Headlights not working

Tiny
TAMWORTH10
  • MEMBER
  • 2000 TOYOTA CAMRY
  • 150,000 MILES
Hi,

I am hoping someone can help out with this problem that has me bamboozled with the car listed above (Australian right hand drive).

Intermittently on low beam, neither of the four headlights left of right, inner or outer work (only the small parking lights work). Also, the "Intermittently" is getting worse so it hardly ever works.

But on high beam all four headlights work. So I figure all four bulbs and fuses are good. From the circuit diagrams I have found on the net, this seems an unlikely situation (unless I have the wrong circuit diagrams!). Note, that there are no day time running lights on this car.

Appreciate if anyone could shed some light on this.

Thanks!
Saturday, June 30th, 2018 AT 12:23 AM

13 Replies

Tiny
DANNY L
  • MECHANIC
  • 5,648 POSTS
Hello, I am Danny.

Have you tried checking the headlight relay? Sounds like it could be a poor connection/melted/corroded/loose connection. It is located on left side of engine compartment in junction block #2. Being a RHD I could be wrong though. My resources does not show RHD schematics. I attached a relay picture. Hope this helps! Let me know if you have any questions.
Danny-

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-an-electrical-relay-and-wiring-control-circuit
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Saturday, June 30th, 2018 AT 3:12 AM
Tiny
TAMWORTH10
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Thanks Danny for your information.
If I pull the relay out while high beam is on, predictably all four bulbs go out, then go back on when the relay in re-inserted, and the high beam goes off when either the lever is dimmed, or the headlight switch turned off, so I figure that would mean the relay is working. If this is the correct circuit diagram:
https://manuals.co/workshop/toyota/camry/toyota-camry-2000-workshop-manual/5576761/2966 - also attached (note that it would be the RHD and *2 without daylight running lights)
then the relay looks like it applies 12 volts to all bulbs when the light switch closes the relay and the high beam gets grounded via the switch. Does not seem to make sense. Maybe this is the wrong diagram?

Thanks,
Paul
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Wednesday, July 4th, 2018 AT 2:52 PM
Tiny
DANNY L
  • MECHANIC
  • 5,648 POSTS
Hello again.

I am attaching another diagram and test procedure. This is based on a 2.2L engine since you do not have that listed on your post. This test is for your combo switch (turn signal/headlight switch/lever). I can find more information if needed. Thanks again for using 2CarPros. Com and feel free to ask any further questions. Danny-
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Wednesday, July 4th, 2018 AT 5:25 PM
Tiny
TAMWORTH10
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Thanks Danny, the situation where the low beam does not work but does work when the high beam is on, seems impossible from that circuit diagram, unless the head relay is energized only when the high beam is on. That would indicate the combo switch is faulty. I will give your suggested test a go, and also check for the 12 volts on the coil of the relay when on low beam. I suspect that I will get 0v on the relay coil at low beam! Thanks again for you help!
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Thursday, July 5th, 2018 AT 4:51 AM
Tiny
DANNY L
  • MECHANIC
  • 5,648 POSTS
Hello again.

You are welcome! Let me know how things work out for you. Thanks again for using 2CarPros. Com. Let me know if you have any other questions. Danny-
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Friday, July 6th, 2018 AT 8:15 PM
Tiny
TAMWORTH10
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Good news. Finally after months of driving only during the daylight (I have other cars), the problem was fixed!
Turns out there is another relay in the path (highlighted in red, in the attached picture). This relay was not in any of the circuit diagrams that I found. Anyway, the usual Head Relay (highlighted in purple in the attached picture), was working fine - could hear the Head Relay click when the low beam was turned on, but the low beam bulbs never illuminated. The high beam and low beam worked when high beam was selected, and both bulbs turned off when I pulled the Head Relay. Then put the Head Relay back in.

But, when I selected low beam and took off the cover of the relay box highlighted in red, and wiggled the black relay inside - the low beam started WORKING! So I just reseated the relay and all is well.

If only the circuit diagrams I had showed this relay. Thanks for your help, and hope this description might help others.
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Saturday, March 2nd, 2019 AT 9:19 PM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 47,536 POSTS
Glad you could get it fixed, that kind of problem can be tough. Please use 2CarPros anytime we are here to help.
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Tuesday, March 5th, 2019 AT 11:33 AM
Tiny
DEBBIEFOULGER
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1998 TOYOTA CAMRY
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 75,000 MILES
I had trouble starting my car this morning and my headlights don't work. The light on the dash comes on (car w/lights)
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Wednesday, March 6th, 2019 AT 2:14 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
Inspect and test the Head Relay in the J/B2 on left side of engine compartment
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-2
Wednesday, March 6th, 2019 AT 2:14 PM (Merged)
Tiny
TALEX02
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1999 TOYOTA CAMRY
  • 2.2L
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 200,000 MILES
When I was testing my check engine it had a code PO773 circuit solenoid E I do not know where it is located and my head lights that are suppose to shine far don't work at all. But over all my headlights work fine.
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Wednesday, March 6th, 2019 AT 2:14 PM (Merged)
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
For headlights check fuses it may be your multi function switch as well. For your code it's best to have atrans guy check this as it's inside the trans you may have lost your torque converter clutch however.
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Wednesday, March 6th, 2019 AT 2:14 PM (Merged)
Tiny
EVAND86
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1999 TOYOTA CAMRY
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 150,000 MILES
My taillights don't work. The parking lamps and headlights won't work either. The turn signals, brake lights, and hi-beams work. All the fuses have been changed also. This problem started after my driver side turn signal got busted out and I had to replace the entire thing.
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Wednesday, March 6th, 2019 AT 2:14 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RIVERMIKERAT
  • MECHANIC
  • 6,110 POSTS
Check the relays. These are located at the left front(as seen from the driver seat) of the engine compartment. Check for frayed wires in the trunk near the left hinge.
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Wednesday, March 6th, 2019 AT 2:14 PM (Merged)

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