wondering if anyone has any ideas...

 

my low beams in my 87 RX turbo are currently always on. happened a little while ago when i went over a big bump.

 

and no, my car doesnt even have the "virgin switch" so it's not that.

 

here's the facts so far:

 

i have hid bulbs (H4 lows only) run via relay, but they've worked fine for ages.

disconnected the headlight switch completely - lights still on.

pulled the fuse, lights off.

pulled the relay, lights off

- but on that one, the relay are definately working fine - you can here them clicking on and off when i connect them and disconnect them

- when the relays have been on for a while, they are hot, but i'm sure that's normal

 

so i'm sure i've got a stray short somewhere along the way.

 

has anyone had this happen before? where did you find the solution??? or is there something i'm overlooking?

The actual headlight switch gone bad?

DRL mod?

The light switch normally turns on the headlight relays to supply power to the lights by making a ground connection to the relay coil and also provides a ground return for the lights. If your modified wiring is the same way then it looks like you have a wiring going to the light switch that is contacting ground somehow before it gets to the light switch (since you say the lights stay on even with the switch removed). Look for a wire with damaged insulation.

Edited March 8, 201016 yr by Cougar

the lights are still on with the headlight switch completely removed

 

drl - never in australia! lol. that and the lights are always on, even with the ignition off.

 

i'm guessing it is something short related. i hate chasing shorts.

Since the lights stay on even while the ignition system is OFF then it sounds to me that the light circuit has been modified from the original design. Normally the power to the lights is cut off with the igintion so even if the ground side of the lights did short to ground before the light switch there would be no power getting to them.

was a short. one of the wires for the relay was crimped under the ecu causing a ground-short. all good now. thanks

Thanks for the feedback.

as always, I recommend a cheap fire extenguisher to carry, especially if you alter ANY of the factory wiring, including aftermarket lights, radios, etc.