Strange headlight problem on 1995 Maxima no low beam on one side

lbrowne · 10-08-2009, 08:09 AM

I had this in the noob thread since 2 nights ago and brought that thread to a stand still...

My left headlight just went out the other day, I have high beams on both, but no low on the driver side. No cracks in the headlight lense whatsoever.

Here is a list of what I've found so far:

1. Daytime running lamps still work in this headlight
2. Removed and reseated bulb, no low beam.
3. Tried new bulb, no low beam.
4. Hi beams work on both headlights.
5. Connector is not melted, I'm using standard 9004 bulbs. Nothing fancy.
6. a test light shows there is power to the harness on the middle connector.

Any ideas? Relay prehaps? (memory tells me I had this issue on an old 91 sentra.....details are foggy)

*JtzMax* · 10-08-2009, 08:25 AM

Odd .... it wouldn't be a realy issue if you're getting power to the connector. I'd say to try another bulb and clean the connector with some canned air or the like. Are you probing the backside of the connector? If so, probe the front so you know the pin is still ok (not loose and making poor connection). Are lights are postive switched (meaning that the 9004 bulb burns 2 different fillements, one for hi, one for low). So, in short - if you have power to the connector, you should have low beam output.

lbrowne · 10-08-2009, 08:51 AM

Step three above indicates I tried a new bulb

Fresh out of a package actually.

When I tested for power with the test light, I tested the front side of the harness where the light physically plugs into the bulb.

Definitely got me stumped so far.

Unless the new bulb is toast too! lol

tosheto · 10-08-2009, 09:27 AM

Swap the two bulbs. Just to make sure the new one works. It has happened before

*JtzMax* · 10-08-2009, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tosheto

Swap the two bulbs. Just to make sure the new one works. It has happened before

My point exactly

Nopike · 10-08-2009, 02:36 PM

There are three wires running to the headlight GRD-BLK, HI-Yellow, Lo-Green/Yellow.
Test for power to the LO terminal/wire. You can compare your readings to the passenger side to be sure.

*JtzMax* · 10-08-2009, 08:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nopike

There are three wires running to the headlight GRD-BLK, HI-Yellow, Lo-Green/Yellow.
Test for power to the LO terminal/wire. You can compare your readings to the passenger side to be sure.

He did test it .... that's the oddity of it. He's getting power, but no light output. That's why I think maybe it was a bad bulb out of the package, it's been known to happen.

I recall one time, I hung a new light (in the living room) but it wouldn't turn on. I checked everything (except the bulbs - of course) several times. Back and forth, atic, living room, atic, living room .... my g/f changed the bulbs from another fixture, worked fine. One of those ... DOH! moments. lol

gordonych · 10-08-2009, 08:59 PM

Since you have drl, it's probably the drl module near the coolant filler location. Some folks opened it up and retouch the solder joints to fix it.

Leo_Koneval · 10-08-2009, 10:25 PM

Haha I had a few headlights problems as well. One day I decided to try out Pilot Automotive headlight bulbs and after a few days the passenger side burned out and so I got them returned the the store gave me another set, same brand. And when I put it in, nothing happened on the same side, and when I put on my old Xtravisions it lit up, apparently the brand new bulb was defective before I even got to use it.

And so instead of returning the bulb I bought myself a cheap set of Xtravisions and digested angry and stupid feeling I had for using cheap bulbs.

Oh and one thing I noticed is that Xtravisions and bulbs from the same company that are "top notch" aren't any brighter than the other, I mean you can probably tell if you stare at your headlight beam long enough but other than that I didn't see any difference between the cheap Xtravisions and the $50 top notch silvania bulbs.

FallenOne · 10-08-2009, 11:52 PM

Actually, my Silverstars are bright as hell. Ill get pics. ( please no. its cold.. )

Leo_Koneval · 10-09-2009, 01:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FallenOne

Actually, my Silverstars are bright as hell. Ill get pics. ( please no. its cold.. )

Really? I used them both and it doesn't seem to make a different at all, except for the price haha