2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Need help with headlights....

[bwromine]

Good morning everyone. I have a question about my headlights. 02, edge ez, drove it Saturday morning, snowing and raining, ran my headlights because of this. Got home, shut all lights off, parked outside, 1pm. Still snowing. Left after that and came home about 9 that night. Headlights were still on:{. All running lights were off. Started pickup and still would not shut lights off. Pulled fuses to headlights for now. Could it be the switch or relay? I need to figure this out. Thanks ahead of time for your help.

 

[B.G. Smith]

Sounds like the relay stuck. bg

 

[rkressg]

It could be a relay, but is more likely a ground issue. The light switch does not break the hot side of the circuit, it instead breaks the ground after the lightbulb (kind of a fail safe). I would start by checking if the relay has stuck (the contacts can weld closed).

When you pull the relay, the lights will die, but if you can get someone to turn the lights on and off, if you listen to the relay, you will hear the contacts move. If they are not moving, then the relay is stuck. If you can't get someone to help, turn on the lights, and pull the relay out of the socket. This will de-energize the coil, and you will both hear and feel the relay change states.

That being said, if it is not the relay, look for a broken wire that is shorted to ground.