2001 Eldorado headlights won't come on

kenscaddy01 · #1 (**permalink**) 11-08-09, 09:15 AM

Hi Everyone,

I am brand new to this forum and have a problem that I'm hoping someone can help with. Just bought a 2001 Eldorado with 103K on the clock. Very sweet car, well cared for. I have had the car for 2 days and the other night the headlights failed to come on, worked great the night before and for the previous owner, never had any problems he said. All other lights work inside and out. I checked ALL the headlight related fuses, engine compartment and trunk and all look good. This includes the Maxi fuses. High beams don't work either...The headlights don't come on even if I pull the switch out all the way and take it off the sentinal. I can fiddle with the switch and sentinal slider switch all I want, and NOTHING...Any help would be appreciated...Thank you...

Ian-STS99 · #2 (**permalink**) 11-08-09, 09:22 AM

Hmmm ! Check for a connector block that may have come un-attached under the dash / footwell area or in the engine compartment.

Could also be a bad earth wire some place.

If that fails, the switch could be the problem.

kenscaddy01 · #3 (**permalink**) 11-08-09, 09:26 AM

Thank you, I will check for a loose connector block. Any relays anywhere?

chubbyranger · #4 (**permalink**) 11-08-09, 09:29 AM

1st step is to check for power (and ground) at the bulb sockets. You should also check the fuse/relay center and see if there are relays for the high and low beams. There's a very slim chance that both bulbs failed at once but its possible; it happened to me once and I spent a couple hours troubleshooting before replacing the bulbs. If you've eliminated fuses its either the bulbs, the wiring, the relays or the switch.

kenscaddy01 · #5 (**permalink**) 11-08-09, 11:22 AM

Gentlemen,

So we may all benefit in the future, there is a headlight relay, plus other relays, under the fuse panel cover in the engine compartment. I identified it via the owners manual and swapped it with the relay for the fog lights (same relay number, right next to it) and PRESTO, I have headlights. I will replace the bad one so I get the fog lights back, and we are done. Thanks for all the help....

chubbyranger · #6 (**permalink**) 11-08-09, 12:41 PM

Thanks for the follow up. Far too often the OP disappears into the ether and we never know how it came out.