No low beams when headlights are on but low beams work when switch is on parking lights.

Tiny
MATT MCCARRELL
  • MEMBER
  • 2013 HYUNDAI ELANTRA
  • 1.8L
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 70,000 MILES
This morning I was greeted with no low beams when I turned my headlights on. If I move the switch back to parking lamps or driving lights or whatever the first click is I have low beams but of course no high beams. I checked all fuses under the hood and several under the dash that might be related. I also swapped the relays around under the hood hoping to make the symptoms move with the relay.
Tuesday, January 3rd, 2017 AT 6:51 PM

7 Replies

Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 12,940 POSTS
Well, it is either the multi-function switch or the "smart" junction/fuse box. To test which it is, you need a piece of wire connected to a good ground. It needs to be long enough to reach the smart fuse box under the dash on the left side. Find a blue wire that connects to terminal twenty one, this wire also connects to the multi-function switch so you could trace it from there if needed, just be sure it connects to terminal twenty one. Turn the key on, turn the headlights to the headlight position, No low beams. Touch the wire jumper to the blue wire. If the lights come on now the multi-function switch is bad. If not then it is the "smart" junction box (it has a computer that turns on the lights and dims them inside it).
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Tuesday, January 3rd, 2017 AT 8:52 PM
Tiny
MATT MCCARRELL
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Thanks!

This terminal is on the back side of the fuse panel? Do I leave everything connected or do I take the connections loose? Are the terminals numbered?
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Wednesday, January 11th, 2017 AT 5:13 PM
Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 12,940 POSTS
If the wiring diagram is correct the wire you want will be in the connector I drew the arrow to. It's on the back of the box. There should be enough wire to remove the screws and pull the box out to access the connector. Try wiggling the connector first to scrub the terminals. Bad connections are very common. If they come back on great. If not then it's time to test.

Just be sure you have the correct wire, the wrong one could make a costly error.
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Wednesday, January 11th, 2017 AT 7:03 PM
Tiny
MATT MCCARRELL
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
That's one crazy looking fuse panel. They sure have changed since the 80's. I really appreciate the help and will be giving this a try over the weekend. If I can sort it out then it's off to the dealer for my Elantra.

Thanks a ton!
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Thursday, January 12th, 2017 AT 3:56 AM
Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 12,940 POSTS
I HATE them myself. Take your problem for instance. They are switching the headlights for crying out loud, do you really need a custom hidden part to do what a simple dimmer switch did for 50+ years? Every time I see some of this stuff a line that Jeff Goldblum says in Jurassic Park pops into my head, "Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn’t stop to think if they should".
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Thursday, January 12th, 2017 AT 8:13 AM
Tiny
MATT MCCARRELL
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Well I finally had time to try this out and it looks like the BCM is bad. I'm going to have the dealer run their machine on it to make sure. Thanks so much for the help!
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Saturday, January 21st, 2017 AT 1:24 PM
Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 12,940 POSTS
You're very welcome.

Thank you for using 2CarPros. Com. Tell your friends, family and anyone you like about us and please return with any auto related questions, we're here to help.
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Saturday, January 21st, 2017 AT 2:28 PM

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