90 LS400 Hi Beam Failure

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Jerohm - 24 Oct 2006 13:19 GMT

Last night while driving home from the airport, I switched on the hi-beams -
which came on for a second and then BOTH went dark. The lo-beams continues
to work okay. There doesn't seem to be a fuse for the hi-beams - just a
fuse for each individual lamp. The dash indicator functions normally. Any
hints? Is there a relay that may have failed?

Thanks

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Ray O - 24 Oct 2006 16:47 GMT

> Last night while driving home from the airport, I switched on the
> hi-beams - which came on for a second and then BOTH went dark. The
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>
> Thanks

Rather than speculate, my recommendation would be to do some checking.
Assuming that the car is not equipped with high intensity discharge lights,
you can use a 12 volt test light or volt meter (volt meter is preferred) to
see if there is 12 volts coming to each headlamp socket when the high beams
are turned on. If so, then change both bulbs. If you do not have 12 volts
at the sockets, then work your way backwards to the headlamp relays, power
source, and combination switch on the steering column.

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Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)

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Jerohm - 27 Oct 2006 17:10 GMT

> Rather than speculate, my recommendation would be to do some checking.
> Assuming that the car is not equipped with high intensity discharge
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> headlamp relays, power source, and combination switch on the steering
> column.

Well the filaments were REALLY burned through. I DID purchase the bulbs off
eBay ... super bright 9004s, but the low wattage ones (65W/45W). They
lasted no more than 3500 miles (assume only ~50% usage). They were
absolutely wonderful when they DID work. They LOOK very high quality.

Any speculation what made them pop when switching to the HI-Beams ... (The
next morning, one of the low beams was also burned out - it DID last on the
way home from the previous night however ... strange, to me anyway). I am
back to the original bulbs that I replaced; they are fine ... at least so
far.

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Ray O - 27 Oct 2006 17:22 GMT

>> Rather than speculate, my recommendation would be to do some checking.
>> Assuming that the car is not equipped with high intensity discharge
[quoted text clipped - 15 lines]
> I am back to the original bulbs that I replaced; they are fine ... at
> least so far.

If you purchased the bulbs on eBay, then they were probably shipped to you
through the mail or a package service and were handled roughly. Rough
handling probably does not help their longevity, or perhaps the bulbs were
cheap?

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Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)

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