Nissan Forum banner

'98 Frontier, Headlight Out, Bulb is Good ??

1K views 3 replies 2 participants last post by  Ed Mc 
#1 ·
Happened tonight on the way home. Blue hi-beam indicator came on and I couldn't understand that, since I didn't have the hi-beams on.

Discovered that the driver's side light was out on both high and low beams.

Pssgr light works normally for both high and low. The hi-beam indicator stays on all the time the headlights are on.

The bulb checks out on a meter.

Is there a fusible link inline with each headlight plug, or multiple fuses I can check tomorrow?

If anyone has a schematic wiring diagram of the headlight ckt, I'd appreciate it if you could post it.

I didn't get a good look at the headlight plug, guess I'll check it out carefully in daylight to make sure the wires or spade connectors didn't burn. The bulb socket does have an odd "rotten eggs" smell that reminds me of a burnt-out selenium rectifier. The potting material around one of the posts is brown, whereas the rest of the material surrounding the connection posts is clear.

Well, maybe someone has had this happen before and it'll be an easy fix, eh? >:D

Thanks
ed
 
See less See more
#2 ·
It sounds like you have a short circuit on the driver's side as it sounds like you are getting power from the low-side feeding the indicator. Nissans of the era typically have a fuse for each headlamp in the fuse block in the engine compartment. Not only do you want to check for continuity through the bulb, but you want to make sure it's not shorted betweent the low and high filaments. Easy way to be sure is to swap the bulbs, left to right. Otherwise, I would be looking for a short at the headlamp harness connector on the driver's side or at the two wires (unplug the bulb and the headlamp switch and check for continuity between the two wires for the low and high beam and also make sure there is no continuity between them and ground. If those check out okay, you could have a bad lighting switch. You may be able to find a downloadable factory service manual at NissanHelp.com's "knowledge base" or at Nico's website; this would not only have wiring diagrams but also trouble diagnostics. You can probably get just the headlamp wiring diagram at the free repair guides at Autozone.com.
 
#4 · (Edited)
Well, when the driver's bulb was unplugged the hi-beam indicator worked as it should. I picked up a new bulb and it works!

smj you were Spot On about the bulb. Never seen one fail like that, but I guess I shouldn't complain 'cause it's the original!

The discoloration in the potting material was from heating of the ground terminal. I'm going to keep an eye on the connector plug; the ground side showed very minor distortion but I don't think the spade is damaged. The wire wasn't burnt at the back of the connector.

Thanks for the Good Advice I now I know much more than I need to about the headlight circuit!...........ed

https://www.flickr.com/photos/28953402@N07/16357637526/in/set-72157648190966423
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top