Drivers headlight is dim
Asked by mtmonarch Jun 08, 2012 at 09:20 PM about the 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier Z24 Coupe FWD
Question type: Maintenance & Repair
I have a '98 Cavalier Z24 that the fog lights, running lights, park lights, & cruise control work fine until I turn on the head lights, then the drivers headlight goes dim and so does the fog light. Once you turn the headlights off again, the running lights won't come on and the running light indicator/dash light flashes. I just tried to re-ground the light circuit thinking that was the problem, now I'm thinking head light switch, Any idea's???
8 Answers
could also be your battery or the alternator is starting to go bad. car might start but not provide enough power to use the headlights if the alternator is bad
try switching the bulbs around in the headlight to see if it dims on the passenger side. might just have a bad bulb.
could be the ground on the front of the front left fender all the lights share the same gound to control all of the light so try cleaning that up and see if it works let me know if it fixes it
at this point id replace the headlight switch
Hah! It seems when all else fails, try checking the fuse! Being unfamiliar with the wiring of the car, it wasn't until I was reading a wiring schematic that I learned there is a separate fuse for each headlight. Although the left headlight was on/dim, it must of been back-feeding from the other light somehow. When I learned of the separate fuses, I checked the left side fuse & discovered it was burnt, changed it & viola! I know that sounds like stupidity & STEP 1 of troubleshooting, but the symptoms definitely was throwing everyone involved off in the diagnosis. ALWAYS start with the basics! Thanks to everyone for their suggestions.
well good job thats how those daytime running lights work it feeds power into one bulb and then out to the otherand then to a ground that how they accomplish the dimming of the lights
yep, i missed the fuse too! I'm glad I checked the wiring though, the red and one of the blue wires were burned through inside the loom which probably caused the fuse to go.
On my chevvolet cavlier 1999 z24 high beam comes on but want go. To dim and headlights dont comme on when you turn the switch. On to start. Thans
