'94 Acclaim - No Headlights in Cold Weather

On Tue, 20 Dec 2005, Daniel Armstrong wrote:

> I hope you are joking and if you aren't the image zooming is a "feature"
> built into internet explorer 6

And the browsers used by those of us not so stupid as to use Exploder.

"Daniel J. Stern" > wrote in message
.umich.edu...
> On Tue, 20 Dec 2005, Daniel Armstrong wrote:
>
>> I hope you are joking and if you aren't the image zooming is a "feature"
>> built into internet explorer 6
>
> And the browsers used by those of us not so stupid as to use Exploder.

I am not stupid and I use IE. I would use Firefox more if it didn't have a
problem with the executable looping and maxing out my processor at times. I
have even had it where the executable was still running looped and burning
proc cycles even though the program window was closed. I had to kill the
little bugger with task manager.

On Tue, 20 Dec 2005, Daniel Armstrong wrote:

> I am not stupid and I use IE.

No comment.

"Daniel J. Stern" > wrote in message
.umich.edu...
> On Tue, 20 Dec 2005, Daniel Armstrong wrote:
>
>> I am not stupid and I use IE.
>
> No comment.

The key to using it for me has been to 1. turn off the built in popup
blocker, 2. use the google toolbar, and 3. always read everything twice to
make sure it is legit before clicking on that stupid yellow bar at the top
that warns the noobs that the site they are visiting just might want to
install something.
I have never had any spyware on my computer and AVG 7 free edition quite
happily throws any and all virii (usually from java) in the virus vault for
me to delete. If you are the kind that enjoys clicking "OK" on every little
thing that pops up then yes IE will have your system trashed in a matter of
minutes. The thing that really pi$$e$ me off is the number of programs that
want to install the damn yahoo toolbar. Adobe reader of all things had the
damn yahoo toolbar in its list of available updates.

"Gary Kaucher" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Daniel J. Stern" > wrote in message
> ...
> > On Wed, 14 Dec 2005, Gary Kaucher wrote:
> >
> > > I found my old voltmeter and confirmed that it worked (12 volts across
> > > the battery terminals - no problem). I turned on the beam selector
> > > switch and removed the plug from behind each bulb and probed the
> > > sockets, using the negative battery terminal as a ground. In all
cases,
> > > I get no needle deflection.
> >
> > OK, that's good info.
> >
> > > I also tried your suggestion of pulling back on the turn signal with
the
> > > beam selector switch turned on, and the headlights still didn't turn
on.
> >
> > OK, more good info.
> >
> > > I spoke to my mechanic. He said that he had previously replaced a
> > > headlamp relay, not the headlamp switch. The headlamp relay that he
> > > replaced apparently has something to do with the low beams
> >
> > There is STILL no headlamp relay in a 1994 Acclaim, as delivered from
the
> > factory. Here are the wiring diagrams:
> >
> >
>
http://dastern.torque.net/techdocs/9..._HLSwitch1.gif
> >
>
http://dastern.torque.net/techdocs/9..._HLSwitch2.gif
> >
>
http://dastern.torque.net/techdocs/9...4AA_HLLeft.gif
> >
>
http://dastern.torque.net/techdocs/9...AA_HLRight.gif
> >
> > The first diagram shows the headlamp switch and all its connections.
> >
> > The second diagram shows the multifunction switch (beam selector, turn
> > signal, windshield wiper) and all its connections.
> >
> > The third and fourth diagrams show the left and right headlamps and
their
> > connections.
> >
> > There is no relay present in any of these diagrams, just as there is no
> > headlamp relay present on the vehicle unless somebody added one sometime
> > in the past.
> >
> > Just right off the bat, we can eliminate certain problems. Note that the
> > headlamp switch's main feed is wire number A3, a 12ga red-and-white
wire.
> > We know power's coming in on this wire and reaching the switch, for the
> > headlamps *sometimes* work, and even when they don't, the parking lamps
> > carry on working. Since the headlamp switch gets power to send to the
> > parking lamps from A3, we know this isn't the failure point.

I have seen voltage on A3 when the headlights are working properly. I
haven't seen voltage when the headlights are turned on, but not working,
even though the parking lights are on. Which doesn't make sense. I must not
be probing correctly. From what you say, if the parking lights are on, there
should be voltage on A3. When the problem arises, I don't get too much time
to probe. The lights seem to come on in a few minutes. I will try this again
when it gets cold, and the only thing that lights up is the parking lights.

> > Next wire to focus on is wire number L2, a 16ga light green wire that
goes
> > from the headlamp switch to the multifunction switch. When the headlamps
> > refuse to work, if this wire meters out at 12v relative to good ground
> > with the headlamp switch on, then the headlamp switch is not the
problem.
> > If this wire shows no voltage under those conditions, the headlamp
switch
> > is faulty.


L2 definitely does not show any voltage when the headlamps refuse to work.
So I started up the car and turned on the heater with the intention of
heating things up to see if the lights came on, and the lights came on in
about 30 seconds, before there was any heat. L2 read 13.5 volts with the
engine on, and 11 volts when I turned the engine off. With the engine off,
the lights will work until the car sits idle for awhile in cold (below 22
degrees Fahrenheit) weather. I will change the headlamp switch and see if
all these "peculiarities" go away.

This may be premature, but I will ask anyway. I mentioned that my mechanic
changed the PCM in the course of resolving a fault code 41 issue. You
mentioned that another source of headlamp problems can be Daytime Running
Lights found in Canadian vehicles. My car is not a Canadian vehicle and has
never had DRL. But is it possible that my mechanic might have installed or
configured something so the car "thinks" it is Canadian and has DRL? Are
different components (PCM's) used in the Canadian cars?


> Thanks for the drawings and explanations. I am a novice, but now I
> understand what I have to look for,
> and I may have a good opportunity to check this out soon. The morning
> temperatures here in Pennsylvania
> have been in the single digits lately, and my headlights only come on in
> the afternoon.
>
> Is there an easy way to access the headlamp switch? To take readings do I
> remove the switch and probe sockets or do
> I probe through the insulation into the wire?
>
>
> > Next wire to focus on is wire number L4, a 16ga purple/white wire
> > connected to the multifunction switch. When the headlamps refuse to
work,
> > if this wire meters out at 12v relative to good ground with the headlamp
> > switch on, alternating on and off when you click the lever back and
forth
> > between low and high beam positions, then the multifunction switch is
not
> > the problem. If this wire shows no voltage under those conditions, then
> > the multifunction switch is faulty.
>
>
> Is there an easy way to access the multifunction switch? Is it located
> somewhere on the steering column?
>
>
>
> > Next item down the line is fuses numbered 3 and 4, which respectively
feed
> > the left and right low beams. It would be most unusual to find a problem
> > here.
> >
> > > but it is quite possible that he replaced that relay for reasons
> > > unrelated to headlights.
> >
> > Headlamp relays have one function: To control the headlamps. Your car
> > didn't have a headlamp relay from the factory, so unless someone added
one
> > at some point in the past, your mechanic doesn't know what the hell he's
> > talking about. The only relay in the lighting system of a '94 Acclaim
> > would be a fog lamp relay, if your '94 is one of the very few that came
> > with fog lamps. The fog lamp relay's failure would not prevent the
> > headlamps working.
> >
> > > I really think (hope) that problem is gone and that this problem might
> > > just be the headlight switch.
> >
> > I really think it is either the headlamp switch or the multifunction
> > switch.
> >
> > > Is there some way I can use my voltmeter to determine if it is the
> > > headlight switch or beam selector switch?
> >
> > See above.
> >
>
>

On Tue, 20 Dec 2005, Gary Kaucher wrote:

>>> Just right off the bat, we can eliminate certain problems. Note that
>>> the headlamp switch's main feed is wire number A3, a 12ga
>>> red-and-white wire. We know power's coming in on this wire and
>>> reaching the switch, for the headlamps *sometimes* work, and even when
>>> they don't, the parking lamps carry on working. Since the headlamp
>>> switch gets power to send to the parking lamps from A3, we know this
>>> isn't the failure point.

> I have seen voltage on A3 when the headlights are working properly. I
> haven't seen voltage when the headlights are turned on, but not working,
> even though the parking lights are on. Which doesn't make sense.

You're right, it doesn't.

> I must not be probing correctly. From what you say, if the parking
> lights are on, there should be voltage on A3.

Should be!

>>> Next wire to focus on is wire number L2, a 16ga light green wire that
>>> goes from the headlamp switch to the multifunction switch.

> L2 definitely does not show any voltage when the headlamps refuse to work.
> So I started up the car and turned on the heater with the intention of
> heating things up to see if the lights came on, and the lights came on in
> about 30 seconds, before there was any heat. L2 read 13.5 volts with the
> engine on, and 11 volts when I turned the engine off.

I've still got your headlamp switch as a primary suspect, with firewall
pass-through connection and beam-selector switch as secondary suspects.

> This may be premature, but I will ask anyway. I mentioned that my
> mechanic changed the PCM in the course of resolving a fault code 41
> issue. You mentioned that another source of headlamp problems can be
> Daytime Running Lights found in Canadian vehicles. My car is not a
> Canadian vehicle and has never had DRL. But is it possible that my
> mechanic might have installed or configured something so the car
> "thinks" it is Canadian and has DRL? Are different components (PCM's)
> used in the Canadian cars?


Nope. The PCM doesn't know if the car has DRLs or not; on these cars, the
DRL module and associated wiring are completely independent.

DS

Gary Kaucher wrote:

> I have seen voltage on A3 when the headlights are working properly. I
> haven't seen voltage when the headlights are turned on, but not working,
> even though the parking lights are on. Which doesn't make sense. I must not
> be probing correctly. From what you say, if the parking lights are on, there
> should be voltage on A3. When the problem arises, I don't get too much time
> to probe. The lights seem to come on in a few minutes. I will try this again
> when it gets cold, and the only thing that lights up is the parking lights.

Sorry to interrupt here...

There's a good possibility that you aren't getting consistent contact
on your VOM positive lead to the headlight switch A3 wire. This would
cause the erroneous test results as you surmised.

I noticed a circuit breaker built into the headlight switch that trips
from excess current through A3. Failed CBs can cause the flaky,
"completely on one second", "completely off the next" situation you are
experiencing. One thing to think about is that if this is your
culprit, you may be able to tap the switch and get the lights to
flicker. Also visually check any high current connections for signs of
overheating if you are removing them anyway.

Toyota MDT in MO

Daniel Armstrong wrote:
> > wrote in message
> oups.com...
> >
> > This is the best display of diagrams I have seen. You set this up as a
> > toggle between regular size and a big, expanded size of the diagram. I
> > just click the mouse and it toggles regular and large size. It would be
> > nice if this is a new trend for showing diagrams over the internet
> > rather than separate frames. I had not noticed this before anywhere
> > else. This is the quickest way and easiest to follow tracing a circuit
> > by zooming in and out.
> >
> I hope you are joking and if you aren't the image zooming is a "feature"
> built into internet explorer 6 whenever you load an image file that isn't
> embedded into a web page. It shows up as a button in the lower right hand
> corner of the image when you hover the mouse pointer over the image. To
> turn it off you go to: Tools Menu>Internet Options>Advanced tab>scroll down
> and "Enable Automatic Image Resizing" will be the first thing listed under
> "Multimedia"

I'm not joking. What you are describing is interesting and informative,
maybe for me in the future, but not really completely on target. I
liked the implementation. It was smooth and flawless. Usually I get
this with Java. But I was impressed that a simple web page has have two
sizes, really all that was needed. One to see what I am in the diagram
and another to see what is actually being "said."

I have not see this toggle in many places. Usually it's multiple clicks
on images - annoying waste of clickery. In this case, it's a toggle. I
don't use IE except when I have Flash to display and it's already
checked as you described almost - it's not the first thing under
multimedia in my particular system. Is what you describe a pure toggle?
That's what I was referring to. I have not come across toggles much.
That's one click to expand and one click to compress and one click to
expand and one click to compress. Who me joking?