Lost low beam head lights?

V

VtBob

Regular Member
Joined
Dec 7, 2019
Points
15
Location
Vt
Model of Z
Z3 3.0
Hi

Just lost both low beam head light on my 01 Z3. Fuses are ok, not likely that both bulbs died at the same time. I am suspecting the head light switch
Hi beams work fine via stalk, running lights are fine too

Trying to avoid digging around to get at the switch, only find it is some other stupid things....So....

Any ideas
 
I would suspect the dip switch first and foremost.

Tony.
 
hard top said:
I think that you could be right suspecting the head light switch to be honest.
I just did a quick search on the forum and it came up with this :-

Link :- https://zroadster.org/threads/headlight-switch-be-warned.18748/
Click to expand...


I'd have thought that the main lighting switch dying would take out both beams, whereas the dipswitch dying would (maybe) take out one or the other beams. Still best to actually check the bulbs before spending any money and/or dismantling things.
 
Thanks to you all and especially the link....it will save me some time
 
I had this exact same thing happen about 4 yrs ago .
I had been round at a mates in the evening ( autumn so had lights on on way over ) went to go home no dipbeam checked the obvious fuse a slim chance both bulbs failed same time fuse ok I stay in a rural area so a lot of unlit roads had to drive 20 miles home on sidelights and front fog lamps ( main beam where I could ) anyway enough backfill on with what I found.
I downloaded the wiring diagram from here and started looking with multimeter.
Tested the bulbs on a battery both dip ok no power at dip live terminal at bulb multiplug.
Checked all related fuses all ok all with power.
So then I thought must be switch ( as they are not unknown to fail) but switch checked out fine had it's lives and earth in and had power going out on sidelights and headlights in the on position .
So went to the fuse box to check the dip and main beam relay discovered there was no power going into the dip relay.
So got out the power probe if power applied dip worked.
So now I was finally getting somewhere as now knew that I had lost the power between the switch and the fuse box relay.
So out came all the lower dash panels both sides till I tried to trace the fault the live feed from the switch runs to the body check control module on the passenger side behind the glove box this is where I power was lost .
I decided at this point I was going to bypass the module so cut the cable and ran a new bit to the relay everything went back to normal and has remained so ever since.
I don't know if any of this will be of any use to you but if you are struggling to find an obvious reason this may be of some use .
Stephen.
 
I will check that out....seems very much like my failure too. Thanks
 
Stevo7682 said:
I had this exact same thing happen about 4 yrs ago .
I had been round at a mates in the evening ( autumn so had lights on on way over ) went to go home no dipbeam checked the obvious fuse a slim chance both bulbs failed same time fuse ok I stay in a rural area so a lot of unlit roads had to drive 20 miles home on sidelights and front fog lamps ( main beam where I could ) anyway enough backfill on with what I found.
I downloaded the wiring diagram from here and started looking with multimeter.
Tested the bulbs on a battery both dip ok no power at dip live terminal at bulb multiplug.
Checked all related fuses all ok all with power.
So then I thought must be switch ( as they are not unknown to fail) but switch checked out fine had it's lives and earth in and had power going out on sidelights and headlights in the on position .
So went to the fuse box to check the dip and main beam relay discovered there was no power going into the dip relay.
So got out the power probe if power applied dip worked.
So now I was finally getting somewhere as now knew that I had lost the power between the switch and the fuse box relay.
So out came all the lower dash panels both sides till I tried to trace the fault the live feed from the switch runs to the body check control module on the passenger side behind the glove box this is where I power was lost .
I decided at this point I was going to bypass the module so cut the cable and ran a new bit to the relay everything went back to normal and has remained so ever since.
I don't know if any of this will be of any use to you but if you are struggling to find an obvious reason this may be of some use .
Stephen.
Click to expand...
You seem to have traced the wiring very throughly. Where did you put in the splice?
thanks
 
@VtBob can't remember exactly where I cut into it will try to get a look before weekend if I got time if not will have a look at weekend for you.

Although if memory serves I ended up running a new wire straight from fuse box to headlamps switch to rule out power going to somewhere I don't want it to.
Stephen.
 
Thanks ...that is a help in itself. I have not gotten/looked at a wiring diagram at this point.
 
I will attach the wiring diagram link once I get home later what age is your zed as more than 1 diagram.
Stephen.
 
Stevo7682 said:
I will attach the wiring diagram link once I get home later what age is your zed as more than 1 diagram.
Stephen.
Click to expand...
Sorry for the delay, Ive been traveling 2001 Z3 3.0

Thanks for the help
 
I have a 2002 M roadster with the same problem. Lost low beam in both sides.
Looking online, the relay #6 is supposed to be low beam, but I have no relay in slot 6… The fuse/s are fine. Can someone confirm if my car actually has a relay somewhere else?
 
Possible main light switch is faulty.

Tony.
 
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