Relay good still no head lights on 94 Geo

[Fritz]

Well,here goes my first “Ï know just enough to be dangerous” post.

Got a puddle jumper 94 Geo Prism (Toyota Corolla in disguise with Chevy emblem basically) 1.6 Liter 4 banger.

Headlights worked for awhile and now that inspectio is due no headlights

Wiggled the steering column mounted stalk and switch all around in case something was corroded or loose but no flicker or anything on low beam. I hit the high beam and those did come on but now the only way they will come on is if I pull the stalk control towards me for intermittant high beams (turns them off as soon as you release stalk and it returns automatically into normal position.

I watched the video on the 94 and appied what I learned to the underhood relay. With ignition energized I held my hand on the relay while turning headlights on through the open window and heard no click.

I pulled the relay and its housing cover to find no pitting to the contact and nothing smelled burned or was discolored. I reinstalled the relay,energized ignition, and with the relay cover removed I manually engaged the contact with a dry wooden dowel pin and low beams and high beams worked perfectly. Released contact and tried it via the interior controls and no click and no lights.

I got a $16 relay and installed that hoping the coil was bad or something but same condition. No lights.

Checked fuses and there were none I saw for the headlights.

I am praying it isn’t the column switch since everything after the relay works when manually engaged. I am out of work injured and cannot afford or physically get into some big project dropping and repairing a steering column.

Any other thoughts on what to check or video links?

Thanks in advance for any help m “dirty”friends B)

Topic

[Travis]

Might seem like a dumb question did u check the bulbs sometimes they can short and cause ( what looks like) ” electrical problems”

[Fritz]

I appreciate it but they all come on when I manually close the relay contact but you had a valid point.
Thanks,
John

[Its me]

I have seen the problem be in the “stalk” assembly as you call it. I once had a 1998 Corolla that had this issue. I went to the salvage yard and got a replacement… Problem solved. Replacing this column switch was simple since it was unit… Took only about 2 minutes to get to… Your column should have a couple of bolts at the bottom and essentially come apart like a clamshell.

-Karl

[Erik]

K so what i am gathering from the wiring diagram i pulled is that the headlight switch controls the ground side of the relay so the first thing i would do is check and make sure you have your ground signal at the proper relay terminal when the switch is on and also make sure that u have your constant power. If no ground i would check for a ground signal right out of the head light switch if you have it there then you probably have a bad wire if you dont have it there then most likely its gonna be the switch these diagrams are kinda generic but ill attach them anyways

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[Fritz]

K%mudlife

I appreciate your time getting the diagrams together and the procedures. Very nice of you man.

We have a funeral today but as soon as possible I will be following your leads.

Thanks again man

[Tom]

Since the headlights come on when you manually move the relay contacts, you already know you are getting your 12v constant at the relay. You’ve also replaced the relay with a new unit, making it pretty unlikely that your relay is the problem.

My money is on the headlight switch in the steering column. Test for ground at the appropriate pin in the relay connector with the headlight switch on, then replace the bad switch and be done with it (do test it first though, just to verify).

[Fritz]

Thanks TomH

I hope we both are wrong (been thinking the same thing) but you are probably correct.

I am old school musclecar stuff so I have zero clue what is involved in breaking down a column with an air bag in it, so a little hesitant on that till I research it.

With my luck it would go off while I am working on it and mount a screwdriver in my forehead ha ha

[Tom]

Never messed with a Prizm, but I doubt it is much different than most modern cars. I’ve replaced these switches on two different Accords, a Nissan Maxima, Geo Storm and perhaps one or two other cars. I think you will be pleasantly surprised.

You are thinking old school get out the steering wheel puller, and be prepared for a royal pain in the rear end messing about in a tiny column.

Modern steering columns are NOTHING like that. I’m thinking you will find this to be an easier job than you are expecting.

[Fritz]

Thank you for the vote of confidence Tomh. I figured with all the modern guizmos and especially an air bad that it might take special tools etc.

How is that bag deployed? Is it wired or somehow reacts to impact? That last one is what has stopped me from touching any air bagged steering wheel :unsure:

I have all the old style pullers, guess it is time to do a search engine on pulling an air bagged equipped steering wheel

[Fritz]

Wow this obviously isn’t the right video.

With friends like that who needs enemies?

Guy could have been killed

[EricTheCarGuy]

Normally each headlight has it’s own circuit. This helps prevent total failure. Based on your description I would say your issue is on the control side before the relay. I’m thinking you might be on to something by looking into the combination switch. I would check it’s output. If you don’t see a signal coming out of it to the relay, I would replace it and recheck for the problem.

[Author]

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