GM Service Manual Online
For 1990-2009 cars only

Headlamp Low or High Beams Always On Domestic

Step

Action

Yes

No

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

1

Did you review the Exterior Lighting System Description and Operation and perform the necessary inspections?

Go to Step 2

Go to Symptoms - Lighting Systems

2

  1. Turn the Ignition Switch to the OFF Position.
  2. Turn the Headlamp Switch to the OFF Position.
  3. Place the Headlamp Dimmer Switch in the LOW Position.
  4. Place the Headlamp Dimmer Switch in the HIGH Position.

Did any of the headlamps illuminate?

Go to Step 5

Go to Step 3

3

  1. Turn the Ignition Switch to the RUN Position.
  2. Expose the ambient light sensor a strong incandescent light.
  3. Turn the Headlamp Switch to the OFF Position.

Are the headlamps illuminate?

Go to Step 4

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

4

Are the daytime running lamps illuminated?

Go to Step 17

Go to Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) Inoperative

5

Did both the low beam headlamps and high beam headlamps illuminate?

Go to Step 7

Go to Step 6

6

Are the low beam headlamps illuminated at all times?

Go to Step 11

Go to Step 9

7

Disconnect the Daytime Running Lamp (DRL) control module connector C2.

Are the headlamps illuminated?

Go to Step 10

Go to Step 8

8

  1. Disconnect the daytime running lamp module C1.
  2. Probe the RKE activation input circuit of the daytime running lamp module with a test lamp that is connected to battery voltage.

Does the test lamp illuminate?

Go to Step 14

Go to Step 17

9

If the high beam headlamps are illuminated, remove the headlamp circuit breaker.

Are the high beam headlamps illuminated?

Go to Step 12

Go to Step 15

10

Disconnect the headlamp switch.

Are the headlamps illuminated?

Go to Step 13

Go to Step 16

11

Test for a short to voltage in all the headlamp low beam supply voltage circuits. Refer to Circuit Testing and Wiring Repairs in Wiring Systems.

Did you find and correct the condition?

Go to Step 19

Go to Step 18

12

Test for a short to voltage in all the headlamp high beam supply voltage circuits. Refer to Circuit Testing and Wiring Repairs in Wiring Systems.

Did you find and correct the condition?

Go to Step 19

Go to Step 18

13

Repair a short to voltage in the headlamp supply voltage circuit of the headlamp switch. Refer to Circuit Testing and Wiring Repairs in Wiring Systems.

Did you complete the repair?

Go to Step 19

--

14

Repair a short to ground in the RKE activation circuit of the daytime running lamps module. Refer to Circuit Testing and Wiring Repairs in Wiring Systems.

Did you complete the repair?

Go to Step 19

--

15

Replace the turn signal switch. Refer to Multifunction, Turn Signal, and Hazard Switch Replacement - On Vehicle in Steering Wheel and Column.

Did you complete the repair?

Go to Step 19

--

16

Replace the headlamp switch. Refer to Headlamp Switch Replacement .

Did you complete the repair?

Go to Step 19

--

17

Replace the Daytime Running Lamp (DRL) control module . Refer to Daytime Running Lights (DRL) Control Module Replacement .

Did you complete the repair?

Go to Step 19

--

18

Replace the junction block - underhood. Refer to Underhood Electrical Center or Junction Block Replacement in Wiring Systems.

Did you complete the repair?

Go to Step 19

--

19

Operate the system in order to verify the repair.

Did you correct the condition?

System OK

Go to Step 2

Headlamp Low or High Beams Always On Export

Step

Action

Yes

No

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

1

Did you review the Exterior Lighting System Description and Operation and perform the necessary inspections?

Go to Step 2

Go to Symptoms - Lighting Systems

2

  1. Turn the ignition switch to the OFF position.
  2. Turn the headlamp switch to the OFF position.
  3. Place the headlamp dimmer switch in the LOW position.
  4. Place the headlamp dimmer switch in the HIGH position.

Did any of the headlamps illuminate?

Go to Step 3

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

3

Did both the low beam headlamps and high beam headlamps illuminate?

Go to Step 7

Go to Step 4

4

Are the low beam headlamps illuminated at all times?

Go to Step 5

Go to Step 6

5

Disconnect the Daytime Running Lamp (DRL) control module connector C2.

Are the low beam headlamps illuminated?

Go to Step 8

Go to Step 21

6

If the high beam headlamps are illuminated, remove the HEAD LAMP circuit breaker.

Are the headlamp high beams illuminated?

Go to Step 12

Go to Step 19

7

Disconnect the headlamp switch.

Are the headlamps illuminated?

Go to Step 16

Go to Step 20

8

Remove the LH HEAD LP LOW fuse.

Is the LH low beam headlamp illuminated?

Go to Step 10

Go to Step 9

9

Remove the RH HEAD LP LOW fuse.

Is the low beam - RH headlamp illuminated?

Go to Step 11

Go to Step 17

10

Test for a short to voltage in the supply voltage circuit of the LH low beam headlamp. Refer to Circuit Testing and Wiring Repairs in Wiring Systems.

Did you find and correct the condition?

Go to Step 23

Go to Step 22

11

Test for a short to voltage in the supply voltage circuit of the RH low beam headlamp. Refer to Circuit Testing and Wiring Repairs in Wiring Systems.

Did you find and correct the condition?

Go to Step 23

Go to Step 22

12

Remove the LH HEAD LP HIGH fuse.

Is the LH low beam headlamp illuminated?

Go to Step 14

Go to Step 13

13

Remove the RH HEAD LP HIGH fuse.

Is the low beam - RH headlamp illuminated?

Go to Step 15

Go to Step 18

14

Test for a short to voltage in the supply voltage circuit of the LH high beam headlamp . Refer to Circuit Testing and Wiring Repairs in Wiring Systems.

Did you find and correct the condition?

Go to Step 23

Go to Step 22

15

Test for a short to voltage in the supply voltage circuit of the RH high beam headlamp . Refer to Circuit Testing and Wiring Repairs in Wiring Systems.

Did you find and correct the condition?

Go to Step 23

Go to Step 22

16

Repair a short to voltage in the headlamp supply voltage circuit of the headlamp switch. Refer to Circuit Testing and Wiring Repairs in Wiring Systems.

Did you complete the repair?

Go to Step 23

--

17

Repair a short to voltage in the headlamp low beam supply voltage circuit. Refer to Circuit Testing and Wiring Repairs in Wiring Systems.

Did you complete the repair?

Go to Step 23

--

18

Repair a short to voltage in the headlamp high beam supply voltage circuit. Refer to Circuit Testing and Wiring Repairs in Wiring Systems.

Did you complete the repair?

Go to Step 23

--

19

Replace the turn signal switch. Refer to Multifunction, Turn Signal, and Hazard Switch Replacement - On Vehicle in Steering Wheel and Column.

Did you complete the repair?

Go to Step 23

--

20

Replace the headlamp switch. Refer to Headlamp Switch Replacement .

Did you complete the repair?

Go to Step 23

--

21

Replace the Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) control module. Refer to Daytime Running Lights (DRL) Control Module Replacement .

Did you complete the repair?

Go to Step 23

--

22

Replace the junction block - underhood. Refer to Underhood Electrical Center or Junction Block Replacement in Wiring Systems.

Did you complete the repair?

Go to Step 23

--

23

Operate the system in order to verify the repair.

Did you correct the condition?

System OK

Go to Step 2