Electronics Need help wiring something up? Thinking of adding an electrical component to your car? Need help troubleshooting that wiring glitch?

low beams dont work...high beams do

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Old Feb 18, 2011 | 11:38 PM
  #1  
Gibson's Avatar
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From: Pittsburgh PA
Car: 1989 Camaro IROC-Z
Engine: LB9
Transmission: T-5
Axle/Gears: 3.08 G80
low beams dont work...high beams do

so my low beams dont work, but my high beams do. my low beams work when my highs are on, idk if thats normal or not. would it be the switch or the relay or is it kinda 50/50?
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Old Feb 19, 2011 | 04:18 PM
  #2  
camaronewbie's Avatar
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From: Cary, North Carolina
Car: 1992 RS
Engine: Carbed 350
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.42 posi
Re: low beams dont work...high beams do

Sounds like the high/low switch - it's on the steering column, at the bottom, above the brake pedal. Has 2 screws holding it - needs adjusted so that it works. There's a rod from the turn signal lever to that switch, you can see the rod moving in/out of the switch - the switch needs adjusted up the column towards the steering wheel so that the rod can actually actuate the switch. Loosen two screws and carefully slide it up a tad. Make sure tilt wheel is in the position that you drive - you can never get the switch to work at full tilt up and down at the same time, so set tilt wheel at normal driving position.
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Old Aug 7, 2011 | 09:09 PM
  #3  
kaotik's Avatar
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From: Fond du Lac, WI
Car: 1991 Camaro Z28 Clone
Engine: 350 w/TBI
Transmission: WC T-5
Axle/Gears: Spicer 3:73 Auburn Posi
Re: low beams dont work...high beams do

Ok... so I have found the switch on the column, and when I pull the High Beam lever, I can see the rod move, and it does actuate the switch. My issue and question is is this switch for high beam actuation only? I still dont have low beams, but when I pull the lever or push the switch they all 4 come on at once. Thanks for any help!!!
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Old Aug 7, 2011 | 10:58 PM
  #4  
FireInMe17's Avatar
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From: Montgomery, PA
Car: 1990 Camaro RS
Engine: 355 Vortec TPI LT4 Hotcam
Transmission: TH700-R4
Axle/Gears: 3.23
Re: low beams dont work...high beams do

I have the same problem......hate it!
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Old Aug 11, 2011 | 04:49 PM
  #5  
mick74's Avatar
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Joined: Apr 2008
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Car: 1992 Z28
Engine: 350
Transmission: 4 spd auto
Re: low beams dont work...high beams do

Same here-no low beams, help! I thought it was a bad switch, bought a new switch, printed a diagram for wiring, went to the garage and.....YEP melted my wires! First time for everything, i guess. Now to find what kind of place can fix this mess if I cant.
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Old Aug 25, 2011 | 02:32 PM
  #6  
'91RS's Avatar
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Car: 1991 Camaro RS
Engine: 305 V8
Transmission: Automatic
Axle/Gears: Stock
Re: low beams dont work...high beams do

Did you ever find a fix? I have the same problem and i need mine fixed within the next week for inspection.
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Old Aug 25, 2011 | 07:08 PM
  #7  
mick74's Avatar
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Car: 1992 Z28
Engine: 350
Transmission: 4 spd auto
Re: low beams dont work...high beams do

No, I did not solve this issue yet, what a P.I.T.A.! I ordered 4 new headlights. I hope this will solve the problem. I will update once I receive and install the headlights, should be Friday. If this doesn't work, I will try gas and a match!!!!!
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Old Aug 25, 2011 | 08:01 PM
  #8  
'91RS's Avatar
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Car: 1991 Camaro RS
Engine: 305 V8
Transmission: Automatic
Axle/Gears: Stock
Re: low beams dont work...high beams do

ok please do. I know what you mean. I've only had this camaro for 3 weeks and im ready to get rid of it. These headlight problems are one after another.
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Old Aug 25, 2011 | 08:45 PM
  #9  
mick74's Avatar
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Car: 1992 Z28
Engine: 350
Transmission: 4 spd auto
Re: low beams dont work...high beams do

Wait and see if the new headlights fix the issue. I have heard that they can go out in pairs, etc.. I hate to give up on it since it is in good shape.
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Old Aug 25, 2011 | 09:27 PM
  #10  
'91RS's Avatar
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Car: 1991 Camaro RS
Engine: 305 V8
Transmission: Automatic
Axle/Gears: Stock
Re: low beams dont work...high beams do

do you know what color yours is? Mine is the same and i need touch up paint but they painted mine with a metallic paint the original color but made it metallic.
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Old Aug 25, 2011 | 09:41 PM
  #11  
mick74's Avatar
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Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 12
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Car: 1992 Z28
Engine: 350
Transmission: 4 spd auto
Re: low beams dont work...high beams do

If I remember, it is "medium quasar blue metallic ". Also check "dark teal metallic". These are both Chevrolet Camaro colors.
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Old Aug 28, 2011 | 09:24 AM
  #12  
Jonathan Dyer's Avatar
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From: Montreal, Canada
Car: '83 Berlinetta
Engine: 383 CI
Transmission: T56
Axle/Gears: 3.73, Eibachs, Tokiko Illuminas,
Re: low beams dont work...high beams do

It's unlikely that the head lights would go out as a pair. The latching hi-beam switch is the most likely culprit. When the switch is just wearing to the point of needing adjustment you can sometimes get the low beams to turn on and off with bumps in the road depending on the angle of the tilt steering.
E.G. steering wheel titled high - no low beams.
steering wheel tilted lower - low beams work until you hit a bump.

Jon
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Old Aug 28, 2011 | 09:30 AM
  #13  
'91RS's Avatar
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Car: 1991 Camaro RS
Engine: 305 V8
Transmission: Automatic
Axle/Gears: Stock
Re: low beams dont work...high beams do

I just replaced my high beam low beam switch on the lower part of the column and still have the problem. All lights work when highs are on so i know it isnt a burnt out bulb. Someone put in 4 low beam bulbs in my car that wouldnt make a difference when i turn low beams on would it? I have no low beams but i have all 4 high. next thought is the actual light on off switch i dont know what else to check.
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Old Sep 7, 2011 | 11:28 PM
  #14  
kaotik's Avatar
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Posts: 358
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From: Fond du Lac, WI
Car: 1991 Camaro Z28 Clone
Engine: 350 w/TBI
Transmission: WC T-5
Axle/Gears: Spicer 3:73 Auburn Posi
Re: low beams dont work...high beams do

I figured out the issue on my car, but I have a custom application (Xenon's) It ended up being a bad relay. I had a local hot rod shop rewire my H4 harness and put in better relay's and im up and running perfectly.

Last edited by kaotik; Jun 17, 2023 at 02:30 PM.
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Old Aug 24, 2019 | 03:51 PM
  #15  
Robert Hanson's Avatar
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Re: low beams dont work...high beams do

I only have one low beam on mine all work on hogh beam all stock im kinda confused anyone got any ideas
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Old Aug 26, 2019 | 04:44 PM
  #16  
NINÅ's Avatar
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Joined: Jan 2006
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From: Mooresville NC
Car: LOWERED ♦ CRIMSON METALFLAKE
Engine: ► 400 KUBES ◄
Transmission: 765R4
Axle/Gears: EATON POSI 4.56
Light Fright

The problem is either a burned out filament or faulty wiring.

To find out use a voltmeter across the lamp to determine.


Happy Racing !



I Smacked The Wall With The Side Of The Car Because A Narrower Car Is A Faster Car
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