Your low beams are the most fundamental part of your headlights. When you’re driving at night, it’s the low beams that help you see.
So, if your low beams aren’t working, that’s a major problem that you need to solve immediately.
Here’s our quick guide to addressing the problems with your low beams.
5 Reasons Why Low Beam Headlights Aren’t Working
Faulty Bulbs
The problem with your headlights may be as simple as burnt-out bulbs.
To start, check to ensure that the bulbs are the problem. You can do this in two ways:
- Turn on your car to see if all the high and low beams are working. If one or both low beams aren’t working, the problem is most likely with the bulb.
- You can also take out the bulb and inspect it for burned filaments.
If this is your problem, you can fix it by buying new bulbs and fix it.
Blown fuses
When troubleshooting, remember to check the fuses. The same fuse usually controls low beam headlights, so if it’s blown, both headlights will be out.
To check the fuses, open the hood of your car and locate the fuse box. It will be a metal box with a cover near the engine. Remove the lid and inspect the fuses. They’ll be small, black cylinders with a number on them.
If you notice a blown-out fuse, replace it with a new one of the same rating. Lastly, lock the fuse box properly before starting your car.
Ground wire issues
Another thing you should check is the ground wire. This is the wire that connects the headlight assembly to the car’s chassis, and if it’s loose or corroded, it can cause the headlights to stop working.
To check the ground wire, open the hood of your car and locate the headlight assembly. There should be a small wire connector near the base of the headlight that connects to the ground wire. If this connector is missing, loose, or damaged, you’ll need to replace it.
Connection problems
If your headlights aren’t working, the first thing you should do is check the fuses. If they’re all good, it’s time to start checking the wiring. Follow the headlight wiring diagram to see if you can figure out which section of the circuit is broken.
Relay issues
If you still can’t find the problem, it’s time to check the relay. The relay is a small, square box located near the battery, and it’s responsible for sending power to the headlight bulbs. You can remove it from its housing and use a voltmeter to test the pins for continuity. If there’s no continuity, replace the relay.
What Are Low Beam Headlights? How Do They Differ From High Beams?
The low beams are the ones you use when it’s dark out and you need to see the road right ahead of you. They’re different from high beam headlights, designed to temporarily brighten up the area in front of you when there’s oncoming traffic.
How Do You Fix Low Beam Headlights Not Working?
If your low-beam headlights aren’t working, it could be for several reasons. Maybe the bulbs are burnt out, the headlight assembly is loose, or something is blocking the light. No matter the issue, there’s a fix for it.
Here are quick tips to fix low beam headlights not working:
- Check the bulbs. If they’re burnt out, replace them.
- Make sure the headlight assembly is tight and secure. If it’s loose, tighten the screws or bolts.
- Clean any dirt or debris from the headlight assembly and lens.
- Replace the headlight assembly if it’s damaged or broken.
How to replace a headlight bulb
Replacing a burned-out headlight bulb is a DIY job if you have a screwdriver and 20 minutes to spare.
Start by turning off your car and removing the key from the ignition. Next, pop the hood and locate the headlight assembly. Once you’ve found it, unscrew the bolts that hold it in place using your screwdriver.
Now that the headlight assembly is loose, gently pull it out of the car. You should see two bulbs in each headlight—one for low and another for high beams. Carefully remove the old bulb by unscrewing it from the socket.
Once you’ve replaced the old bulb with the new one, put everything back together in reverse order, and you’re good to go!
How to fix a blown fuse
Here’s how to fix it:
- Start your vehicle and switch on the headlights.
- Look for the fuse box. It sits in the engine bay or the cabin of the car.
- Find the fuse for the headlights and pull it out.
- Take a look at the fuse. If it’s blown, it will be black or charred.
- If the fuse is blown, replace it with a new one and put it back in the fuse box.
- Lastly, turn on your headlights to test them and see if they work now.
Why Do My Low Beams Not Work But My High Beams Do?
Most car makers wire high beams and low beams separately. This separate wiring explains why a problem with your low beam headlights may not affect the high beams.
For example, if a fuse in your low beam connection blows out, it will not affect your high beam headlights.
Last Words on What Would Cause Low Beam Headlights Not to Work
There are a few different things that may cause your low-beam headlights to stop working. It could be a problem with the fuse, the headlight switch, the headlight itself, or the wiring.
If you can’t seem to find a remedy, take your car to a mechanic to inspect it. They’ll be able to check the problem and help you fix it ASAP.