittent nature. Sometimes when I activate the high lights, they both go on and work perfectly. Then mysteriously, the right high beam light will malfunction the next time. This is why I suspect that the problem involves the wiring or some switching mechanism because the bulbs are fine.

I hope this detailed description is more helpful than the original. I look forward to hearing from you again. Thank you.
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Saturday, June 13th, 2009 AT 11:59 AM
Tiny
RACEFAN966
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Ok check the fuse for the right side headlight in the underhood fuse box. From the wiring diagram is looks like the low beams are used as the daytime runners. If so then you need to change the high beam bulb on the right side. Let me know how it goes.
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Monday, June 15th, 2009 AT 1:27 PM
Tiny
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-&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&-

I checked the fuse for the right side headlight in the underhood fuse box and found it to be OK. I've also purchased a replacement high beam bulb for the right side but won't install it yet because all the lights are working properly.

The problem is intermittent. Most of the time, the right high beam bulb works properly, i.E. Daytime running light when I drive during the day. However, occasionally, it does not go on when I turn the headlights on and both daytime running lights are supposed to be lit. Do you think replacing the bulb would eliminate this problem?

In the meantime, all of the bulbs in both headlight assemblies are functioning as they should be. However, I'm certain that the right side high beam bulb is going to malfunction sometime in the near future, if only temporarily. This is a hard situation to figure out but what do suggest I do at this point? Thanks.
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Saturday, June 20th, 2009 AT 1:51 AM
Tiny
RACEFAN966
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Well if you removed the fuse to check it this may have been the problem. It may have had a bad connection or something. So I would hang on to the bulb as they are cheap and if it malfunctions again then we do some more testing as if it is working as it should we can't do any tests that will tell anything is wrong. So if it manfunctions again just get back to me and we will take from there.
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Saturday, June 20th, 2009 AT 9:08 AM
Tiny
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==========

OK, thanks.
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Saturday, June 20th, 2009 AT 10:11 AM
Tiny
RACEFAN966
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Ok let me know how it goes.
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Monday, June 22nd, 2009 AT 10:06 AM

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