wildblue 7 #1 January 24, 2003 got a car question for you gear heads.... 95 pontiac grand am - headlights don't come on. It's not the lamps (replaced one just to see) Headlight control is on the turn signal (which is also dimmer and cruise) Parking lights come on, fog lamps come on, brights will come on when dimmer switch is held back, but don't stay on. Replace dimmer switch? or is it possible I've got some bad wiring somewhere else?it's like incest - you're substituting convenience for quality Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skydiverbrian 0 #2 January 24, 2003 sounds like a bad fuse In a world full of people, only some want to fly... isn't that crazy! --Seal Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sebazz1 2 #3 January 24, 2003 Set it on fire and throw it out of a skyvan from 15,000 feet. That should fix it... Oh don't forget to follow it out... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wildblue 7 #4 January 24, 2003 Quotesounds like a bad fuse You don't think the high beams are on the same fuse? QuoteSet it on fire and throw it out of a skyvan from 15,000 feet. That should fix it... Oh don't forget to follow it out... Don't tempt me.... Anyone want to finance that?it's like incest - you're substituting convenience for quality Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PLFKING 4 #5 January 24, 2003 Was it built in Ohio ? I'll bet it's the dimmer switch. Had the same thing happen on my 88 TA, and that's what it was. Don Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skydiverbrian 0 #6 January 24, 2003 QuoteYou don't think the high beams are on the same fuse? my experience has been that they're separate fuses. since you can get the high-beams on but can't get the lows on, i'd guess that's it. In a world full of people, only some want to fly... isn't that crazy! --Seal Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wildblue 7 #7 January 25, 2003 Quote Was it built in Ohio ? I'll bet it's the dimmer switch. Had the same thing happen on my 88 TA, and that's what it was. I think half of it was built in Texas, the other half in Michigan. it's like incest - you're substituting convenience for quality Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CrazyIvan 0 #8 January 25, 2003 I think the cause of your troubles can be explained in 4 simple words: 1- 95 2- Pontiac 3- Grand 4- Am __________________________________________ Blue Skies and May the Force be with you. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freefallfreak 0 #9 January 25, 2003 Wildblue, I can't tell unless I actually looked at it but Pontiac is famous for their wiring problems and the switch you described is the first place it seems to start. Unfortunately, you have to pull the steering wheel to replace the wiring/dimmer switch. It's a simple operation but space is tight, so if I were you and didn't have experience replacing the wiring harness, take it to a professional. It's harder than it sounds. FFF A hard on doesn't count as Personal Growth "Upon seeing the shadow of a pigeon, one must resist the urge to look up." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
johnny1488 1 #10 January 25, 2003 Depends on how indepth you want to get. Go to the library and get a wiring diagram for your car. Check ALL the fuses (underdash and underhood, cant tell you how many times i've been burned.) See which wires bring power to the switch and wich one sends it to the headlights. If its coming in and not out its the switch. Sounds like a switch to me but you should have it checked. Doesnt take much to diagnose. Johnny --"This ain't no book club, we're all gonna die!" Mike Rome Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airtwardo 7 #11 January 25, 2003 Quote I think the cause of your troubles can be explained in 4 simple words: 1- 95 2- Pontiac 3- Grand 4- Am Ouch!!!Man that's just wrong.... ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
phatcat 0 #12 January 25, 2003 Quotebrights will come on when dimmer switch is held back So pull the switch back and duct tape it to the steering column. Problem solved. P.S. I used to have a car that the headlights, for no apparent reason, would just turn off momentarily. Wild fun while speeding on curvy country roads! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CrazyIvan 0 #13 January 25, 2003 Quote P.S. I used to have a car that the headlights, for no apparent reason, would just turn off momentarily. Wild fun while speeding on curvy country roads! It would be even funnier if the BRAKES did that instead of the lights. __________________________________________ Blue Skies and May the Force be with you. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PLFKING 4 #14 January 25, 2003 Quote I think half of it was built in Texas, the other half in Michigan. You are correct, sir....the ass end was built in Texas. Don Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wildblue 7 #15 January 25, 2003 well I'll be damned.... WD-40 can fix anything! Car people read on... and forgive my blatent ignorance of terminology So, I took the whole steering colum cover off, and took the little module that holds the turn signal lever off the column (taking shit apart is something I'm good at - you should have seen the shit-fit my dad threw when he came home one time to his briggs & stratton engine - that powered the tiller - in pieces across the garage floor. "Hey! I need parts for my go-kart" didn't fly too well) I popped all the wires off it, trying to remember where they go when I put it back together (something I'm admittedly not good at) and took that apart. As it turns out, the headlight knob just slides this thing in there back and forth across some contacts. This slide is in a "U" shape - the points of the "U" have little spring-loaded metal parts in them One of the sping loaded pieces was stuck down, so I popped it back up with a screw driver, soaked it down real good in WD-40, wiped it down and put it all back together... well.. after a few battles with this stupid spring in there that I don't think serves any purpose. So, got it all back together and it works! I only lost one relatively unimportant screw (in the dash somewhere... I'll find it later) and now my horn doesn't work - but I think I know what that is, and I'll fix it later. Anybody else need something on their car fixed?! If WD-40 or duct tape doesn't fix it, I can hit it with a hammer. it's like incest - you're substituting convenience for quality Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freeflyz 0 #16 January 25, 2003 did you check the relay?? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
phatcat 0 #17 January 25, 2003 Can you believe some people have to go to school for years to figure out that shit??? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
akaGQ 0 #18 January 25, 2003 Ladies and Gentleman Tim the Toooooooolman Taylor Al: Ok Tim so what are we gonna do today? Tim: Well Al we have a 95 Pontiac Grand Am, and the Headlights dont come on. Al: Well Tim most people tend to replace the bulbs when this happens. Tim: Anyway...as I was saying I've replaced one of the bulbs and the brights come on but the Lowbeams dont work. Al: So we have ourselves a Haynes Manual in order to troubleshoot some of the possible problems. Tim: Well Al, a real man doesnt need one of those things. Instead we have the Binford Tools 9000. (Grunt Grunt) Al: Um Tim I highly doubt the headlights have anything to do with the steering column. Tim: I know what Im doing. It's this wire right here. Al: Thats great Tim. Now the horn doesn't work.- GQ ... it was the love of the air and sky and flying, the lure of adventure, the appreciation of beauty ... -Charles Lindberg Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wildblue 7 #19 January 25, 2003 I looked for a Haynes manual, the auto parts store didn't have one I needed. So, I took the computer tech approach to it. Haven't you ever heard the joke "How many hardware techs does it take to change a flat? 5 --- 4 to hold the car up, and one to swap the tires in and out till you find the one that's flat. And Al would be wrong At least the lights work now. Now I can really use that sticker that says "Horn broke, watch for finger" it's like incest - you're substituting convenience for quality Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wmw999 2,586 #20 January 25, 2003 I can believe this. The horn on my chevy didn't work; it made a slight clicky buzzing sound. The clicky buzzy sound emanated from the general direction of a little box under the hood (technical term alert here). So I checked my shop manual, and it looked like a part from the air conditioner. Hmm. I must be wrong. So I take it off, and go to the parts store. They assure me it's from the air conditioner. But hey, it's only 3.50 or so, so I buy it and replace it anyway. Seems my chevy's horn was hooked up through the A/C. wildblue, I've got your back... Wendy W.There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
akaGQ 0 #21 January 25, 2003 Well there you go...Wendy seems to me that you and wild Blue both have an error in common. Its those damn GM manufactured vehicles. Now if you had bought MOPAR then youd only have to worry about replacing the transmission every 200 miles. - GQ ... it was the love of the air and sky and flying, the lure of adventure, the appreciation of beauty ... -Charles Lindberg Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riggerrob 643 #22 January 25, 2003 Geez, Sounds like your Pontiac was designed by the same guys who design Sikorsky helicopters and Browning machine guns. The fix is always the same: take it apart, clean it, lubricate it and put it back together. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
miked10270 0 #23 January 25, 2003 Quote Anybody else need something on their car fixed?! If WD-40 or duct tape doesn't fix it, I can hit it with a hammer. And like the saying goes: "Looks complex...Nedd a bigger hammer". Taking the piss out of the FrenchAmericans since before it was fashionable. Prenait la pisse hors du FrançaisCanadiens méridionaux puisqu'avant lui à la mode. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
johnny1488 1 #24 January 26, 2003 The spring goes underneath you horn button. Should be a small hole that it slides into to keep the contacts apart. Im glad you got it fixed but you should see some of the abortions that come through my shop from d-i-y jobs. Glad you werent a victim. Johnny --"This ain't no book club, we're all gonna die!" Mike Rome Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
