Dim headlights

[saurkraut]

I have a 2000 with DRL's and I believe I have an issue with my headlights. They are really dim, to the point of being a yellow color. Almost like they are not getting enough voltage or current to function properly. I had to have them on high beams this morning in the dark just to see anything. Both headlights work in low and high beams. So, I went through this thread

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/168520-01-headlight-problem.html

but as usual, the OP never came back to answer any further questions, so it was a complete dead end.

I'm at work right now, but plan on working on this when I get home. Is there anything I need to look at right away before any of this? I'm going to start with what is mentioned in the above thread and then want to go from there and use this thread for the information to help others since the other one is completely useless. Since it is a 2000, isn't the DRL module under the hood next to the battery? Just want to make sure I'm on the right track here. This is my first 3rd gen, and I've only had it for a week. Just trying to fix all of the things the PO did and didn't do. I am very mechanically capable, and also pretty good with electrical as well, so I can follow along quite well. I have got some new silverstar ultra's coming, so I would like to have this fixed before I put those in. I appreciate all the help!

 

[RinoRomp]

What volts are you reading at the bulb socket?

 

[TheDurk]

First, swap your DRL fuse unless you have tested it with a light or meter.

Do NOT tell me "it looks fine."

Dead DRL fuse leaves half the circuit stuck in DRL.

 

[saurkraut]

Thanks for the initial responses. I will check this out when I get home and in my shop and post back what I find.



On a side note, if this is a problem with the DRL circuit, could I disable the DRL's all together and have proper functioning headlights? I really dont like DRL's anyway.

 

[saurkraut]

Got it working. It was a combination of things. The 7.5 amp fuse was missing. Once I put a new one in, still, only the DRL's worked. Then I started tracing the wiring, low and behold, I found a broken wire right at one of the plugs for the DRL module harness. It didn't look broken, but once I started moving the harness and plugs around I could get the headlights to work normally, so I knew it was something to do with the connectors and or harness. It was a PITA to fix. Had to pull the pin out of the connector, solder on a new piece of wire and then solder that onto the other side of the harness.

Then it was :beer: :30

I'm thinking the PO took the fuse out because he couldn't figure out the issue and just took the lazy way out.