fj62 headlight problems - low beams not working

[NYFJ62]

WHen I turn my headlights on, they don't light and the dash indicator for the brights comes on. The brights work when I flip them on, but I can't keep driving around with brights on all the time.

No blown fuses in the fuse box that I could find. Anyone have any idea what is going on here? I'm at a loss.

 

[UGA LEE]

I,ve got the same problem in my Fj60....Its making me crazy

 

[RockDoc]

My guess is that the lows aren't grounding properly through the switch (dirty? blown?) The toyotas use a switched ground system, when the lows are on, they are grounded through the switch, when the highs are on, they are grounded through the switch (I believe) and a small current passes through the low beam filaments and the high-beam indicator. With the lights on, but no proper low beam ground, you should get the same low current grounding through the high beam indicator light.

Take a look at the left side of this diagram for upgrading your lights (the left shows the stock switch layout) http://www.ih8mud.com/tech/headlightharness/diagram.pdf If you have an FSM, you should be able to see the wiring layout in the diagrams at the back, and I expect there are details on testing and removing the switch.

 

[NYFJ62]

Might there be some other fuse or breaker specific to the low beams? Any ideas would be appreciated as I've got a 4 hour drive to do tonight. I don't have an gsm or even an owners manual so I apologise if this is a silly question.

 

[NYFJ62]

Sorry. Didn't see your reply. Am viewing this page through a phone. Thanks for the info though. I'll go poke around some more and try to get to that switch.

 

[HeadacheManNYC]

I had some similar weirdness happen with my low beams when one of them blew out. I would try swapping the bulbs around if nothing else surfaces.

 

[NYFJ62]

Cannot figure this out. Bulbs are all good. All wiring inside the steering column looks good. No exposed or worn wires at all. Fuses are all good.

Could this be a relay??
Are all signs pointing toward a switch replacement? I really don't want to do that. Is there any way to get into that switch and try and repair it? This switch is inside the lever isn't it? Sorry, no FSM yet. Ordered is 4 weeks ago but it hasn't come yet.

For now I've got my high beam bulbs unplugged but I can't stand to do this for long. Not having high beams when I need them on this thing is a REAL bummer.

 

[jgroux]

Unless PO did some modifications on there are no relays involved in the lighting system.
If I read your post correctly your high beams work on all four lights and you have unplugged the H1 bulbs to drive around with the high wattage on H4 bulbs working.. this will work for a bit..
Agree with RockDoc - your switch is shot - will have access to my FSM Tuesday and can tell you which wire at steering column in the low beam, best bet will be to install a toggle switch on the left side of the dash for lights (the high beam and parking lights will still be operated by the stalk)

 

[Duane]

No comment... non applicable wiring diagram

 

[RockDoc]

I suppose it could also be the wire that runs from the low beam terminals to the headlight switch. If you can isolate that wire (or terminal) at the headlight switch, you could try grounding it out (with the headlights on)..... if the low beams come on, it's the switch, if the low beams don't, then it's the wiring between the lamps and the switch.

 

[NYFJ62]

Thanks guys.
ALl bulbs are good for sure. To confirm your question, when I switch the low beams on, I get driving lights and a high beam indicator in the dash but no low beam light at all. When I flip the highs on or just flash the highs, all 4 lights illuminate and the high beam indicator stays on.

The toggle switch on the dash seems like a cool solution if I can't get the regular controls working.

The bad switch would be the rotating one inside the lever correct? The one controlled by pushing or pulling the lever forward or backward for the brights is inside the steering column and should be working fine I'd assume.

I can only see two wires (red and white) coming out of the rotating headlight switch and heading back into the harness under the steering column. Should one of them be for the driving lights and one for the low beams? RockDoc, I could run each to ground to test them right? That would tell me whether the problem is the switch or wiring related?

 

[RockDoc]

The switch question is going to be the one in the column (activated by the lever action) rather than the rotating one on the end of the lever. The rotating one activates the lights, the lever one switches the ground between high and low. (at least I'm 99% on that, don't have my FSM with me right now.

 

[jgroux]

I saw this issue posted on 3FE bb yesterday and posted this there as well .. .
TLC FSM Headlight Schematic in pdf is attached

I think I can help you pinpoint the issue -

Important to understand there are two swiches in the "headlight switch" 1. is a rotating "light control" swithch that turns on parking only or parking plus headlights. 2. is a "dimmer" that changes headlights between low and high beam (pull to flash high beams, push to maintain high beams).
Your light control and relays are working as lights are coming on.
The problem is in your dimmer switch.
The red-green wire is not grounding properly through the dimmer switch - you can test this at either the base of the column (pin 6) or a head light socket (ground the red-green wire and the low beams should come on).
Aside from replacing the switch (cruiserparts.net may have one) I am not sure if you can dismantle the switch and repair..

 

[NYFJ62]

Thanks man. That was actually a thread I started on yahoo 3FE as well. After following everyones advice and determining that the issue had to be the switch, I ended up taking the mechanism apart and cleaning it out really well just to see if that would help at all. When I put it back on it my efforts didn't seem to help at all so I bought a replacement switch on ebay. But after about two days the lights started working again and haven't acted up since.

 

[screwbird]

I think this will fix your low beam problem...

https://forum.ih8mud.com/60-series-wagons/110746-high-beam-lights-fixed-finally.html


This is a thread I posted a long time ago to fix my high beam problem, and I think the same dirty contacts inside the switch are to blame for your low beams not working.

Give it a shot and post back if this fixes it. Considering the price of the parts, it is time well spent.

HTH.

-Screwbird

 

[screwbird]

Sorry - I just re-read this thread more carefully, and it seems that your problem went away and is working fine. That would make add more credibility to the dirty switch contact theory, as intermittent electrical problems are generally caused by poor contact/connection.

If your problem ever comes back, clean the black arc'ed crud off those contacts and you will be good to go.

-Screwbird