headlights going crazy
 

so today around sundown, i was driving with my lights switched to on, but when i got behind another car i saw my cars reflection on the back and noticed only my corner lights were on (and halos - they're wired to the parking lights). My brights would work though. So when i get to my friends house i check the fuses and such, and everything checks out. So i go to turn back on my lights and they work just like normal. Then when i go to turn them off, they stayed on, while the parking lights turned off like they're supposed to. I turned my light switch back on and then off, and the lights turned off like normal. So i experiment with this for a few minutes, and it turned out that whenever i turned my light switch off too fast, my lights stayed on.

I have anzo projectors, and they have special wiring. There are two red wires coming from the battery, with a 15 amp fuse for each one, and then they plug into 1 of the original headlight wires (i assume this is so the switch can control the headlights) and then into each headlight.

My headlights did this for the first 5 minutes they were in my car, which was about 2 months ago, and since then they have worked normally.

Does anyone have any ideas as to why they would stay on after being turned off, or why they didn't work when i was using them tonight.

RE: headlights going crazy
 

headlights seem to be working normal again...
wtf

RE: headlights going crazy
 

I think your Combination Switch is sporadically faulty. If the problem continues or worsens, troubleshoot the headlight component of the switch as described in the pictures.

http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/2...ure0089iy7.jpg

http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/4...ure0090ek7.jpg

RE: headlights going crazy
 

thanks, that might be the problem

RE: headlights going crazy
 

how do i check for continuity between the terminals

RE: headlights going crazy
 

You can do it with an inexpensive continuity tester or multimeter.

With a continuity tester, the test light will turn ON when there is continuity.

With a multimeter, continuity is demonstrated by the absence of resistance (very low or no Ohms).

Either can be purchased from a hardware or auto parts store.

RE: headlights going crazy
 

alright
thanks
i will try this if the problem comes up again

RE: headlights going crazy
 

this morning i got up to drive to school and turned my headlights on... and the headlights didn't turn on. high beams would work, as well as parking lights/halos. I forgot to mention there are 2 relays in the wiring (either 1. one for each headlight, or 2. one for the low beam and one for the high beams - i'm not sure which). I'm wondering if it could be something wrong with the relay? or still probably the switch?

RE: headlights going crazy
 

If it is simple to unplug all the HID stuff and hook up halogen bulbs to the stock wiring for testing, that would help confirm if it is the light switch or something with the conversion.

RE: headlights going crazy
 

also, if it's sporadically faulty, will there always be no continuity if the switch is the problem? For example, could i check it and it turn out there is continuity, even though the switch could still be possiblyfaulty - since it only happens sometimes?

RE: headlights going crazy
 

i am pretty sure it's not HID... but yea thatsa good idea... i'll give that a try also

RE: headlights going crazy
 

You are correct. If the fault is sporadic, then its detection with the continuity tester likewise may be sporadic. You might be able to overcome this dilemma by performing the continuity test multiple times after alternately turning the headlight switch to the ON and OFF positions.

Alternatively, if you were to rule out other components on the circuit (e.g., relays), then you might just consider replacing your current combination switch with a new one or a used one from a salvage yard to see whether the problem goes away.

RE: headlights going crazy
 

Alright,I fixed the problem.
All dayI was stumped about this and decided to recheck all of the basic wiring for problems. Turns out, my two relays had gotten moisture in them from being so close to the hole in the engine bay where my stock intake once went through. The moisture had caused somecorrosion on the relay's terminals. So, I got out this pointy screwdriver-like tool and scraped the corrosion off, and used an old toothbrush to help clean it out also. Then i put both relays back on, tested my low beams, and was satisfied. Later tonight,I was driving and decided to turn my brights on. Same problem - but now with the high beams. I figured that i must have put the relay that was previously on the high beam wires onto the low beam wires. I then got home, popped open the hood, checked both relays and found the one now on the high beams. I took this one out, opened the relay's casing, and the whole inside had corrosion on it. I gave it a good clean, plugged it back in, and it worked. I then covered both of the relays pretty good in some electrical tape - hoping to seal them from possible future moisture. Thanks for all of the replies and suggestions, and even though it wasn't the switch I still learned a bit about how to tell if the switch might ever be a problem in the future.

Just one question... Do you guys think the electrical tape is enough to keep moisture out of the relays? Should i also use something else, or something else instead of the electrical tape?

RE: headlights going crazy
 

Good job figuring out the problem! I don't think electrical tape is the longterm solution. The relays need a permanently dry location, perhaps some type of sealed plastic enclosure. Call around to your local auto parts stores and ask about what they may have.

I am concerned about your relays in the long run. The water damage may cause problems in the future even if the relays remain dry. You might want to consider buying new ones.

RE: headlights going crazy
 

Alright, thanks for the advice. I'm going to look into getting a plastic box that these relays will fit in, mount it on the side of the engine bay where they are now, and sealing the box and areas where the wires go into the box with some silicone. I'll check advance auto parts sometime this or next week for an enclosure of some sort.

RE: headlights going crazy
 

I had this problem again after cleaning out the relays. It took me 3 auto parts stores and a radioshack to find the relays... i finally found them at pep boys. I'm in tampa right now and there isn't a pep boys near my house, so i stocked up. lol. I bought 5 relays, weatherproof tape, electric tape, and silicone. Also i bought some silverstar bulbs. So i plugged in the relays, and then put silicone over all of the openings where moisture could possibly get in. Then i wrapped it all in weatherproof tape. To finish it off, I wrapped all of it in some sticky electrical tape to hold it all on there better. Hopefully this will solve my problem... and if it doesn't, I still have 3 extra relays just in case, so that i can fix it better the next time, if there is a next time.