No headlights on 95 grand am

[ecko614]

thus isnt really pushrod engine related.....but i didnt really know where to post and hopfully have my thread read and fingers crossed-possibly answered. Here it goes......got a 95 GA GT w/3100 in it. problem is.....i have no headlights. Abolutly none. I can turn on my high beams......but they wont stay on. They jus come on when i pull the combo switch towards me, i hear it click and erything.....but as soon as i let it go-they go off. I was thinking that maybe the low beams were in need of replacmnt ( installed some funky brand blue tipped hyper bulbs about 2 years ago) but what are the odds of both bulbs goin out at the same time??? and whats with the high beams not staying on??? is this a wiring issue?? headlight/combo switch?? or somthn totally diff as in the ECU??? please guys.....i need immediate feedback on this. You guys have never let me down and thats why im here again beggin for some help......gota work 3rd shift tonight so ima need my lights haha. thanx for your time guys. Hopfully someone can help me with this or at least help shed some light-hahaha-on my problem

[robertisaar]

fuses? and they just went out without any warning?

and i don't think the blue bulb would be an issue.

i have silverstar somethings in mine, blue on the bulb, but comes out bright as shit. i also use the silverstar ultras meant for high beams as my low beams. you have to remove the 2 "stumps" of plastic that stick out that prevent you from putting the wrong lights in their intended places, but you might try that to see if it was the bulbs...

[ecko614]

checked all fuses on the side of the dash....all were fine. And yea.....they were working jus fine the other night....then BOOM-last night there was no life to them what so ever. same shyt today. I thought about jus using my high beams.....but they wont stay on. The arm clicks as it should when i pull on it, the brites come on, the blue hi-beam indicator on the dash lights up, evrything works fine until i let it go....then they go off. somthns not right.....

[Firehawk94]

Sounds like your headlight switch, they are known to go out from time to time. IMO i think this may be your problem. Time to pull out the good old volt/ohm meter!!

[SappySE107]

moved and made a more appropriate title so people know what you want.

[ecko614]

thanx alot man....i appriciate that

[robertisaar]

step 1, figure out what is the issue: since you know your highs work, pull one out and remove the two channels of plastic that prevent it from going into a low beam socket. or buy new low-beams, your choice.

OR a less destructive option, pull the low beams out, turn the lights on from the switch in the interior, then see if you are getting voltage by using a voltmeter.

[Firehawk94]

Wait, let me get a little more details here lol When you turn your headlights on does your taillights and sidemarkers come on? You also stated that your highs come on...now, I dont know much about these particular cars but I have owned cars where the highs were able to come on(without the headlights on) by holding the lever back, but of course they will not stay on because the headlights arent on. If you turn on your headlights and your side marker lights and taillights all light up then it may not be your switch, instead it could be your headlight relay. If your sidemarkers and taillights do not come on then it is most likely a fuse or your headlight switch, but you already ruled out the fuses. Let me know what you find!!

[ecko614]

yes, the sidemarkers and brake lights do work while all this is goin on. Evrything works fine (as in turn signals, and brake lights) it jus seems like the headlights arent getting a signal or somthn. Turn the switch one clike and all the parking lights and shyt works fine. Turn the switch again-which would kick the headlights on....there is nothing. Parking lights are all still on at this point also. I can pull the lever and make the brites kick on....but as you stated-they wont stay on due to no low beams bein on.

[Firehawk94]

Ok, this leaves only one thing. Your headlight relay. My 94 Firebird has one and Im sure your GA has one too. It should be located under your hood somewhere usually in the underhood fuse box along with the rest of your relays. You may be able to use another relay that looks the same just to test to see if it is the problem an A/C relay will prolly work given it is the same type of relay (look at the diagram on the side of the relays if they have one...most of them do) I wouldnt pull your abs relay though so steer clear of that one. I hope you feel safe doing this test Im just trying to steer you in the right direction and not spend money on a new relay when you dont necessarily need one. If its not the relay then its definetly your headlight switch.

[bszopi]

It could still be the headlight switch. Since the parking lights are on the first position and the headlights are on the second position, it could just be the second position that is bad.

[ecko614]

okay well....ima check the relay first and if that doesnt prevail some good news....then its off to find a new switch. if im at the front of my car( as if i jus opened and propped my hood) which relay would it be on the back passengerside of the firewall??? and....if it is the switch-do i have to remove the steering wheel to get to it/swap it out?? thanx a ton guys. yall are the shyt...........for real

[robertisaar]

we ARE the shyt...and we knowz itzzz.

on to the actual issue: you shouldn't have to remove the wheel, i'm not sure how the GA interior differs from the monte or where the switch is or even looks like, but on the monte, i just pull on the dash, the little clips pop, and i can work it around the wheel(most of the time), i imagine it shouldn't be too different, even though a monte is a W and a GA is a N...

[Azrael]

The headlights have a circuit breaker amongst the fuses. If it's tripped it'll have popped out and you just push it back in to reset it. If the breaker pops again then there's likely a short in the wiring somewhere. What's the wattage of these new bulbs? Tinted bulbs sometimes have higher than stock wattage to overcome the light lost to the tint. Unfortunately I don't have the 2nd service manual which covers electrical diagnoses.

The combo-switch is a known frequent problem-maker but is usually just the turn signals. If you do want to change it out, make sure you have a steering wheel puller handy.

[ecko614]

is the circuit breaker on the dashboard(driver side fuse box???) if so, which one is it?? also....not sure on the wattage for those bulbs. they were some some cheap ace bulbs that i paid 30 buks for the pair. My high beams are silverstars and they are still fine.....but im not sure of the brand or any other info on the low beam replacments.