Driver Headlamp out, but will activate when High Beams are on

[Felix_29]

Hello all, I noticed tonight that my driver side Headlamp is not working. However when I switch on my headlamps all four lights are working fine. So I know its not a burned out bulb. What can I do to fix this? Any help is appreciated.

Felix

[Elvis]

It IS a burned out bulb !

[Michael]

:hihi2:


You are aware that you have 2 lamps on each side right? 1 low/high beam and one high only beam.

[Bitsyncmaster]

The low beam runs one of two filaments normaly. But when you "flash" the beams, it burns both filaments. That's why you think the bulbs don't have a burned out filament.

[David T]

On low-high beam headlights (the two outer bulbs) there are TWO filaments in the bulb. Think of it as 2 light bulbs inside 1 glass envelope. The filaments are offset so the high beam filament is reflected at a higher angle to give more light further away. The low and high filaments do NOT light up at the same time, only one or the other. The two inner bulbs are high beams only and only light up when you switch to high. The high/low bulbs have 3 connections, common, low and high. It is very possible for one filament to burn out and the other to still work. The high beam only has 2 connections for the 1 filament. Once in a while I see a car with both low beams burnt out. It would seem the low beam circuit is bad when it is just the bulbs, everything lights up on high beam! Before replacing the bulb confirm the bulb is bad. Put power directly on the terminals. Sometimes the terminals just get dirty/corroded or a ground connection is not good. Easiest way to test is to just switch the 2 high/low beams side-to-side.
David Teitelbaum

[DeLorean03]

It IS a burned out bulb !

+1

Same thing happened to me as OP. Burned out headlight.

[Victor]

Same thing with me two days ago! I just bought two other Sylvania ''improved visibility'' at Canadian Tire for around 20$.
When changing them, take some time to removed the light beam brakets as well and spray some Rust check lubricant on them. You may also solidify the front rubber grill, by straitening the ''two pins holes'' on the facia, so the grille pins will catches more thouroughly to the fascia.
I know some are able to put some screw in there to attache the grille permanently.
Just a suggestion...

[Felix_29]

I actually am not sure what you're talking about:). I don't know how to change the light bulb. Do you have any step by step instructions or are there any instructions available on the web?

[dmc6960]

I don't know how to change the light bulb.

You unscrew the retaining bracket (thats the metal piece all the way around the headlight) and pull out the bulb. Then unplug the electrical harness. Take the new bulb, plug in the electrical harness, and screw it back in with the retaining bracket screws.

You may need to flex parts of the fascia to get to the screws.