Headlights question - Toyota Yaris Forums

dutchy999 · 12-16-2010, 05:57 AM

2008 LB, no headlight mods. Both DRL/headlights are out, but both highbeams are working (although with no highbeam indicator on the dash)... Searched forum before going out in the cold and the dark and found info to check the 2 H-LP fuses under the hood and the ECU-IG fuse under the dash.

Quick question: Still not sure if this is a bulb or a fuse issue: Would the highbeams be working at all if the H-LP fuse(s) were bad? (I would expect the highbeams to be non-functional too if this were really a fuse issue.)

Can anyone enlighten me?

Thanks,

dutchy999

CTScott · 12-16-2010, 09:42 AM

Those fuses feed both the high and low filaments on each side (one fuse is left and the other right), so if one was popped, one headlight would be completely out and if both were popped both would be.

Here's what I would check:

1. Pull the connector off the DRL module to verify that it is not bad. With the connector removed, the DRLs won't come on, but the low beams will if you turn the headlight switch on.

2. Check the bulbs. It's not highly likely that they are both out, but sometimes you don't notice that one is out and then the second one goes.

3. Check the headlight switch. If you have a volt meter, measure the voltage between the skyblue wire (next to the pink one) and one of the white with a black stripe wires. With the headlight switch off it should measure 12V and with the switch on it should measure 0V. If it still measures 12V with the switch on, then your switch is bad.

dutchy999 · 12-16-2010, 10:51 AM

Thanks for the info. Will see what I find when I venture out into the cold...

dutchy999

WeeYari · 12-16-2010, 12:30 PM

Maybe Scott can fill in some gaps on what I'm about to say.

With my '06 sometimes suffering from the notorious pre '08 voltage regulator issue, my DRLs do not come on when the regulator is acting up. Regulator stops triggering the battery light, DRLs are back.

Perhaps you have something going on which is manifesting itself in a manner similar to whatever is going on when the regulator is giving grief.

Scott?

dutchy999 · 12-16-2010, 12:46 PM

Not aware of any issues with the voltage regulator. Battery light has never come on... Thanks for the heads-up, tho.

dutchy999

MadMax · 12-16-2010, 02:57 PM

Wait, you have a 2008 US-spec hatchback with DRLs?!?

Is that something specific to NY state? We didn't get that option down here...

Cheers! M2

dutchy999 · 12-16-2010, 03:01 PM

Yup..

When I first had the car, the DRLs frequently led to me forgetting to turn on the "regular" headlights, expecially when starting the car at night or early in the morning. (Start the car, DRLs come on, and I'd totally forget about the headlights.....)

dutchy999

CTScott · 12-16-2010, 03:32 PM

Even Crashy has DRLs. I think it may have been part of the cold weather package for 08.

MadMax · 12-16-2010, 08:47 PM

Interesting, I didn't know the 08s had a packaget that came with DRLs. I had them on my old car, but honestly even though I drive with my headlights on all the time anyway I still like the ability to turn them off...

dutchy999 · 12-20-2010, 04:32 PM

Update: Started with 2 new headlight bulbs (figured it was the most logical place to start from a troubleshooting perspective). Indeed this fixed the problem. I now have DRL / regular headlights and highbeams again. No need to look at the fuses or DRL relay...

One remark in general: Who designed the system in such a way that there's absolutely no way for a person with normal-sized hands to get the bulb out? Had to resort to partly removing the bumper and removing the headlight units from the fenders to get access. It worked, but it's a big hassle just to replace the light bulbs....

dutchy999

fj40dave · 01-27-2011, 03:27 PM

I have the same issue going on right now.....weird....but I'm going to start with replacing the bulbs as well I suppose.

fj40dave · 01-27-2011, 05:54 PM

Yep....both bulbs were the culprit....weird!

I even tested the circuits and relay before checking here (Yaris Forum)....

That'll teach me

And.........I couldn't agree more about the access difficulty issue - especially with the drivers side!

Vinceb · 01-28-2011, 07:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fj40dave

And.........I couldn't agree more about the access difficulty issue - especially with the drivers side!

You should see all the space in the Sedan, takes 5-10 min to change both bulbs. - nothing needs to be removed.

12-16-2010, 05:57 AM	#1
dutchy999 Drives: 2008 Yaris LB S Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: NY State Posts: 8	Headlights question 2008 LB, no headlight mods. Both DRL/headlights are out, but both highbeams are working (although with no highbeam indicator on the dash)... Searched forum before going out in the cold and the dark and found info to check the 2 H-LP fuses under the hood and the ECU-IG fuse under the dash. Quick question: Still not sure if this is a bulb or a fuse issue: Would the highbeams be working at all if the H-LP fuse(s) were bad? (I would expect the highbeams to be non-functional too if this were really a fuse issue.) Can anyone enlighten me? Thanks, dutchy999

12-16-2010, 09:42 AM	#2
CTScott ULTIMATE View User's Garage Drives: 09 5dr LB, 2x 08 3dr LB Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: USA, CT Posts: 13,460	Those fuses feed both the high and low filaments on each side (one fuse is left and the other right), so if one was popped, one headlight would be completely out and if both were popped both would be. Here's what I would check: 1. Pull the connector off the DRL module to verify that it is not bad. With the connector removed, the DRLs won't come on, but the low beams will if you turn the headlight switch on. 2. Check the bulbs. It's not highly likely that they are both out, but sometimes you don't notice that one is out and then the second one goes. 3. Check the headlight switch. If you have a volt meter, measure the voltage between the skyblue wire (next to the pink one) and one of the white with a black stripe wires. With the headlight switch off it should measure 12V and with the switch on it should measure 0V. If it still measures 12V with the switch on, then your switch is bad. __________________

12-16-2010, 12:30 PM	#4
WeeYari View User's Garage Drives: 06 Polar White 5dr, 13 Soul 4u Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Georgetown, Ontario, Canada Posts: 5,740	Maybe Scott can fill in some gaps on what I'm about to say. With my '06 sometimes suffering from the notorious pre '08 voltage regulator issue, my DRLs do not come on when the regulator is acting up. Regulator stops triggering the battery light, DRLs are back. Perhaps you have something going on which is manifesting itself in a manner similar to whatever is going on when the regulator is giving grief. Scott? __________________

12-16-2010, 02:57 PM	#6
MadMax Drives: 2008 Yaris Liftback (Sprocket) Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: San Antonio, Texas! Posts: 2,799	Wait, you have a 2008 US-spec hatchback *with DRLs?!?* Is that something specific to NY state? We didn't get that option down here... Cheers! M2 __________________

12-16-2010, 03:32 PM	#8
CTScott ULTIMATE View User's Garage Drives: 09 5dr LB, 2x 08 3dr LB Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: USA, CT Posts: 13,460	Even Crashy has DRLs. I think it may have been part of the cold weather package for 08. __________________

12-16-2010, 10:51 AM	#3
dutchy999 Drives: 2008 Yaris LB S Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: NY State Posts: 8	Thanks for the info. Will see what I find when I venture out into the cold... dutchy999

12-16-2010, 12:46 PM	#5
dutchy999 Drives: 2008 Yaris LB S Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: NY State Posts: 8	Not aware of any issues with the voltage regulator. Battery light has never come on... Thanks for the heads-up, tho. dutchy999

12-16-2010, 03:01 PM	#7
dutchy999 Drives: 2008 Yaris LB S Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: NY State Posts: 8	Yup.. When I first had the car, the DRLs frequently led to me forgetting to turn on the "regular" headlights, expecially when starting the car at night or early in the morning. (Start the car, DRLs come on, and I'd totally forget about the headlights.....) dutchy999

12-16-2010, 08:47 PM	#9
MadMax Drives: 2008 Yaris Liftback (Sprocket) Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: San Antonio, Texas! Posts: 2,799	Interesting, I didn't know the 08s had a packaget that came with DRLs. I had them on my old car, but honestly even though I drive with my headlights on all the time anyway I still like the ability to turn them off... __________________

12-20-2010, 04:32 PM	#10
dutchy999 Drives: 2008 Yaris LB S Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: NY State Posts: 8	Update: Started with 2 new headlight bulbs (figured it was the most logical place to start from a troubleshooting perspective). Indeed this fixed the problem. I now have DRL / regular headlights and highbeams again. No need to look at the fuses or DRL relay... One remark in general: Who designed the system in such a way that there's absolutely no way for a person with normal-sized hands to get the bulb out? Had to resort to partly removing the bumper and removing the headlight units from the fenders to get access. It worked, but it's a big hassle just to replace the light bulbs.... dutchy999

01-27-2011, 03:27 PM	#11
fj40dave Drives: '08 HB Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Allyn Posts: 71	I have the same issue going on right now.....weird....but I'm going to start with replacing the bulbs as well I suppose.

01-27-2011, 05:54 PM	#12
fj40dave Drives: '08 HB Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Allyn Posts: 71	Yep....both bulbs were the culprit....weird! I even tested the circuits and relay before checking here (Yaris Forum).... That'll teach me And.........I couldn't agree more about the access difficulty issue - especially with the drivers side!

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