Hi all- (sorry about anonymous post--forgot password--I'm Bthompso)

I've got a headlight problem. I've scoured the past threads about relays, wiring etc. but still have a mystery I'm hoping someone can help me with:

1. With headlight switch in the OFF position, the flasher lever on column will cause high beams to go on and stay on (?!). Clicking them again turns them off.

2. With headlight switch in full ON position, I have no low beam only high beam. Can hear/feel step relay working.

3. I've checked: Main relay--OK; Step relay is swapped from a known working car, so OK. No fuses out...


I'm stumped. If the step relay is clicking happily away, does that prove my switch at the steering column is OK? I've read about bulb failure sensors causing problems, but none of my symptoms seems to resemble what I've read about. Thanks for any helpful insights!

hi beam does not pass thru bulb failure relay, either on normal hi or flasher. So bulb failure relay is a good suspect.

do confirm that all the connectors on the step relay are firmly seated, I have had those wiggle loose and take out low beams before. And use a voltmeter to check for voltage at the bulb connectors with low beams turned on, to confirm that the bulbs are indeed good. (Odd for both to fail, but if you've been searching the archives I'm sure you've seen that actually does happen to people).

john
--
1989 245 245K / 1993 945 131K

New info: Swap from known good bulb failure sensor did not fix problem. However, I noticed that the odd situation of the flasher staying on even with headlight switch all the way off was actually alternating between high and low beam (?!). So basically with light switch off, one pull on the lever turns on high beam; another pull turns everything off; then a third pull brings on low beam. odd...

But when light switch is full on--no low beam, but normal high beam.