High beams work, low beams don't?

Shine4JC

Shine4JC

New member
2002 Limited with DRL-
Started the Runner this morning in the dark garage to warm up a minute. I immediately notice I have no low beams but the high beams work. I then turned off the headlight switch to see if it work using the DRL mode and same thing. Pulled into the parking lot at work and I checked the headlight relay and it appears fine. Does anyone know what would cause this? FYI: Fog lights work, running stock headlights (Silverstars) and never taped the wiring or switch.
Any thoughts?
 
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No low beams or DRLs?
I would say that both bulbs burnt out at the same time. Buy one bulb and try it. If it still doesn't work, you will have a spare for later use.
 
Gerdo said:
No low beams or DRLs?
I would say that both bulbs burnt out at the same time. Buy one bulb and try it. If it still doesn't work, you will have a spare for later use.
Click to expand...

Just the low beams, everything else is working fine. If the bulb burnt out, would'nt both the High/low be blown?
 
Shine4JC said:
Just the low beams, everything else is working fine. If the bulb burnt out, would'nt both the High/low be blown?
Click to expand...

No. One bulb, but separate filaments that can burn out on their own. Proper trouble shooting is to first check all your fuses, and second, rule out the bulb. Everybody tends to think bulbs burn out at the same time and says WTF?, but the truth is people frequently don't notice when ONE burns out, but they do when BOTH are out. So try a good bulb on both sides and see what happens. Your HEADLIGHT relay is good if highs work. There is also a DIMMER relay, that switches between high and low. That would be your next suspect. Then the stalk.

http://www.ncttora.com/fsm/1996/SIL/techinfo.toyota.com/ileaf/ewdtmc2/ewdtmpdf/ewdsourc/2002/024runne/systemci/020hldrl.pdf
 
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TheDurk said:
No. One bulb, but separate filaments that can burn out on their own. Proper trouble shooting is to first check all your fuses, and second, rule out the bulb. Everybody tends to think bulbs burn out at the same time and says WTF?, but the truth is people frequently don't notice when ONE burns out, but they do when BOTH are out. So try a good bulb on both sides and see what happens. Your HEADLIGHT relay is good if highs work. There is also a DIMMER relay, that switches between high and low. That would be your next suspect.

http://www.ncttora.com/fsm/1996/SIL/techinfo.toyota.com/ileaf/ewdtmc2/ewdtmpdf/ewdsourc/2002/024runne/systemci/020hldrl.pdf
Click to expand...

Thanks Guys! Checked all the fuses and all is well. I have the original bulbs at home so I'll try that next. I've NEVER had both bulbs go at the same time, although I'm sure it happens so I may be over reacting here. Thanks for the schematic but where's the dimmer relay located? Appreciate your help and need to resolve the issue ASAP because I know I'll get pulled over for running just the fogs or high beams.
 
Shine4JC said:
Thanks Guys! Checked all the fuses and all is well. I have the original bulbs at home so I'll try that next. I've NEVER had both bulbs go at the same time, although I'm sure it happens so I may be over reacting here. Thanks for the schematic but where's the dimmer relay located? Appreciate your help and need to resolve the issue ASAP because I know I'll get pulled over for running just the fogs or high beams.
Click to expand...

Bottom left of engine room relay/fuse block (see page 22 in link):

http://www.ncttora.com/fsm/1996/SIL/techinfo.toyota.com/ileaf/ewdtmc2/ewdtmpdf/ewdsourc/2002/024runne/relayloc/relayloc.pdf

You should be able to hear/feel it cycle as someone works the stalk. If it is cycling, and fuses are good, bulbs are almost a sure thing. The both bulbs thing happens all the time. SilverStars burn out really fast, they are on NEVER AGAIN status with me.
 
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Update:
Dimmer Relay is working fine as I can feel the "click" when switching to hi/low.
I stand corrected-DRL's (low beams) are NOT working. Therefore, both low beam filiments must have blown at the same time because when I pulled into the garage last night, I'm 100% positve they were both on.
I'll try my old bulbs when I get home but will need to leave work early before it gets dark :cry2:
What 'new" bulbs are recommended other than the Silverstars? Hella's, PIAA's?
 
I like the silverstar ultra's. They don't seem to burn out too quick on me like some people suggest. I've heard good things about PIAA's though.
 
TheDurk said:
SilverStars burn out really fast, they are on NEVER AGAIN status with me.
Click to expand...

^^ Second this. They're nice and bright, but they have a horrible life span, at least with my experiences. I could see both burning out relatively quick, especially with DRL use. Also as stated above, HI and LO are 2 separate filaments. DRL's use the LO filament at a reduced wattage, so it stands to reason that the bulbs are likely the culprit.
 
I had a set of them in my Tacoma that blew at the same time. It can happen. I run them in my Runner too. Love them. They can burn out fast, but I don't mind. The set I have in there now has been in there since August of '10. Still going strong (probably jinxed myself by saying that).
 
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I would agree regarding the lifespan of SilverStars. I have used the regular SilverStars (not the Ultras) for 5 or 6 years and really like them, but I typically have to replace them about once a year. I would imagine you could increase their lifespan by disabling the DRLs, and there are lots of threads on here on how to do that, I just haven't done it.
 
Final Update:
Well, I left work early to get this resolved and it's a good thing too because I need to make a quick trip over to Cheyenne Wyoming tonight. You guys are right once again, both low beams burned out at the exact same time. It is indeed a "WTF" moment for me as I have never had two burn out at the same time which lead me to suspect a bigger issue than just the bulbs.
But, this is the first vehicle I've had with DRL's too.
Luckily I kept the original bulbs that I took out when I put in the Silverstar Ultra's just over a year ago. Advanced Auto is having a $7 off sale of the Ultra's until the 22nd but of course they were out of the #9003's which I need.
The original ones will get me by until I buy another set of Ultra's or the Silverstar ZXE's. This does make one consider doing the DRL disable mod to expand the longevity of the bulbs though.
Anyway, thanks to ALL for your help on such a simple problem! :lookout:
 
I will be checking mine tomorrow, as I have this exact same issue on my 2002. Whats funny is i was leaving my buddies house the other day and noticed one light out. When I tapped on the headlight, it popped back on. I'm hoping both bulbs just blew at the same time, as I am supposed to be driving from Fort Lenardwood MO to Fort Gordon GA on Friday.....
 
also if you are having light problems you might want to check your battery terminal, i had a car that the normal driving lights would shut off because they were not getting the power they needed but when i turned the brights on they would come on and once i cleaned the terminals they worked much better.
 
Shine4JC said:
Final Update:
Well, I left work early to get this resolved and it's a good thing too because I need to make a quick trip over to Cheyenne Wyoming tonight. You guys are right once again, both low beams burned out at the exact same time. It is indeed a "WTF" moment for me as I have never had two burn out at the same time which lead me to suspect a bigger issue than just the bulbs.
But, this is the first vehicle I've had with DRL's too.
Luckily I kept the original bulbs that I took out when I put in the Silverstar Ultra's just over a year ago. Advanced Auto is having a $7 off sale of the Ultra's until the 22nd but of course they were out of the #9003's which I need.
The original ones will get me by until I buy another set of Ultra's or the Silverstar ZXE's. This does make one consider doing the DRL disable mod to expand the longevity of the bulbs though.
Anyway, thanks to ALL for your help on such a simple problem! :lookout:
Click to expand...


I'm bumping an old thread because I had this same thing happen to me yesterday. I didn't think there was any way both low beams could be out at the same time, so I started checking the relays and fuses, and everything else. I didn't have any luck so I came home and pulled the wiring diagrams and realized the only other thing that could kill low beams and DRLs was possibly a bad wire. I searched here and found this thread.

I changed the bulbs and problem solved. I know both low beams were working the day before, because I was driving in heavy fog, and could see both beams (and noticed that they needed to be adjusted). I'm assuming one of them probably went bad during the day while the DRLs were on, and the other shortly afterwards.

These SilverStars had been in for less than 20k miles. No more of those for me.:dammit:
 
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