Headlight failure

[dlg449]

Old guy here. I had both headlights stop working at the same time. I can overhaul the engine and pretty much anything else mechanical. I am good with wiring and relays but I'm lost when it comes to computers. Can someone please give me step by step instructions for trouble shooting my problem, preferably with photos? Thanks much for any help.

Dave

 

[User113]

A little more information would be good here.

When you say "stop working at the same time" does that mean <they both come on until something happens and they both go out together> or does it mean <sometimes they both turn on like they should, but at other times neither turn on> or does it mean something else altogether?

 

[jgillott]

It sounds like you may be in the beginning stages of TIPM failure. When my second TIPM failed, the first symptoms included no high beams and then the fog lights would illuminate whenever they wanted to. That was quickly followed by no control over the dash lights, windshield wipers, door locks, etc.

Do a quick search on this site for TIPM failures. I'm sure that I have at least a couple of threads here on the subject somewhere.

 

[dlg449]

A little more information would be good here.

When you say "stop working at the same time" does that mean <they both come on until something happens and they both go out together> or does it mean <sometimes they both turn on like they should, but at other times neither turn on> or does it mean something else altogether?[

 

[mwilson]

Low Beam? High Beam? or no headlights no matter what you do??

Check bulbs?? You wouldn't be the first guy to chase such a thing only to discover both bulbs are blown....seen it before...

 

[jgillott]

Low Beam? High Beam? or no headlights no matter what you do??

Check bulbs?? You wouldn't be the first guy to chase such a thing only to discover both bulbs are blown....seen it before...

I have no doubt that his bulbs are probably blown. When I was having that latest TIPM issue, it would pop the high beams as soon as you would install a new bulb.

Again, I am hoping that it is truly something simple for the OP, but it sounds strikingly familiar to what I experienced with my '07. Just to make it more fun, since those TIPM failures are often random at first, you may get a time when the lights start to work again for a while. Unfortunately, the symptoms quickly return. For me, they would fail every time it would rain at first and then work OK when things dried out again.

 

[Crunch]

Old guy here. I had both headlights stop working at the same time. I can overhaul the engine and pretty much anything else mechanical. I am good with wiring and relays but I'm lost when it comes to computers. Can someone please give me step by step instructions for trouble shooting my problem, preferably with photos? Thanks much for any help.

Not to sound obvious, but you did check the fuses, didn't you?

 

[Ozymandias]

Not to sound obvious, but you did check the fuses, didn't you?

No fuses on a 2004.5

 

[User113]

Just an inquiry - the OP has a 2006 truck, doesn't that mean it does NOT have a TIPM? My understanding was that they didn't start until 2007? I'm thinking perhaps just an IPM?

 

[seafish]

Just an inquiry - the OP has a 2006 truck, doesn't that mean it does NOT have a TIPM? My understanding was that they didn't start until 2007? I'm thinking perhaps just an ICM?

NOPE 2006 was first year for TIPM and CanBus ECM module communications.
THANKFULLY, my 2005.5 still has a PDC (fused Power Distribution Center) and SCR communivations protocol.

It CAN get a little confusing as in fact the PDC does have a module attached directly to it called the IPM (Integrated Power Module) that helps control some of the wiring functions, but NOT the fusing.