One headlight works then shuts off when beams are on

Tiny
KMELQUIST
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  • 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
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So you have pop up head lights and both low beams work but the left high beam is inop?
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Friday, July 27th, 2012 AT 1:20 AM
Tiny
KMELQUIST
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No only low beam on passenger side works both headlights are new
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Friday, July 27th, 2012 AT 1:36 AM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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So passenger side low beam only and when you switch to high beam no head lights?Do I have it right now?
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Friday, July 27th, 2012 AT 1:39 AM
Tiny
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Yes
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Friday, July 27th, 2012 AT 1:43 AM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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Have you checked the wires to them for being broken etc?
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Friday, July 27th, 2012 AT 2:16 AM
Tiny
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Yes all the way back to relays
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Friday, July 27th, 2012 AT 2:32 AM
Tiny
KMELQUIST
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What is the location of the headlight sensor?
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Friday, July 27th, 2012 AT 4:28 AM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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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?
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Friday, July 27th, 2012 AT 4:32 AM
Tiny
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Yes I do.
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Friday, July 27th, 2012 AT 4:46 AM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
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Check the fuses if you have not done so.
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Friday, July 27th, 2012 AT 1:32 PM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
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Diagram shows location of light sensor.
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Friday, July 27th, 2012 AT 1:41 PM
Tiny
KMELQUIST
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I have checked all fuses
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Friday, July 27th, 2012 AT 2:31 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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KHlow2008 can you find a head light wire diagram for this car?I cant find one in our online repair info we use.
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Friday, July 27th, 2012 AT 9:02 PM
Tiny
CADIEMAN
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U need a test light to see if the socket is getting power when u turn them on. U maYbe have a bad bulb
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Friday, July 27th, 2012 AT 9:41 PM
Tiny
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I've done that not bad bulb or pigtail
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Friday, July 27th, 2012 AT 9:48 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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We need a wire diagram for the head lightd at this point. Do you have one cadieman?
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Friday, July 27th, 2012 AT 10:03 PM
Tiny
KMELQUIST
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I have a wiring diagram from Mitchell repair online.
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Saturday, July 28th, 2012 AT 12:23 AM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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Really it didnt list the headlight wire diagram when I looked on there can you post it?
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Saturday, July 28th, 2012 AT 12:32 AM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
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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.
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Saturday, July 28th, 2012 AT 1:39 PM
Tiny
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Ok where is the light switch located?
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Saturday, July 28th, 2012 AT 3:38 PM

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