Hi folks,

I've spent an hour+ looking at threads on here and doing the You-Tube search and still can't find a likely diagnoses for my headlight problem.
2007G35X. No modifications.
My driver's side high beam is not working. My low beams are working great.
Here is what I've done so far:
1) replaced the bulb on that side - no luck.
2) Checked the fuses in both fuse boxes. All fuses are functional and have continuity. I swapped the L/R fuses, same problem on the driver's side.
3) I see I have ONE relay in the IDPM box. I thought for sure I was missing a relay but the box cover only shows one slot filled (?) See pictures. I swapped it to the 'empty' slot beside it and still the same problem, no high beam on the driver's side.
4) I can hear the relay 'click' when the passenger side high beam turns on. My blue dash light operates as normal.
5) I tried to look at the FSM manual in the EXT section but get a download error message every time. ("An error occurred during a connection to www.nicoclub.com. The page you are trying to view cannot be shown because the authenticity of the received data could not be verified")

So, can someone tell me if
a) the ballast on the driver's side could be faulty even though the low beams work fine?
b) I am missing a relay in the IDPM box?
Thanks for any tips or advice, Tom

 

The solenoid for the drivers side projector could have failed. You’d hear an obvious clunking noise like you do from the passenger side headlight.

id focus on that circuit.

 

Thanks Urban......I know where the relay is and also the ballast. But where is the solenoid located? Are there one or two solenoids?
I just used a mechanic's stethoscope to try and pinpoint where the clicking is coming from but my wife only had so much patience to help me operate the lights while I moved about the front of car. I definitely hear a clicking when the high beam turns on but am uncertain if there is noise on the driver's side.

 

It is inside the headlight Housing, so hard to get a screwdriver or stethoscope on. It’s a little shield that drops out of the way near the projector lens.

 

Just to clarify for myself....the solenoid and the ballast are two separate parts? And the solenoid is only for high beam operation?
Tom

 

Yes. I just realized you have. Sedan, they did not have factory projectors as far as I understand. Your high beam does not have a solenoid controlling the high beam.

 

Yes, I have a sedan. Still trying to determine what component has failed to cause the high beam on the driver's side to not work. All other lamps on the drivers side and passenger side are working. Tom

 

Just to verify, the headlight actually WORKS when on high beam mode, it just doesn't lift the beam of light up right?

 

Hi Cleric,
No, there is no action at all for the high beam on the driver's side. Only the low beam works on that side. There is no change of intensity or elevation when the high beam is activated. The passenger side headlights work as expected.
Tom

 

It's all the same lamp, there's a solenoid that literally tilts a little shade/light blocker at a different angle to switch between high and low beams on the V36 cars.. Sounds like you have an issue with your solenoid. I don't know if it's serviceable or not.

Pin 7 should have 12vdc when you turn high beams on, no voltage when it's on low beams. If you have voltage at that pin and the headlight is illuminated then it's almost certainly a failed high beam solenoid.

 

Thanks for that info about the pin to check. Will plunk the battery back in and do voltage testing. I'll also have to watch the passenger side lens closely to see that tilting action in play. (didn't know that is how the 'high' is achieved)
Will check back in with result.
Tom

 

Ok, just came in from the garage to check that headlight connector. I am no further ahead on figuring out what the problem is.

I located the connector as noted in post # 10. Found the pink wire in position 7 and found that I do have 12 volts there when the high beam switch is turned on. Zero voltage at that pin when high beam is off. So I felt pretty good about that.
I next followed that pink wire to a nearby white connector. That connector has wires that disappear into the headlight housing. I separated the connector, cleaned the contacts, put some dielectic grease and connected it again. Still no high beam on that side.
Next I disconnected the white connector again and this time grabbed a 12v battery and put + and - directly to the wire side that goes into the headlight. I can hear a healthy audible clunk as the headlight solenoid right there in the housing goes on and off. So I have power going right to the solenoid.
But still no high beam!
The low beam works fine. I've swapped bulbs, same problem.
What in heck does it take to get a high beam to work when I have power to the bulb/ballast and also to the solenoid?????

I've run out of ideas.
Tom

 

I have no idea really what I am talking about, but...

• if there is only one lamp, and
• a solenoid is what moves the "flapper" to change the angle of the beam and make it "high," and
• the solenoid is working, then
• is there a physical connection between the flapper and the solenoid that has somehow disconnected itself so that the solenoid cannot flip the flapper??

Just a thought exercise.

 

G2B, I was thinking along the same path. I have a healthy sounding solenoid but i can't see inside the housing to see what the heck it does. Has anyone taken one of these housings apart to fix a problem like this..........

I'm seeing a wicked high price to replace the headlight lens assembly, but then it would look like like *** to have a bright shiny left side and a faded but still functional other side.
I'm open to ideas.
I can't get my annual state inspection done until I have functioning high beams.

 

Can you just observe the left side when switching to high beams to see what moves, and then observe the right side to confirm?

If it's a disconnected physical connection, is it constructed in such a way that you could bake the housing to soften the lens sealant to take the lens off and access the physical connection to repair?