Headlights not working

Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,873 POSTS
Just found the service manual. This procedure is different than what I remembered:

ACTUATOR CALIBRATION TEST

Set blower motor on High.

Set Mode position to Panel.

Open all AC outlets.

Set temperature to cold.

Press Wash and Rear Wiper buttons at the same time for five seconds until all leds flash.

All leds will turn on for five seconds.

The calibration test is running when the Rear Wiper and Intermittent leds are flashing alternately.

Acceptable result is the Rear Wiper led is the only one flashing. Press Rear Wiper to exit. At this point, the calibration and cooldown procedures can be run separately.

COOLDOWN TEST

Set the blower motor on High.

Set mode to Panel.

Open all AC outlets.

Set the temperature to cold.

Press Wash and AC at the same time. (See note at the end).

Then there's a note in the manual that says the test will fail if the ac evaporator is already cold. HUH? "To correct, operate system with AC OFF and the blower motor on high for three minutes prior to starting the test". That's probably why I remember putting the temperature to hot before starting this test.

All leds will turn on for five seconds.

Cooldown test is running when AC and Recirc. Leds are flashing alternately. If they flash at the same time, the test has failed.

To abort the test, press the Rear Defogger, Recirc, and Rear Wiper buttons or cycle the ignition switch off and back on.

The manual doesn't say what to do next, but as I recall, if the test passes, only the AC led will be flashing. Press it to exit the procedure.

Note: For the Cooldown test, the manual say to "Press Wash and AC at the same time". Later, it says "Cooldown test is running when AC and Recirc leds are flashing alternately". To start the test, I think they meant press the AC and Recirc buttons, not the AC and Wash buttons. Try it both ways if you have to.

Caradiodoc
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Monday, January 6th, 2020 AT 1:05 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CARADIODOC
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Sorry, that previous comment was for a different post.

For your headlights, do you have fog lights and do they work? If they do, both of your low beam headlamp bulbs are burned out. Pulling on the dimmer switch and holding it turns on the high beams.

There are four separate fuses for the headlights. The fog lights also run off two of the fuses, so blown fuses would affect them too. It's unlikely two fuses would blow at the same time.

There are two headlamp relays. Try switching the high beam and low beam relays. If only the low beams work now, the other relay is defective.

The low beam relay is controlled by the Daytime Running Lamp Module for Canadian vehicles, or the Body Control Module for U.S. Vehicles. Great! Another over-complicated, unreliable computer to perform a simple operation. Now's the time to pay up for another unnecessary computer! Let's hope it's just a relay or two bulbs.

The headlight switch sends a voltage to the Body computer; the Body computer grounds the low beam relay. From looking at the diagram, it looks like the high beam relay uses common sense and is simply grounded to the body, so the high beams should still work if the Body computer is defective.

Replacing the Body computer is not a do-it-yourself project. It is bolted to and plugged into the Junction Block above the brake pedal. Try the relays and bulbs first.

Caradiodoc
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Monday, January 6th, 2020 AT 1:05 PM (Merged)
Tiny
REPAIRDOG2
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2001 DODGE CARAVAN
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 95,469 MILES
When turning on headlights right light works. Pull multi function switch for highbeams and right goes out, leftone lights. Pull again and getleft out right on.
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Wednesday, November 11th, 2020 AT 12:05 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ZACKMAN
  • MECHANIC
  • 4,202 POSTS
With a voltmeter or test light, test the headlight circuits.

1. Remove driver-side headlight socket from the headlight, and test the connector. My understanding is that at low beam, driver OFF passenger ON. At high beam, driver ON passenger OFF.
* (Test low beam) With the headlight switch at ON position, attach the positive probe to white/dark blue and the negative to black/light green wire. If you have voltage, replace the bulb.
* (Test high beam) Turn high beam ON. Positive probe to white/light green wire and negative to black/light green wire. You SHOULD have voltage.

2. Remove the passenger-side headlight socket from the headlight, and repeat test.
* (Test low beam) Headlight switch ON, attach positive probe to white/tan wire and negative probe to black/tan wire. Assuming my understanding, you SHOULD have voltage.
* (Test high beam) Turn the high beam on. Positive probe to white/gray wire and negative to black/tan wire. If you have voltage, replace the bulb.

Reason: Your headlight bulb contains 2 filaments, one for low and one for high beams. It just so happens that yours burned out the opposite way.

If you don't have voltage where you SHOULD HAVE HAD voltage, your headlight switch is defective.

Let us know.
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Wednesday, November 11th, 2020 AT 12:05 PM (Merged)
Tiny
BMRFIXIT
  • MECHANIC
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It sounds like the IPM has gone out here is how you can fix the problem.
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Wednesday, November 11th, 2020 AT 12:05 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JULESB
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 2001 DODGE CARAVAN
  • 6 CYL
  • AWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 80,000 MILES
I have a 2001 Dodge Caravan, for the best part of a year I have had problems with the headlights. When I start the engine I only have the left daytime running light, when I turn the headlights on the left one goes out and the right one comes on. Both side lights work but, only the left light works on high beam. Every now and then I will have both headlights. I had a mechanic check it and he said he thinks it is the PCM--Dodge wants $800-$1000. I called a salavge yard and they said I could get one from them for approx $200, obviously used and may not work either, but I could keep exchanging until I find one that works. Any advice?
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Wednesday, November 11th, 2020 AT 12:05 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ZACKMAN
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You need to replace both bulbs. Your headlight bulb is 9007 which has dual filaments. Filament A for low beam, and filament B for high beam. In your case, your driver side bulb has the filament A burned out, and your passenger side has the filament B burned out. Make sure that you don not touch the glass while replacing those bulbs.
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Wednesday, November 11th, 2020 AT 12:05 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MLESTER11
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I had the same thing happen to my 2001 Caravan, 185,000 miles, 6 cyl on 11/16/08. I noticed the right side daytime running light not working. Later, driving along last night with regular headlights both on, the left regular beam suddenly winked out, the right regular stayed on. I switched to high beams, the left came on and the right went off. I thought it might be different elements in the bulbs, so I replaced them both today. The new bulbs are a little brighter, but they still do the same thing.

Is there a fuse or relay somewhere that could cause this? I can't find any blown fuses.

Thanks,

Michael
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Wednesday, November 11th, 2020 AT 12:05 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ZACKMAN
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I don't see any relay or fuse controlling the headlight system, except for fog lights. Fog light operation does not affect your regular headlight or your daytime running light. Everything is controlled by Intelligent Power Module located at left side of engine compartment. If you have replaced the bad headlights with new one, and it only works one-sided, you may have to ask the dealer to check the IPM.
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Wednesday, November 11th, 2020 AT 12:05 PM (Merged)
Tiny
LARRYTRAYER
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
  • 1996 DODGE CARAVAN
Need some leads on the following. Tail lights and dash lights do not work. Brake lights, head lights and turn signals work fine. Also the A/C only comes on when it is turned all the way up and it does not blow cold. Please help, it is hot in FL. Thanks!
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Wednesday, November 11th, 2020 AT 12:05 PM (Merged)
Tiny
E40WATER12
  • MECHANIC
  • 522 POSTS
Ok so youre dash lights & tail lights dont work. I would first take a look into youre fuse panel to see if any of those are blown, Then I would replace youre bulbs to see if that does anything to correct the problem. If not, Then you have to try to find what colored wires go to what bulb, Then check wiring for cracks or corroided wires, In which then have to be replaced.

Good Luck.
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Wednesday, November 11th, 2020 AT 12:05 PM (Merged)

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