High Beams Indicator--FJ60

[cbmontgo]

Mine is VERY dim and I almost failed inspection yesterday because of it. I ran home, installed a new bulb, and brought it back to pass, but it is still so dim that you need a damn darkroom to see the blue indicator. I cleaned the terminals while I was in there, and everything looks to be like new.

You can see it at night, but it is really hard to see during the day.

Anyone else had this problem before?

 

[2mbb]

It should be bright and visible in the day time.

Have you upgraded the headlight wiring harness or changed to a different type headlight bulb. The high beam indicator is actually wired in series with the low beams. When the low beam ground is interrupted (i.e. when the high beams are on) the current flows through the low beams then through the high beam indicator then to ground. It's a low current draw so the low beams don't light, but if you changed any of the OEM set up you may have disturbed the high beam indicator circuit.

 

[NocalFJ60]

What kind of headlights are you running? You could change the bulb to a LED to make it brighter. I would look at upgrading the harness if you want your headlights brighter.

 

[RockDoc]

It should be bright and visible in the day time.

Have you upgraded the headlight wiring harness or changed to a different type headlight bulb. The high beam indicator is actually wired in series with the low beams. When the low beam ground is interrupted (i.e. when the high beams are on) the current flows through the low beams then through the high beam indicator then to ground. It's a low current draw so the low beams don't light, but if you changed any of the OEM set up you may have disturbed the high beam indicator circuit.

x2 Too much resistance elsewhere in the wiring/headlights.

 

[GAS-A-LOT!]

how can I fix my light... I have a relay wiring & cant get the light to come on... The harness uses the passenger side connection to run the harness off the battery. I wonder if my driver side connection is still good. Could get another harness to connect to that one yes-no? to run other lights... or maybe h4 type bulb would make my high beam indicator work right? Will have to try it.

 

[RockDoc]

how can I fix my light... I have a relay wiring & cant get the light to come on... The harness uses the passenger side connection to run the harness off the battery. I wonder if my driver side connection is still good. Could get another harness to connect to that one yes-no? to run other lights... or maybe h4 type bulb would make my high beam indicator work right? Will have to try it.

You need to have a relay grounded through the low beam lead both during low beam, and high beam operation, at least that's how mine works. There is one relay the functions as a "lights on" relay, and a second that operates to switch between high and low beam. The first is triggered by the low beam ground circuit, and the second is switched by the high beam ground circuit.

Here's Wayne's diagram for clarity of how the stock circuit works.

 

[cbmontgo]

It should be bright and visible in the day time.

Have you upgraded the headlight wiring harness or changed to a different type headlight bulb. The high beam indicator is actually wired in series with the low beams. When the low beam ground is interrupted (i.e. when the high beams are on) the current flows through the low beams then through the high beam indicator then to ground. It's a low current draw so the low beams don't light, but if you changed any of the OEM set up you may have disturbed the high beam indicator circuit.

Actually, I have always made it a point not to touch my stock wiring harness. Where does it ground? I wonder if the ground is loose or slightly corroded/dirty?

 

[2mbb]

The wiring diagram doesn't specify which ground point the high beam indicator uses. It just shows a symbol for ground, but the wire doesn't tie into one of the main ground points. I suppose it's a local ground to the body under the dash. The wiring diagram shows it as a white/black strip wire, for what that's worth. You'll probably have to pull the instrument cluster and try and follow the circuit out to the ground wire. If you have a volt-ohm meter you could check the delivered voltage to the light (should be close to 12VDC and the resistance of the ground circuit (should be close to zero ohms resistance). That might tell you whether it's a supply voltage or ground problem.

 

[GAS-A-LOT!]

ok... so let us know what you find out.... I kid! I kid!

 

[cbmontgo]

The wiring diagram doesn't specify which ground point the high beam indicator uses. It just shows a symbol for ground, but the wire doesn't tie into one of the main ground points. I suppose it's a local ground to the body under the dash. The wiring diagram shows it as a white/black strip wire, for what that's worth. You'll probably have to pull the instrument cluster and try and follow the circuit out to the ground wire. If you have a volt-ohm meter you could check the delivered voltage to the light (should be close to 12VDC and the resistance of the ground circuit (should be close to zero ohms resistance). That might tell you whether it's a supply voltage or ground problem.

Thanks, 2mbb. I will have to check this out next weekend and see what I can find.