Hi there.

Struggling here and could really do with some help please.

Got a 1999 chevrolet cavalier, (in Canada) and I lost the use of the
high beam. Really strange as the main drive lights work and the regular
lights but when I go to use the high beam, all the headlights go out !!
Driving at night...... nudge the lever towards me for hi beam and
everything goes dark at the front.

I just attacked it with a multimeter and the highbeam bulbs are ok.

Got myself stumped here :-(

Could anyone please let me know what they think would be causing it?

Thankyou

Andrew

On Thu, 18 Aug 2005 00:29:30 +0100, andrew123  
 wrote:


> Hi there.
>
> Struggling here and could really do with some help please.
>
> Got a 1999 chevrolet cavalier, (in Canada) and I lost the use of the
> high beam. Really strange as the main drive lights work and the regular
> lights but when I go to use the high beam, all the headlights go out !!
> Driving at night...... nudge the lever towards me for hi beam and
> everything goes dark at the front.
>
> I just attacked it with a multimeter and the highbeam bulbs are ok.
>
> Got myself stumped here :-(
>
> Could anyone please let me know what they think would be causing it?
>
> Thankyou
>
> Andrew
>



The switch or the relay, or even the fuse. However you'd probably get a  
more knowledgeable answer on rec.autos.tech, they're more likely to have  
seen a North American car

Thanks for your reply.

Will check out the switch, relay and the fuse. If I'm still stumped,
I'll try the other group you mentioned.

Cheers

"andrew123"  wrote in message
news:1124321370.273757.311120@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com...

> Hi there.
>
> Struggling here and could really do with some help please.
>
> Got a 1999 chevrolet cavalier, (in Canada) and I lost the use of the
> high beam. Really strange as the main drive lights work and the regular
> lights but when I go to use the high beam, all the headlights go out !!
> Driving at night...... nudge the lever towards me for hi beam and
> everything goes dark at the front.
>
> I just attacked it with a multimeter and the highbeam bulbs are ok.
>
> Got myself stumped here :-(
>
> Could anyone please let me know what they think would be causing it?
>
> Thankyou
>
> Andrew

check if the headlamp flash option is working if so suspect the column
switch it was a problem on  some older Vauxhall Cavaliers caused by the
contacts oxidising over time not really a repairable switch as it has a
number of small springs which migrate when you open the casing cheap
replacement tho
Derek

Derek (delwattsspamnoman@cwcom.net) gurgled happily, sounding much like 
they were saying :


>> Got a 1999 chevrolet cavalier

> problem on  some older Vauxhall Cavaliers


Do you think it's likely that the same light switch will be shared between 
an aging Euro heap of crap and a relatively modern 'merkin heap of crap, 
purely because they happen to share a badge?

"Adrian"  wrote in message 
news:Xns96B6DCD2A9A60adrianachapmanfreeis@204.153.244.170...

> Derek (delwattsspamnoman@cwcom.net) gurgled happily, sounding much like
> they were saying :
>
>>> Got a 1999 chevrolet cavalier
>
>> problem on  some older Vauxhall Cavaliers
>
> Do you think it's likely that the same light switch will be shared between
> an aging Euro heap of crap and a relatively modern 'merkin heap of crap,
> purely because they happen to share a badge?


Yes. :)

Irrelevant really, it's worth investigation...

-- 
The DervMan
www.dervman.com

On 17 Aug 2005 17:15:40 -0700, "andrew123"
 wrote:


>Thanks for your reply.
>
>Will check out the switch, relay and the fuse. If I'm still stumped,
>I'll try the other group you mentioned.


As mentioned try the switch or the relay. On some cars the dipped beam
goes out when the high beam goes on, so it could be just the high beam
relay. Check in the fuse box or up under the dash on the drivers side.
The high beam switch is probably on the steering column and controlled
by a metal rod from the lever.

Gareth

In article ,
   andrew123  wrote:

> Struggling here and could really do with some help please.

> Got a 1999 chevrolet cavalier, (in Canada) and I lost the use of the
> high beam. Really strange as the main drive lights work and the regular
> lights but when I go to use the high beam, all the headlights go out !!
> Driving at night...... nudge the lever towards me for hi beam and
> everything goes dark at the front.

> I just attacked it with a multimeter and the highbeam bulbs are ok.

> Got myself stumped here :-(

> Could anyone please let me know what they think would be causing it?


Do the headlights go out when the ignition is switched off? If so they're
likely to be relay operated. So my first shot would be to check that relay
and fuse.

As others have said a dirty or burnt out dip switch could have the same
effect. It's just a case of patient fault tracing.

-- 
*Upon the advice of my attorney, my shirt bears no message at this time

    Dave Plowman        dave@davenoise.co.uk           London SW
                  To e-mail, change noise into sound.