Headlights not working
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 68
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From: columbus ga.
Headlights not working I recently bought 99 Camaro. The headlights didn't work when i bought it so i replaced the switch and they worked for a couple days and then quit again. Does anyone have any idea why it keeps burning out the headlight switch? It has aftermarket LED bulbs if that matters. Thanks
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 11,329
Likes: 346
From: Jacksonville, FL (originally from Toronto Canada)
I suspect that you have too much current flowing through the switch to the LED headlights - probably because there's something wrong with one or more of the bulbs. The headlight switch has an internal fuse which is probably blowing, rather than the whole switch burning out. I've never opened up that switch so I don't know if the fuse is easily replaceable... it could be something unique soldered to the board or it could be an off-the-shelf fuse - there are no specs for it in the manual.
It wouldn't hurt to open up the switch and see if the fuse can be replaced (after all, you would be replacing the whole switch anyway). I would put standard halogen bulbs in place of the LED bulbs as a test once you've got the switch fixed. If the headlights are still working after a couple of weeks, it would be safe to assume that the LED bulbs were the problem. Then you can get some quality LED headlight bulbs to replace them - think $150 to $200 per pair (vLED, Diode Dynamics, etc.) rather than $30 to $60 per pair (ebay, Amazon, etc.). You definitely get what you pay for in LED headlight bulbs.
It wouldn't hurt to open up the switch and see if the fuse can be replaced (after all, you would be replacing the whole switch anyway). I would put standard halogen bulbs in place of the LED bulbs as a test once you've got the switch fixed. If the headlights are still working after a couple of weeks, it would be safe to assume that the LED bulbs were the problem. Then you can get some quality LED headlight bulbs to replace them - think $150 to $200 per pair (vLED, Diode Dynamics, etc.) rather than $30 to $60 per pair (ebay, Amazon, etc.). You definitely get what you pay for in LED headlight bulbs.
Copy & Paste Moderator
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 9,764
Likes: 208
From: Eastern MA
Which LEDs did you buy? The LEDs should be drawing less current than the halogens so that is a bit strange.
You can also get or make a relay harness. then the switch would see low current and the relays would handle the load. When installing HID or higher wattage Halogen Bulbs, it is recommended to use a relay harness. I know you are using LED, but there may be other issues going on here and a relay harness would help. However, for this it would be a band-aid instead of a fix. Double-check you don't have any issues elsewhere causing increased load (like maybe a short - could be intermittent).
You can also get or make a relay harness. then the switch would see low current and the relays would handle the load. When installing HID or higher wattage Halogen Bulbs, it is recommended to use a relay harness. I know you are using LED, but there may be other issues going on here and a relay harness would help. However, for this it would be a band-aid instead of a fix. Double-check you don't have any issues elsewhere causing increased load (like maybe a short - could be intermittent).
Are you sure you have a switch problem? Does the switch turn on your parking lights?
Have you checked the headlight sticky? Checked for the cold solder joint issue on the headlight module?
Have you checked the headlight sticky? Checked for the cold solder joint issue on the headlight module?
