k im having a really strange problem with my headlights lately. i bought and put in silverstars not too long ago, and after a couple weeks of excellent lighting, the passenger side headlight when out, however only when i use the low beam. turn on my highs, and the problem reverses, passenger works, drivers side doesnt. im tracing the wiring back and not seeing anything to cause this, so has anyone had a problem similar to this ever, and if so how did you fix?

 

sweeet!
sounds like the connections in the stalk on the steering column are getting dirty.

 

rock on, ill have to check it out. anyway special to clean the connections, should i use a dry rag or maybe give it a blast of air with my compresser?

 

a friend of mine recently had a problem like this (right side low beam wouldn't work - changed bulbs, checked harnesses, etc) and it was a problem with the headlight stalk. He replaced it and it is fine now.

 

you *might* be able to disassemble it and clean the connections with a pencil eraser, but IIRC you have to just replace the stalk. no way to get the thing apart eithout ruining it from what I remember.

 

Did you put in higher wattage bulbs, like those from eBay that are supposed to "look" like HID's. I put these in my car and I had the same problem like you described. It ended being the bulbs that melted the harness/connector. I had to replace them and then it worked fine.

 

silverstars aren't high wattage, IIRC.

 

that's what happened to my driver side light.. then i replaced the harness and wires with thicker gauge wires and now the driver side seems brighter than the passenger side.. i'll have to find the time to do the passenger side later.

 

My bet is on the headlight switch.

 

matt's right, the silverstars uses stock wattage. they shouldn't pose a problem.

 

No the Silverstars are the proper wattage and thats why they cost more. I was talking about the cheap $10 for a pair that you get on eBay from Taiwan, which burn at 80w for low beam and 100w for high beam. It took about 6 months to melt the wires the first time and 2 months the second time. So now I switched to the Silverstars.

 

if ya upgraded the wiring harness you wouldn't have that issue

 

Ok go get some holly water, and sprinkle it on the car. Then yell out be gone demon!

sounds like the stock.

 

mines just keep buring up the harness..on the pass. side only, i replaced the harness and the pro. is still their

 

OK, let's try something different...

Does your car have (or is it supposed to have) daytime running lights? I had similar problems, (and the DRL wasn't working). Finally traced it to the DRL unit under the dash under the steering column. One relay had badly burned contacts, and the other was sticky. In the end, I just purchased another DRL unit.

And the demons were gone...

M

 

Hey people. I need to replace my headlight stalk but am having a hard time finding it on the internet (ie from parts sites). Am I asking the wrong questions of google? Are there alternate names for it??? My headlights and indicator is giving me the irits but... until I find the part - I cannot fix it :S

Cheers Chaps

(PS I'm in Australia)

 

what do you mean by headlight stalk, is is the signal level that you use to turn on the headlight and also to turn on turn signals?

 

yes...yes it is.

I had this problem on my old 92. Replaced the stalk (from one of my parts cars) and the problem went away.

This is an old thread btw.


oh and glog this is probably a dealer item only...not sure but think it is.

 

Autozone has it for about $86.....

 

lucky aussie doesn't have autozones

 

EDIT
I,m stupid..

 

Thanks for the replys. Yeah, I know the thread's an old one, but it addresses my problem. I am going to call a wrecker and cross my fingers that any headlight / turnsignal stalk they have in house doesn't have the exact same problem (Dash lights not turning on, indicator click-clicking incessantly). One of the worries of the beloved maxima is that if you have found a fault - its likely that everyone else has found the exact same one.

PS. I made comment that I am in Australia to address the fact that my headlight stalk is on the opposite side of the steering column to you USA chaps, not to mention the fact that, yes, we have no Autozones.

 

My problem is about as weird. My passenger side low beam doesn't work. I replaced the bulb, still didn't work. I checked the the bulb outlet connecter with a 12v check light. When the brights are on the bright side is hot, when the dims are on the dim side is hot. But when I plug it in to the bulb the dim doesn't work. The driver side checks out the same way but both high and low beam work, so how can the passenger side dim not work when the wire and terminal are hot? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!
Oh I forgot to mention I replaced the passenger side bulb outlet and it still does the same thing!

 

This thread has some good info...

http://forums.maxima.org/showthread....light+problems

 

Thanks MyGreenMax94 that was a good thread. Well after messing with the thing all day long without success. I just went out there and shot a little sillicone and then some WD40 in the switch and then around the base of the stalk and my passenger side low beam is now working. I would have used elec. contact cleaner but I didn't have any. Well at least now I know where the problem is. The thing I don't understand though is why it wasn't working when I know for a fact the faulty low beam side was hot. Thanks again!

 

Just thought I would pass this on. I talked to an expert who said even though your showing hot (12v) at the terminal it doesn't mean your pulling enough amps to light the bulb. Hence dirty switch contacts! He said the problem can drive you crazy. Hope this helps somebody!