GM Service Manual Online
For 1990-2009 cars only

Headlamps Inoperative - High Beams Domestic

Step

Action

Yes

No

Schematic Reference: Headlights/Daytime Running Lights (DRL) Schematics

1

Did you perform the Lighting Systems Diagnostic System Check?

Go to Step 2

Go to Diagnostic System Check - Lighting Systems

2

  1. Turn ON the ignition with the engine OFF.
  2. Place the headlamp switch in the HEADLAMP position.
  3. Place the headlamp dimmer switch in the LOW BEAM position.

Do the low beam headlamps illuminate?

Go to Step 3

Go to Headlamps Inoperative - Low Beams

3

Place the headlamp dimmer switch in the HIGH BEAM position.

Do the high beam headlamps illuminate?

Go to Testing for Intermittent Conditions and Poor Connections in Wiring Systems

Go to Step 4

4

Are both high beam headlamps inoperative?

Go to Step 7

Go to Step 5

5

  1. Disconnect the inoperative high beam headlamp.
  2. Connect a test lamp between the supply voltage circuit of the inoperative high beam headlamp and a good ground.

Does the test lamp illuminate?

Go to Step 6

Go to Step 21

6

Connect a test lamp between the supply voltage circuit of the inoperative high beam headlamp and the ground circuit of the inoperative high beam headlamp.

Does the test lamp illuminate?

Go to Step 19

Go to Step 13

7

  1. Turn ON the ignition, with the engine OFF.
  2. With the scan tool, command the HDLP HI BM relay ON and OFF.

Do hear a click when you command the HDLP HI BM relay ON and OFF?

Go to Step 11

Go to Step 8

8

  1. Turn OFF the ignition.
  2. Remove the HDLP HI BM relay.
  3. Turn ON the ignition with the engine OFF.

Connect a test lamp between the supply voltage circuit of the HDLP HI BM relay coil and a good ground.

Does the test lamp illuminate?

Go to Step 9

Go to Step 23

9

  1. Connect a test lamp between the supply voltage circuit and the control circuit of the HDLP HI BM relay coil.
  2. With a scan tool, command the HDLP HI BM relay ON and OFF.

Does the test lamp turn ON and OFF with each command?

Go to Step 17

Go to Step 10

10

  1. Disconnect the headlamp dimmer switch.
  2. Connect a fused jumper between the HDLP HI BM relay control circuit and the headlamp control circuit.
  3. With a scan tool, command the HDLP HI BM relay ON and OFF.

Does the test lamp turn ON and OFF with each command?

Go to Step 18

Go to Step 14

11

  1. Turn OFF the ignition.
  2. Remove the HDLP HI BM relay.
  3. Connect a test lamp between the battery positive voltage circuit of the HDLP HI BM relay switch and a good ground.

Does the test lamp illuminate?

Go to Step 12

Go to Step 22

12

Connect a 10 amp fused jumper between the battery positive voltage circuit of the HDLP HI BM relay switch and the supply voltage circuit of the high beam headlamps.

Do the high beam headlamps illuminate?

Go to Step 17

Go to Step 21

13

Test for an open or high resistance in the ground circuit of the inoperative high beam headlamp. Refer to Circuit Testing and Wiring Repairs in Wiring Systems.

Did you find and correct the condition?

Go to Step 29

Go to Step 16

14

Test for an open or high resistance in the control circuit of the HDLP HI BM relay. Refer to Circuit Testing and Wiring Repairs in Wiring Systems.

Did you find and correct the condition?

Go to Step 29

Go to Step 15

15

Test for an open or high resistance in the headlamp control circuit. Refer to Circuit Testing and Wiring Repairs in Wiring Systems.

Did you find and correct the condition?

Go to Step 29

Go to Step 20

16

Inspect for poor connections at the DRL relay. Refer to Testing for Intermittent Conditions and Poor Connections and Connector Repairs in Wiring Systems.

Did you find and correct the condition?

Go to Step 29

Go to Step 24

17

Inspect for poor connections at the HDLP HI BM relay. Refer to Testing for Intermittent Conditions and Poor Connections and Connector Repairs in Wiring Systems.

Did you find and correct the condition?

Go to Step 29

Go to Step 26

18

Inspect for poor connections at the headlamp dimmer switch. Refer to Testing for Intermittent Conditions and Poor Connections and Connector Repairs in Wiring Systems.

Did you find and correct the condition?

Go to Step 29

Go to Step 25

19

Inspect for poor connections at the inoperative high beam headlamp. Refer to Testing for Intermittent Conditions and Poor Connections and Connector Repairs in Wiring Systems.

Did you find and correct the condition?

Go to Step 29

Go to Step 27

20

Inspect for poor connections at the Dash Integration Module (DIM). Refer to Testing for Intermittent Conditions and Poor Connections and Connector Repairs in Wiring Systems.

Did you find and correct the condition?

Go to Step 29

Go to Step 28

21

Repair an open or high resistance in the supply voltage circuit of the high beam headlamps. Refer to Wiring Repairs in Wiring Systems.

Did you complete the repair?

Go to Step 29

--

22

Repair an open or high resistance in the battery positive voltage circuit of the HDLP HI BM relay switch. Refer to Wiring Repairs in Wiring Systems.

Did you complete the repair?

Go to Step 29

--

23

Repair an open or high resistance in the supply voltage circuit of the HDLP HI BM relay coil. Refer to Wiring Repairs in Wiring Systems.

Did you complete the repair?

Go to Step 29

--

24

Replace the DRL relay. Refer to Relay Replacement in Wiring Systems.

Did you find and correct the condition?

Go to Step 29

--

25

Replace the headlamp dimmer switch. Refer to Turn Signal Multifunction Switch Replacement in Steering Wheel and Column.

Did you complete the replacement?

Go to Step 29

--

26

Replace the HDLP HI BM relay. Refer to Relay Replacement in Wiring Systems.

Did you complete the replacement?

Go to Step 29

--

27

Replace the inoperative high beam headlamp. Refer to Headlamp Bulb Replacement .

Did you complete the replacement?

Go to Step 29

--

28

Important:: Perform the setup procedure for the Dash Integration Module (DIM). Refer to Body Control Module (BCM) Programming/RPO Configuration .

Replace the DIM. Refer to Dash Integration Module Replacement in Body Control System.

Did you complete the replacement?

Go to Step 29

--

29

Operate the system in order to verify the repair.

Did you correct the condition?

System OK

Go to Step 3

Headlamps Inoperative - High Beams Export

Test Description

The number(s) below refer to the step number(s) on the diagnostic table.

  1. Listen for an audible click when the relay operates. Cycle between low and high positions. Repeat the cycles as necessary.

  2. Tests for supply voltage at the coil side of the relay.

  3. Verifies that the headlamp switch is providing ground to the relay.

Step

Action

Yes

No

Schematic Reference: Headlights/Daytime Running Lights (DRL) Schematics

1

Was the Lighting System Diagnostic System Check performed?

Go to Step 2

Go to Diagnostic System Check - Lighting Systems

2

  1. Turn ON the ignition, with the engine OFF.
  2. Place the headlamp switch in the HEADLAMP position.
  3. Place the headlamp dimmer switch in the HIGH BEAM position.

Do the high beam headlamps operate properly?

Go to Testing for Intermittent Conditions and Poor Connections in Wiring Systems

Go to Step 3

3

Do the low beam headlamps operate properly?

Go to Step 4

Go to Headlamps Inoperative - Low Beams

4

Cycle the headlamp dimmer switch between low and high.

Does the headlamp high beam relay turn ON and OFF with each cycle?

Go to Step 7

Go to Step 5

5

  1. Turn OFF the ignition.
  2. Disconnect the headlamp high beam relay.
  3. Turn ON the ignition, with the engine OFF.
  4. Connect a test lamp between the supply voltage circuit of the headlamp high beam relay coil and a good ground.

Does the test lamp illuminate?

Go to Step 6

Go to Step 18

6

  1. Connect a test lamp between the control circuit of the headlamp high beam relay and the supply voltage circuit of the headlamp high beam relay coil.
  2. Cycle the headlamp dimmer switch between low and high.

Does the test lamp turn ON and OFF with each cycle?

Go to Step 13

Go to Step 10

7

  1. Turn OFF the ignition.
  2. Disconnect the headlamp high beam relay.
  3. Turn ON the ignition, with the engine OFF.
  4. Connect a test lamp between the supply voltage circuit of the headlamp high beam relay switch and a good ground.

Does the test lamp illuminate?

Go to Step 8

Go to Step 17

8

  1. Turn OFF the ignition.
  2. Connect a fused jumper between the supply voltage circuit of the headlamp high beam relay switch and the supply voltage circuit of the high beam headlamps.
  3. Turn ON the ignition, with the engine OFF.

Did both of the high beam headlamps illuminate?

Go to Step 13

Go to Step 9

9

  1. Disconnect the inoperative high beam headlamp bulb.
  2. Connect a test lamp between the supply voltage circuit of the inoperative high beam headlamp and the ground circuit of the inoperative high beam headlamp.

Does the test lamp illuminate?

Go to Step 15

Go to Step 11

10

Test the control circuit of the headlamp high beam relay for a short to voltage or an open. Refer to Circuit Testing and Wiring Repairs in Wiring Systems.

Did you find and correct the condition?

Go to Step 22

Go to Step 12

11

Test the headlamp high beam supply voltage circuit for a high resistance or open. Refer to Circuit Testing and Wiring Repairs in Wiring Systems.

Did you find and correct the condition?

Go to Step 22

Go to Step 16

12

Test the headlamp low beam relay control circuit of the headlamp dimmer switch for a short to voltage or an open. Refer to Circuit Testing and Wiring Repairs in Wiring Systems.

Did you find and correct the condition?

Go to Step 22

Go to Step 14

13

Inspect for poor connections at the headlamp high beam relay. Refer to Testing for Intermittent Conditions and Poor Connections and Connector Repairs in Wiring Systems.

Did you find and correct the condition?

Go to Step 22

Go to Step 19

14

Inspect for poor connections at the harness connector of the headlamp dimmer switch. Refer to Testing for Intermittent Conditions and Poor Connections and Connector Repairs in Wiring Systems.

Did you find and correct the condition?

Go to Step 22

Go to Step 20

15

Inspect for poor connections at the headlamp bulb. Refer to Testing for Intermittent Conditions and Poor Connections and Connector Repairs in Wiring Systems.

Did you find and correct the condition?

Go to Step 22

Go to Step 21

16

Repair the open or high resistance in the headlamp ground circuit. Refer to Circuit Testing and Wiring Repairs in Wiring Systems.

Did you complete the repair?

Go to Step 22

--

17

Repair the high resistance or open in the switch side supply voltage circuit of the high beam headlamp relay. Refer to Circuit Testing and Wiring Repairs in Wiring Systems.

Did you complete the repair?

Go to Step 22

--

18

Repair the coil side supply voltage circuit of the headlamp high beam relay. Refer to Circuit Testing and Wiring Repairs in Wiring Systems.

Did you complete the repair?

Go to Step 22

--

19

Replace the high beam headlamp relay. Refer to Relay Replacement in Wiring Systems.

Did you complete the replacement?

Go to Step 22

--

20

Replace the headlamp dimmer switch. Refer to Turn Signal Multifunction Switch Replacement in Steering Wheel and Column.

Did you complete the replacement?

Go to Step 22

--

21

Replace the inoperative headlamp bulb. Refer to Headlamp Bulb Replacement .

Did you complete the replacement?

Go to Step 22

--

22

Operate the system in order to verify the repair.

Did you correct the condition?

System OK

Go to Step 2