Headlamps Don't Turn On

[Chris28]

S13 pop ups. The headlights go up but the lamps don't turn on. I'm pretty sure my gauge cluster still works, I'm at school and the car is at home. When I pull the stalk towards me for high beams the high beam indicator on the dash does not light up, I know this for a fact.

I got them to cut on for a second when I jiggled my ghetto positive battery cable, but after I tightened it down again they turned off. That probably has something to do with it, but I figured I'd ask to see if anyone else had this problem. I might take the combination switch out and clean it, but I'm pretty sure that's not it.

Thanks.

[blacksrjdm]

Why would the batt terminal have anything to do with the headlights???

[Chris28]

The fuse box where the headlight relays are gets its power from the battery. It could just be corrosion thus making no contact, and what would explain the headlights flickering when I moved the cable, but after making sure the terminal was making contact they wouldn't turn on.

Just wondering if I should look into the combo switch or if it's something fuse-related in my engine bay.

[blacksrjdm]

Its most likely the combo switch or the harness plugs. Have you replaced the bulbs with blue ones or anything like that?

[sr20power]

Do you have a volt meter? If so I would check to see if the 12v is going to the fuse box and to the headlights. At least this way you can start eliminating what's not broken.

[Chris28]

Do you have a volt meter? If so I would check to see if the 12v is going to the fuse box and to the headlights. At least this way you can start eliminating what's not broken.

Yeah, I'll do that when I get home. Reason I posted is cause I want to be able to get home and fix this right away, not spending hours troubleshooting. It could just be corrosion is shielding the wire from getting power, but seeing as I don't have the car here with me I can't do that.

Thanks for the responses.

[mrgreeneyes]

its easy to tell by the responses here that NOONE in here has torn an s13 fusebox apart, except me. that being said...

your "positive cable" seems like the answer. one of the two smaller white leads coming from it DIRECTLY powers the headlamps, protected by twin 10A fuses.

start there.