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High beams don't work

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Old 11-22-2006 | 06:20 AM
  #1  
MonsterMaxx's Avatar
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From: Greenville, SC
High beams don't work

Yes, I searched, yes I read the other post on the topic.
I think his is older than mine as the switch parts don't look the same at all.

Symptoms:
low beams work
high beam work when using the flash mode
high beam doesn't work when in normal high mode.

Fuse is good.
Solenoid is clicking (though I've not replaced it.)
The switch looks good, no buildup on the contact buttons or anything.


From the look of the design the high flash is a totally different circuit than std high where all the current runs thru it on flash but goes elsewhere for std highs.


I guess I'm back to thinking it's the relay, clicking but burnt out.

???????????????

Last edited by Terrys87; 03-28-2015 at 09:48 AM.
Old 11-22-2006 | 08:43 PM
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hirsche23's Avatar
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From: Innisfail,Alberta
i would run a small file on the contacts anyway.I just did the same thing on my 89 runner last week, the contacts looked fine but after a little clean up the high beams work great.
Old 11-23-2006 | 06:09 AM
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From: Greenville, SC
I had scratched the contacts, put it back together...and it worked.

I guess that was it.
Old 12-13-2006 | 02:56 PM
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is that the combo switch because id love to have high beams again
Old 12-13-2006 | 08:08 PM
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From: Marysville, WA
I have the same issue in my 87. It is the switch assy. I suppose i could just file the thing like monster maxx, but its in my wheeler so I dont actually care enough. PLus the switch assy is only like 25-75 at a wrecker.
Old 12-13-2006 | 08:45 PM
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From: Greenville, SC
BTW, still working great.



I think it's going to be like the window switches. Clean them, they'll go another 30kmi. After cleaning them a bunch of times finally get around to replacing the switch.
Old 03-18-2007 | 04:54 PM
  #7  
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From: Ayer, MA
I had the same problem with my 94 4Runner. My dad and I took the steering wheel off and gave the switch a few LIGHT taps with a screw driver and now the switch works perfectly.
Old 03-18-2007 | 07:28 PM
  #8  
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i've got this exact same problem, brights flash but won't work in the always on position... so it's the switch inside the column that the light switch post thingy goes into?
Old 01-18-2008 | 06:18 PM
  #9  
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From: Siletz,Oregon
really hate to dig up a old thread but my friend is having the same problem where do i find those contacts at ?
Old 01-18-2008 | 07:10 PM
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just a 22re's Avatar
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From: milwaukee, WI baby muddin in the streets!!
wow high beams are a problem in the yotas aye?
Old 03-28-2011 | 07:49 PM
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Thumbs up

I had the same problem on my 89 4runner. Again with the dimmer selector:
low-beam mode: Low beams worked correctly
high-beam mode: no headlights, high-beam indicator on
flash mode: high beams on, high-beam indicator on
Note: "flash-mode" works with or without the headlight switch on.

I took a meter to my switch and it buzzed out fine. But when I looked at the actual reading it was 25-30 ohms instead of near zero. The problem is the contacts are burnt from switching the full high-beam current.

The fix is requires you to take the switch cover off, which means pulling the steering wheel but that's no biggie. Mine came off without a puller. There's a cover over the contacts you have to carefully remove. Then clean all the contacts with a points file. (If you're too young to know what that is, ask your grandpa.) Then blast the crap away with some contact cleaner, re-assemble, and you're good to go. DO clean all the contacts while you're there. The hi-beams draw more current so they'll naturally be the first to burn but it's best to freshen them all up while you're at it.

Hope it helps!

Last edited by hashdfw; 03-28-2011 at 07:50 PM.
Old 03-29-2011 | 11:30 AM
  #12  
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From: MRNRA, South-Western Virginia
I had the same problem as everyone else with the high beams on my 89. After I figured out the little box that houses the contacts, a few strokes with a Swiss file and I had high beams.
Old 07-16-2013 | 12:37 PM
  #13  
mikefixtruck's Avatar
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From: Virginia Beach
pulling that steering wheel

Originally Posted by hashdfw
The fix is requires you to take the switch cover off, which means pulling the steering wheel but that's no biggie. Mine came off without a puller.
How do you pull that steering wheel?
Old 11-23-2013 | 11:05 AM
  #14  
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From: Lake Havasu, AZ
Thanks for this....(and to Terrys87, for dropping it in my thread).... Finally getting a grip on factory electronics, but of course, I'm now having problems in areas I've never dug into. exact issue I'm having with my high beams, constant on gives a problem only occasionally... All the lights including low and high go black. Pretty scary on the Big Bear highway when its pitch black and people are pulling over that its so bad in the fog.hi babe flashes still works... Going to get in there and check it out...

my problem is also with them the right turn signal portion of the
combination stalk/lever ... at least I think it is. I can remove both right turn signals and I still have extremely dim light to the right signal indicator in the dash. Turn the hazards on, same thing.try to after market relay for the flasher, nothing! Not only did it not help, but I meant to say is I got nothing...

anyway, I'm digging and I will be hopefully able to post a little video of how to do this once I figure it out, hahaha. Thanks again for dropping me this link, Terry! I guess with these little buggers being 26, 27, even 30 years old,.... They're bound to start falling apart here and there. Its just that it's always somewhere that I have no experience with! Haha. I'm learning though
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