Dashlights went out when I turned on my headlights

Tiny
TISSY
  • MEMBER
  • 2002 PONTIAC SUNFIRE
  • 2.2L
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 180,000 MILES
I had the headlight partially switched on while warming up the car, turned the switch all the way on and the dash lights all went out and the headlights would not come on. All the rear lights were working. My remote door lock also will not work now. Is it a fuse and if so which one would cause this to happen?
Wednesday, April 2nd, 2014 AT 9:37 PM

7 Replies

Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 110,176 POSTS
That is a strange one. However, chances are it is a fuse. Check the owner's manual for fuse location and check all fuses that are related to the problem.
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Thursday, April 3rd, 2014 AT 5:22 AM
Tiny
TISSY
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
So today I took a better look and noticed my signal lights work, interior and exterior, horn radio and gages not working but heat, rear defog all work. Checked some of the fuses in the car and under the hood nothing looked burnt out.
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Thursday, April 3rd, 2014 AT 1:22 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 110,176 POSTS
I could be wrong (I've been wrong before lol) but since several things stopped working at the same time, I feel confident it is a fuse. The funny thing about a fuse, it can look good but really be bad. The only way to be certain that they are good is by conducting a continuity test to see if power flows through the fuse.
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Friday, April 4th, 2014 AT 6:50 PM
Tiny
TISSY
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
I still haven't resolved my issue, is it possible the relay fuse under the hood would cause all of this?
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Monday, April 14th, 2014 AT 8:08 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 110,176 POSTS
It could.
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Monday, April 21st, 2014 AT 8:41 AM
Tiny
TISSY
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Took it in to a shop today, they checked all the fuses and the relay and even tried a new body modulator in it, nothing fixed the issue. Any ideas now?
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Monday, April 21st, 2014 AT 4:00 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 110,176 POSTS
Now it becomes a wire tracing issue to see where power is lost.
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Tuesday, April 22nd, 2014 AT 8:50 AM

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