Both HI and Low beams on my passenger side went out in my e36's
 

I went to arizona and left my car at my girlfriends house for a week or so and when I started it up and turned the lights on, the passenger side light came on normally for just a split second and then went out. I tried the HI beam and it wouldn't go on either.

Shawn (MrGone) has to help me rewire them for some other issues but that didn't ever effect them and then not coming on. *Shawn, if you're reading this, you better call me :nono: :thumbsup: *

I am thinking a possible blown fuse or something with the relays, but I really don't know. Help me out guys, I've been pulled over too many times for only one headlight :Police: :rotz:

first step is to check the fuses.. they're on the side of the engine bay near the battery. one fuse for each headlight.

Alright, I'll do it tomorrow during the day.....

Any other ideas in case it's not?

Ok, I did it. No change. What's the next step? I was thinking about trying to rewire (maybe something got wet or something) I don't even know, but help me out here :rotz:

Check the wiring. And the bulbs, you never know.

Isn't there also a relay on each side of the engine bay?

I have no idea or where it is, but I know they're around somewhere....

That means I possible need to replace them or get aftermarket ones or what?

Possible to get an aftermarket replacement.
I'm just not near my FSM right now to check sorry.

Alright, I'm gonna go check my Chiltons in a sec.....Is it considered a headlight relay then?

I'm checkin out the Chiltons and I have already tried the fuses in the fuse box along the side of the battery, but it says there is a relay box somewhere around the drivers side headlight...... I can't find anything about there being one on both sides or am I just missing something...

the relay box is under the washer reservoir if i'm not mistaken. check craig b's site on rewiring fogs, he shows you where it is.

You think it could be a blown relay then if it wasn't a blown fuse?

How much are they?

it certainly won't hurt to test the relays if you have a tester (or autozone may be able to test it for you). if they are sending out power, then of course that will eliminate anything from the relay and back being a possibility.

i am not too sure about cost, though.

easiest way to test a relay is just swap it with another relay for something you can see is working - horn, corner lights, etc

i would assume it's faulty wiring( not pointing fingers, i too have wired something that came loose or corroded w/o knowing) pull back the electrical tape on that side. if you have a test light( a dollar item from almost anywhere) turn the lights on and probe the wiring berfore the new harness. if you have juice there then just rewire it all( probably a bad ground, but it doesnt hurt to redo it all). if they are butt-connected they are probably corroded or pulled appart. try to solder them in.
i dont think it should be a relay because the right and left work together on the relay( i would assume) so if one works, they should both work. my 93 bad a bad ground wire right at the plug from the accident and i figured it out after n34jz pointed out the fact that the high beam light (inside)turns on when there's a bulb( or wiring) out.

So, I guess i'm going to rewire them today. Shawn wired them so I have to figure it out. What's the bulb test thing......just buy some bulb and touch it to each wire and see if it lights up to see if there is power running to it.

How do I change the ground?

xxxxbumpxxxx

go to pep boys or autozone and ask them for a test light. its at most 5 bucks from them. all you have to do if you rewire them, is disconnect them one at a time and reconnect them. dont pull them all out at once. if you dont know much about basic electrical circuits then dont get too involved in it, just make sure the wiring is conected right. the e-36 harnesses each have 2 wires( one power one ground)and end up sharing a common ground with the maxima plug which has 3. one wire is low beams, one wire is high beams and the last is ground.

I have this same problem and have not figured out what it is

1. bulb 2. rotten Ground wire 3. Suply to switch, switch, wiring...

see http://www.cardomain.com/ride/748507/11

http://memimage.cardomain.com/member...748507_466.jpg

(e36 is one bulb high, another one for low. just like the Infiniti J30.)

Oops. Miss ed that e36 :(

Trblshooting is the 'same'

wow......can you talk about an old thread....4 years ago. My suggestion to this fix.....just get a 5th gen :)

Problem is fresh every morning?

No way! Why would smbdy throw out the independent rear suspension and start hoppin a stiff axle yippee-wagon? But maybe 6gen, I am ready, buy me one.

actually I'm going M35 at the end of the year, but all this talk reminds me of my 3rd gen :bawling:

http://memimage.cardomain.com/member...1_121_full.jpg