Honda Car Forum

I just bought a 1986 Accord. The low beams don't work but the high beams do.
All signals, running lights and brake lights work fine. We checked the fuses
and they are ok. Also the rear windshield washer works but not the front.
The wipers work on both front and back.

I'm thinking the problem might be in the steering column where the switches
are, because that is the common denominator between the two problems. It
could, however be totally unrelated as well.

Any suggestions?

"Tania" <taniaj@telus.net> wrote in message
news:Mc_Ei.51192$vP5.1315@edtnps90...
>I just bought a 1986 Accord. The low beams don't work but the high beams
>do. All signals, running lights and brake lights work fine. We checked the
>fuses and they are ok. Also the rear windshield washer works but not the
>front. The wipers work on both front and back.
>
> I'm thinking the problem might be in the steering column where the
> switches are, because that is the common denominator between the two
> problems. It could, however be totally unrelated as well.
>
> Any suggestions?

Just got the windshield washer problem fixed... dirty contacts. So now we're
down to the headlighs if anyone has a suggestion.
Thanks.

Thanks, Zed, for your reply... The fuses are fine ... but the guy who owned
it before me said sometimes the headlights would turn off while he was
driving and then he'd just have to turn them off and then on again. It does
sound like a short though... So when we're talking wiring harness am I
looking near the headlights? Or further down the line?


"Zed" <yourname@here.com> wrote in message
news:46e49638$0$28826$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
> Did you check the wiring harness to the headlights? That's the problem I
> had with my '86 Accord. The low beams would work but when I turned on the
> high beams the fuse would blow.
>
>
> "Tania" <taniaj@telus.net> wrote in message
> news:Mc_Ei.51192$vP5.1315@edtnps90...
>>I just bought a 1986 Accord. The low beams don't work but the high beams
>>do. All signals, running lights and brake lights work fine. We checked the
>>fuses and they are ok. Also the rear windshield washer works but not the
>>front. The wipers work on both front and back.
>>
>> I'm thinking the problem might be in the steering column where the
>> switches are, because that is the common denominator between the two
>> problems. It could, however be totally unrelated as well.
>>
>> Any suggestions?
>>
>
>

Did you check the wiring harness to the headlights? That's the problem I had
with my '86 Accord. The low beams would work but when I turned on the high
beams the fuse would blow.


"Tania" <taniaj@telus.net> wrote in message
news:Mc_Ei.51192$vP5.1315@edtnps90...
>I just bought a 1986 Accord. The low beams don't work but the high beams
>do. All signals, running lights and brake lights work fine. We checked the
>fuses and they are ok. Also the rear windshield washer works but not the
>front. The wipers work on both front and back.
>
> I'm thinking the problem might be in the steering column where the
> switches are, because that is the common denominator between the two
> problems. It could, however be totally unrelated as well.
>
> Any suggestions?
>

Tania wrote:
> Thanks, Zed, for your reply... The fuses are fine ... but the guy who owned
> it before me said sometimes the headlights would turn off while he was
> driving and then he'd just have to turn them off and then on again. It does
> sound like a short though... So when we're talking wiring harness am I
> looking near the headlights? Or further down the line?

It wouldn't be a short, because that would blow the fuse.

I'd say dirty switch contacts would be a good guess...

Matt Ion wrote:
> Tania wrote:
>
>> Thanks, Zed, for your reply... The fuses are fine ... but the guy who
>> owned it before me said sometimes the headlights would turn off while
>> he was driving and then he'd just have to turn them off and then on
>> again. It does sound like a short though... So when we're talking
>> wiring harness am I looking near the headlights? Or further down the
>> line?
>
>
> It wouldn't be a short, because that would blow the fuse.
>
> I'd say dirty switch contacts would be a good guess...



I had similar problems with my '83 FE and '82 el cheapo Civic.

I squirted copious amounts of WD-40 into the switch assembly on the
steering column and all work fine afterwards.

You might also try pulling the connectors from the rear of the bulb(s),
lubricating them and reconnecting.

JT

On Sep 10, 10:26 am, Grumpy AuContraire <Gru...@ExtraGrumpyville.com>
wrote:
> Matt Ion wrote:
> > Tania wrote:
>
> >> Thanks, Zed, for your reply... The fuses are fine ... but the guy who
> >> owned it before me said sometimes the headlights would turn off while
> >> he was driving and then he'd just have to turn them off and then on
> >> again. It does sound like a short though... So when we're talking
> >> wiring harness am I looking near the headlights? Or further down the
> >> line?
>
> > It wouldn't be a short, because that would blow the fuse.
>
> > I'd say dirty switch contacts would be a good guess...
>
> I had similar problems with my '83 FE and '82 el cheapo Civic.
>
> I squirted copious amounts of WD-40 into the switch assembly on the
> steering column and all work fine afterwards.
>
> You might also try pulling the connectors from the rear of the bulb(s),
> lubricating them and reconnecting.
>
> JT

I don't know if this could also be a solution for you, but, my problem
was an intermittant right side only high beam headlight, in addition
to the daytime running lights (Canadian option) not working at all.
The right high beam was on and off by itself, mostly off. I tried
everything! Checked fuses.... and remember there are fuses in BOTH
the main wiring harness under the hood and the fuse block under the
dash. I metered voltage to the bulb connectors, then to the wire
behind the connectors, to eliminate a bad connector. (Yes, I reversed
the bulbs too, and the problem remained on the right side, eliminating
the bulb). I replaced the headlight relay located behind the glove
box. Running out of ideas, I pulled the daytime running light module,
and found what appeared to be cracks on the solder joints to the
relays on the board. I resoldered the connections and reinstalled the
part. Everything works fine now! The Replacement Module would have
been about $100 Dollars Canadian, if I needed to replace it, and of
course, they say there are "No user servicable parts inside". Let me
know if you want me to send a photograph of the part.

This isn't the first time I've found cold solder joints on modules on
different vehicles..... a good place to look for a solution to
intermittant, stupid types of electrical failures.

"COH" <ivan.cohen@sympatico.ca> wrote in message
news:1189472151.092949.157250@w3g2000hsg.googlegro ups.com...
> On Sep 10, 10:26 am, Grumpy AuContraire <Gru...@ExtraGrumpyville.com>
> wrote:
>> Matt Ion wrote:
>> > Tania wrote:
>>
>> >> Thanks, Zed, for your reply... The fuses are fine ... but the guy who
>> >> owned it before me said sometimes the headlights would turn off while
>> >> he was driving and then he'd just have to turn them off and then on
>> >> again. It does sound like a short though... So when we're talking
>> >> wiring harness am I looking near the headlights? Or further down the
>> >> line?
>>
>> > It wouldn't be a short, because that would blow the fuse.
>>
>> > I'd say dirty switch contacts would be a good guess...
>>
>> I had similar problems with my '83 FE and '82 el cheapo Civic.
>>
>> I squirted copious amounts of WD-40 into the switch assembly on the
>> steering column and all work fine afterwards.
>>
>> You might also try pulling the connectors from the rear of the bulb(s),
>> lubricating them and reconnecting.
>>
>> JT
>
> I don't know if this could also be a solution for you, but, my problem
> was an intermittant right side only high beam headlight, in addition
> to the daytime running lights (Canadian option) not working at all.
> The right high beam was on and off by itself, mostly off. I tried
> everything! Checked fuses.... and remember there are fuses in BOTH
> the main wiring harness under the hood and the fuse block under the
> dash. I metered voltage to the bulb connectors, then to the wire
> behind the connectors, to eliminate a bad connector. (Yes, I reversed
> the bulbs too, and the problem remained on the right side, eliminating
> the bulb). I replaced the headlight relay located behind the glove
> box. Running out of ideas, I pulled the daytime running light module,
> and found what appeared to be cracks on the solder joints to the
> relays on the board. I resoldered the connections and reinstalled the
> part. Everything works fine now! The Replacement Module would have
> been about $100 Dollars Canadian, if I needed to replace it, and of
> course, they say there are "No user servicable parts inside". Let me
> know if you want me to send a photograph of the part.
>
> This isn't the first time I've found cold solder joints on modules on
> different vehicles..... a good place to look for a solution to
> intermittant, stupid types of electrical failures.
>
We'll look at that one today. I figure if it was cleaning dirty contacts
that fixed the windshield wash then it's going to be something like what
you're all describing. If you have a picture and have the time to forward
it, please do. Pictures are always a big help.I'll let you know if this
works.