jonmandude

iTrader: (1)

Here is my problem. My E36's have worked perfectly for 2 years now, never a problem. Yesterday my passenger side low beam (9006) stopped working.

Here's what I have done/checked

Bulb is good - checked with ohmeter, no resistance. swapped to other side, works there. Tried different bulb, no change.

Fuse is good - replaced both 15 amp fuses under hood, both were good, replaced anyway.

Connector is good - replaced to make sure

Getting voltage to connector - 12 volts

There are no breaks or kinks in wires.

High beam works

See my problem? It has voltage and all components are in good shape. It worked until yesterday. Somewhere between connector and bulb the juice is getting lost, yet connector and connection are good, so is the bulb.

Any ideas?

BenStoked

iTrader: (7)

wait, voltage is getting to the connector, but not the bulb? or am i misreading something...if what i am reading is true, you need to call the x-files, or something, because something is wrong, and physics do not apply to your car...

if I read wrong, you did not say anything about the relays. may wanna test them.

internetautomar

iTrader: (30)

my thought is relays as well.
if not, check the switch and check the connectors for ground as well not just power.

jonmandude

iTrader: (1)

Thanks guys. I agree that it makes no sense. Voltage should mean light. A ground problem makes sense. So does a switch.

What relay(s)? How can high beam work and low beam not..on only one side.

I have to work 36 of the next 72 hours, so I don't have time until wednesday. I will check ground then.

Any other ideas I could check?

BenStoked

iTrader: (7)

relays are under the coolant resivior bottle.
when you get the chance, pull the steering column apart, and check for continuity on the switch

CapedCadaver

iTrader: (8)

coolant resevoir bottle is in different place for ABS and nonABS, so are you talking about if the bottle is on the driver side or pass side?

BenStoked

iTrader: (7)

drivers side, my bad. in front of the battery.

Drockb418

iTrader: (10)

try bimmerfourms .......

CapedCadaver

iTrader: (8)

bump

fixed yet?

jonmandude

iTrader: (1)

No. I checked relays and the only relay I can find is the "bulb check" relay (what the hell is that?) and no other relays that have anything to do with headlights. Am I missing something?
Schematic shows anti-theft relay is connected into headlights but no problems there. I checked Nico forums and a couple guys had similar problems and it was the switch...new one ordered. Will report back when installed.

CapedCadaver

iTrader: (8)

iirc bulb check is the CEL (CHECK engine BULB) or something weird like that.

Jeff583

Did u check your combination switch at the column, these are kinda prone to failure on some years.

jonmandude

iTrader: (1)

That is the switch I ordered from the dealer, it should be here on Tuesday. I don't think "prone to failure" really applies on a 18 year old car.

Thank you for the input guys. I will let you all know if the switch solves it.

Jeff583

Thats why I added "kinda" prone to failure, that said I have personally owned three maximas that had this problem

jonmandude

iTrader: (1)

Thanks Ben. Brian, Caped and Jeff for the help. It was the headlight/combination switch. New one in, lights work fine. truly a bizarre problem. On most cars when the switch goes bad low beams or high beams don't work and there is no voltage. But one low beam not working is strange. Why do I love this car so much when it can be so frustrating?

CapedCadaver

iTrader: (8)

i think it's b/c the lights are on separate circuits from each other... like there's 4 contacts in there, 2lo, 2hi.

internetautomar

iTrader: (30)

Bingo.
that is why some people have taken their switches apart and cleaned the contacts to get the switch working again.