Headlights went out while driving...help

[sunliner]

So...I'm driving down a dark country road tonight and both headlights just shut down. I immediately hit my hi-beams and they come on so I made it home,blinding my fellow motorists in the process but at least I didn't hit anybody...
I've heard about a relay that could be the culprit, but just in case this offers any clues, let me mention that I've noticed for a while now that when driving at night, I would notice the lights flicker VERY briefly but they never went out until tonight. This one stretch of road that I drive has a few streetlights so I had always assumed the 'flicker' was the daylight sensor on the dash being momentarily fooled as I passed under the light.
[edit]...just went back out and hit the switch and the lights came on as normal....scary

 

[Sparky]

More than likely it is that relay starting to flake out on you. I'd plan on going ahead and replacing it.

 

[Mounce]

That's your relay, no doubt. They flake out like that and become unreliable. Replace with ACDelco only, cheaper brands like to melt.

If you're in a pinch on the road like you were, pull over and swap the low beam relay (labeled hdm on the fuse/relay list) with the cooling fan relay and you'll have lows again. You can't mess it up because they have a unique pin layout and are the only two that way, if they're oem they should be black and they're side by side.


One night my low beams cut out and I also had to blind everyone. The relay went back to working normally and it was months before it acted up again. Very unreliable once they start to fail.


-here's about as cheap as you'll find them if you can wait for shipping

http://pages.ebay.com/motors/link/?nav=item.view&id=161413298046&alt=web

They'll be around double that at the parts store if they even have ACDelco in stock.

 

[BlazingTrails]

Here is further reading on the subject.....

http://gmtnation.com/forums/topic/13523-headlamp-relay-just-melted/

http://gmtnation.com/forums/topic/8845-headlights-stopped-working-not-the-relay/

http://gmtnation.com/forums/topic/11019-headlight-problem/

http://gmtnation.com/forums/topic/9980-no-lowbeams/

http://gmtnation.com/forums/topic/8722-headlight-issue/

http://gmtnation.com/forums/topic/14069-low-beam-failure-just-the-relay/

http://gmtnation.com/forums/topic/10580-headlights-cut-out-while-driving/

http://gmtnation.com/forums/topic/4265-intermittent-headlights/

http://gmtnation.com/forums/topic/12197-headlights-went-out-only-have-flash-to-pass/

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=headlights+out+relay+site%3Agmtnation.com

 

[Grimor]

isn't there a recall on some years?

 

[Mounce]

Yeah, think it started for 05 or 06+ I know my 04 was left out.

 

[ddgm]

My 2006 Saab 9-7x has the recall, but GM doesn't have a part to replace the relay with yet. They will let me know when the part is available. Good thing I only drive it 6 months of the year, which I will be doing at the end of October.

 

[wedge1]

All of the above happened to me including the melting of the cheap relay. Buy the new AC-Delco. Wedge

 

[sunliner]

Thanks to all for the replies! sorry for the delayed response...something else came up and had me tied up for a few days. will get that Delco relay...thanks again...you guys are great.

 

[CajunWon]

This is a NHTSA Recall. Just started acting up on my 06.
Considering if worth it to make an appointment for the free repair, or simply get one at AZone.
Manufacturer Recall NumberN140291
NHTSA Recall Number14V755
Recall StatusRecall Incomplete
SummaryGeneral Motors has decided that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in certain 2005 – 2009 model year Buick LaCrosse vehicles; certain 2006 – 2008 Saab 9-7X and Isuzu Ascender vehicles; certain 2006 – 2007 Buick Rainier, Chevrolet Trailblazer and GMC Envoy vehicles; certain 2007 Pontiac Grand Prix vehicles; and certain 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT and GMC Envoy XL vehicles. The headlamp driver module (HDM) in certain of these vehicles may not operate properly in the thermal environment of the underhood electrical center. If the HDM is not operating correctly, the low-beam headlamps and daytime running lamps could fail to illuminate. This failure could be intermittent or permanent. This condition does not affect the high-beam headlamps, marker lamps, turn signals, or fog lamps.

 

[C-ya]

My '05 TB had the relay fail. Too bad it isn't part of the recall. I told the Chevy dealer locally that was doing warranty work on it, so I'm sure it made it into the database.

 

[sunliner]

I replaced the relay and haven't had a problem since, though I keep my finger on the hi-beam trigger at night just in case... is the headlight driver module a different part, or just another name for the relay?

 

[johnbuick]

Relay went out on 05 Rainer used fog light to get home. Only 35 dollar part at shop plus they did a check of electrical system.

 

[C-ya]

I replaced the relay and haven't had a problem since, though I keep my finger on the hi-beam trigger at night just in case... is the headlight driver module a different part, or just another name for the relay?

Yes, it's called the headlight module. We old-school folks call it a relay.

Mine hasn't acted up since it got replaced, either. I replaced mine with the fan module to get home and got another one. The new one went into the headlight slot.

I have to check into this on our '04 Impala as a few times the low beams have gone out. I clicked the high beams on and then back to low and the low beams stayed on. This was after driving home for about 10 miles with just the fog lights on. There was lots of snow so good reflection and no trouble seeing at all.

 

[kctrailblazer]

could use some help. my hdm went so I replaced it and it worked fine for a few hours and then nothing, I tested the hdm in the fuse block, I have ground on the 6 pin, power on the 2 pin, and when I hook my test light to the positive battery terminal and probe a test lead from pin 5 it lights when the switch is turned on. also put power to pin4 and lights work. the harness from the fuse block to both headlights looks fine, no charred connectors anywhere and the harness doesn't get hot. I've pulled both headlights and checked the 2 wire connectors and both are fine, no charring . I have no idea what to do now and any help will be greatly appreciated.

 

[Mooseman]

By "hdm" do you mean the headlamp relay? If so, did you use an ACDelco replacement? Other brands have been known to fail, sometimes catastrophically (i.e. fire). The fan relay is the same if you want to swap them and see what happens.

 

[kctrailblazer]

By "hdm" do you mean the headlamp relay? If so, did you use an ACDelco replacement? Other brands have been known to fail, sometimes catastrophically (i.e. fire). The fan relay is the same if you want to swap them and see what happens.

Yes, I replaced it with a Duralast , it worked then stopped. I also notice that when I use my key fob the headlights no longer come on. something is blowing them and at 27 dollars a pop i'm afraid of blowing another one.

 

[djthumper]

don't use duralast...

 

[kctrailblazer]

I guess let me order the ac/delco one. Has anyone ever found a problem in the harness from the bcm to the fuse block? thanks for the info

 

[Mooseman]

Nope. The relay is the #1 cause of both headlights failing.

 

[kctrailblazer]

Nope. The relay is the #1 cause of both headlights failing.

Thank you so much for the info. Ordering the new one from rock auto when i get home.

 

[Mektek]

Relay went out on 05 Rainer used fog light to get home. Only 35 dollar part at shop plus they did a check of electrical system.

Wow! that's expensive for a small relay. I grabbed 2 of them at the local PYP yard.... I used the driving lights to get home when mine failed. Then a DL bulb burned out too I got home with one light working.
If you have a DRL killer then you no longer need that electronic relay. You can install a regular relay in its place and never have that problem again.

 

[ComputernerdBD]

My recommendation: Always keep a spare relay in your console. You never know when you might need it and when you do it will be at the worst time. I keep spares of small critical items that if failed are high impact, hard to get but easy to replace such as this relay/4x4 switch/brake switch/LED relay/spare fluids. A couple years ago I started hearing of problems with the relays. As I am a night owl who drives alot at night and realizing the criticality of a failed relay, I ordered a spare on Amazon to keep in the console.

I was going on a 2 week IT training course in the middle of nowhere in Pennsylvania in August. On the 3rd day I was in my truck coming back from dinner and as soon as I pulled onto a pitch black side road both low beams went out. Knowing immediately that must be the problem I grabbed a flashlight, opened the hood and the fuse panel and replaced the relay. 2 minute fix for an issue that almost caused a severe impact to this trip. Then I was concerned about not having a spare after that so while I originally considered finding a GM dealer to buy another I just went on Amazon and reordered the part to have sent home. Been fine sense and I still have that spare. In my opinion if GM is going to make relays with this problem they not only should make cars with spare fuses but also spare relays.

 

[Mooseman]

When I go to the pick-a-pull, I just grab spares. Makes up for the yard fee.

In an emergency, you could swap the fan relay for the headlight relay. They are the same. As long as you're moving or it's not too hot out, you shouldn't overheat.

 

[LikeEnvoy]

Both of my low beams failed too - last week. I found this thread (thanks to Mooseman and all who contributed) and swapped the solid state relay for the fan module- yes that got the lights working. I then found the web pages from news channels in Canada and US about the GM recall for this.

My local GM dealer told me there was no open recall on this (I began to get heated)....but.....then they said there IS a special consideration policy for this so it should be free (Should- but if they find there is something else causing it they must charge a diagnostic fee of $70- yeah right).
I took it in and made sure to point out that I had read about it and tried swapping the modules. They installed an improved new type, free of charge.
Sometimes GM does it right- I'm happy. Mind you - I never received a letter about this, despite the recall coming out a couple of years ago! It's just lucky that my lights didn't go dead at speed in the night!
(Oh and I was just IN the policy mileage; I'm at 210,000 km and the policy expires at 240,000 km)