I came down to Florida for 2 weeks to avoid the smoke from the ongoing ‘wild fire’ near my home in NY (over 5000 acres burning since the fire started 10 days ago). My condo car (a 2008 Corolla which hadn’t been started since last mid March when we went back north) stared right up after an overnight trickle charge and has run well since. Last night I realized that both low beams weren’t’t working and I had to run high beams to get home from dinner. This morning I checked fuses and can’t see any burned out. The bulbs (9006) don’t look burned out. I find it strange that both would go out at the same time. Before I head out to buy new bulbs I was wondering if any of you guys had any thoughts on what else it might be. I can’t see any rodent damage on the wiring but that doesn’t mean there isn’t any. I’m wondering the best way to check the wiring for that? Thanks in advance for any advice.
Question about low beam headlights
- Thread starter pbm
- Start date
Is it possible that one low beam burned out and was not noticed?
Are they original bulbs? If so, it's possible that with really good manufacturing practices, the MTBF is kept in a small window, and you got to be the lucky one where they were really close together.
I think this happens often enough that I would not think twice about just tossing two new bulbs at it. Only if that did not fix the issue would I think about going deeper--I think it's just too easy to miss having one low beam out (especially if it's passenger side).
Are they original bulbs? If so, it's possible that with really good manufacturing practices, the MTBF is kept in a small window, and you got to be the lucky one where they were really close together.
I think this happens often enough that I would not think twice about just tossing two new bulbs at it. Only if that did not fix the issue would I think about going deeper--I think it's just too easy to miss having one low beam out (especially if it's passenger side).
that's usually the case, one burned out a while ago. When I was working at a dealer I often encountered cars with 1 burned out bulb on my commute which after a few weeks came by because "both headlights failed at the same time, surely can't be bulbs". it always was....
I had this happen on my Cadillac Cimarron with quad sealed beams. I definitely had both low beams before I didn't. Of note, I whacked them with an ice scraper before turning them on; maybe both had weak filaments that were killed by the vibration. Speaking of, who knows what may have happened to your 'yota over the summer.
It wouldn't hurt to check your charging voltage at the battery, maybe it's a little high as the car tries to compensate, but I don't believe that car has "smart charging."
It wouldn't hurt to check your charging voltage at the battery, maybe it's a little high as the car tries to compensate, but I don't believe that car has "smart charging."
Unplug one and get out your ohm meter. See if you have current to both hot pins? Everything else is a guess.
My guess also is that one was out earlier and you didn't notice.
Either way headlight bulbs dim over time. I assume these are normal bulbs, not LED. Good time to change them out anyway.
My guess also is that one was out earlier and you didn't notice.
Either way headlight bulbs dim over time. I assume these are normal bulbs, not LED. Good time to change them out anyway.
With crappy wiring the bulbs together were running 11 volts. When one blew the other got zappped with 12.5 volts and blew also.
I had a Subaru with corrosion on the fuse blade. Probing the fuse on top revealed power at both sides, so you'd think fuse-not-blown. But corrosion kept power from going out of the fuse spade to where it needed to go.
But yeah, first you've gotta look for power at the headlight connectors
But yeah, first you've gotta look for power at the headlight connectors
I've seen cars with all the brake lights burned out because no one noticed. Always check the bulbs first. Check with a meter or substitute new bulbs; don't just guess. If it still doesn't light up then investigate further.
Also some vehicles like 2nd Gen Rams switch the ground for headlights.
I don't think the OP's Toyota does this but the point is to have a basic understanding of the wiring before you start probing the connector
‐‐ not that I would ever personally admit to initially being confused by a switched ground (I'm confused in general most of the time)
I don't think the OP's Toyota does this but the point is to have a basic understanding of the wiring before you start probing the connector
‐‐ not that I would ever personally admit to initially being confused by a switched ground (I'm confused in general most of the time)I went out this morning and bought 2 new low beam headlights and my problem is solved. I’m thinking those who said that one headlight was out and I didn’t notice it until the other one blew were correct. I probably wouldn’t have noticed that both were out except that I had to take my daughter to the airport the other evening as I don’t drive much at night down here. At any rate I want to once again thank the BITOG community for once again giving me great advice. I learned about relays etc…too.
