My headlights won't turn on, but my DTRL works

My headlights won't come on, but my Daytime Running lights (DTRL)work. As soon as I turn the switch to turn on my headlights, the DTRL turn off and all I have is parking lights visible, so I am using DTRL for nighttime driving until I figure this out. Anyone had this problem?

My headlights won't come on, but my Daytime Running lights (DTRL)work. As soon as I turn the switch to turn on my headlights, the DTRL turn off and all I have is parking lights visible, so I am using DTRL for nighttime driving until I figure this out. Anyone had this problem?
I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM, WHAT WAS THE FIX?

I also have Light problems. My DRL's work, but my dimm lights don't work once I turn the switch to full on. My brights work, but if I try to switch to dim headlights, it goes off. I have to switch between DRL and Full on to get high and low beams. Did you find a solution? or does anyone know where I can find a good wiring diagram?

Hate to be the bearer of bad news, but you all have the same symptoms of my 98 c/k. the fix is simple but somewhat costly. The problem is the headlight switch on the dash. It is malfuctioning. Cost me around $260.00 last year. It was a dealer item only. Hope this helps.
Booker5time

I replaced my switch on the dash, i ordered an AC Delco off a website. I got it for $46.99. I was all happy hoping that was the problem, turns out it isn't, it's still doing the same thing. Need some IDEAS

I also have Light problems. My DRL's work, but my dimm lights don't work once I turn the switch to full on. My brights work, but if I try to switch to dim headlights, it goes off. I have to switch between DRL and Full on to get high and low beams. Did you find a solution? or does anyone know where I can find a good wiring diagram?


I had this exact same problem a while back. It was a broken wire going to the turn signal assembly up by the steering wheel. The high beams still work because they use a different wire than the low beams coming from the headlamp dimmer switch. The turn signal assembly houses the turn signal, the cruise control and the headlamp dimmer switch. You have to buy the whole assembly and its over $200 new. I wont go into it too much, but looking at the schematic in my haynes manual, I deduced it had to be a bad headlamp dimmer switch(the one in the turn signal assembly) OR an open between the dimmer switch and the daytime running lamps relay OR a bad daytime running lamps relay OR an open between the daytime running lamps relay and the headlights. It turned out it was the open between the headlamp dimmer switch and the DRL relay. The wire was broken off the connection going into the assembly. I had to take the covers off from around the steering wheel housing to see it. I would start looking in the same place if I were you. It's relatively easy to take the covers off and look for a broken wire. My wire was tan. If you dont find any opens there, I would next try swapping out the DRL relay and see if that works. I cant imagine they cost that much. after that you might wanna check for an open between the relay and the low beams(I bet that would be a real pain in the ass). After youve done all that and you still cant find a problem, you might want to think about buying that assembly. I'm betting its probably an open between the DRL relay and the dimmer switch or a bad DRL relay though. Hope this helps. Remember, this is only for the symptoms quoted above.

The way to diagnose this is to pull the dash off so you can do some testing on the yellow wire at the headlamp switch. If there is no power to the yellow wire with the switch on(headlights position) then the headlamp switch is bad. If there is power at the switches yellow wire you then check for power on the yellow wire at the dimmer switch(part of the multifunction switch under upper steering column. If there is power on the yellow at the dimmer switch the dimmer switch is bad, if there is not power there check for a wiring problem. If you have high beams and not low beams it could be the DRL relay which is in the convenience center which is inside the vehicle on the fire wall, just on the left side of the brake pedal

The way to diagnose this is to pull the dash off so you can do some testing on the yellow wire at the headlamp switch. If there is no power to the yellow wire with the switch on(headlights position) then the headlamp switch is bad. If there is power at the switches yellow wire you then check for power on the yellow wire at the dimmer switch(part of the multifunction switch under upper steering column. If there is power on the yellow at the dimmer switch the dimmer switch is bad, if there is not power there check for a wiring problem. If you have high beams and not low beams it could be the DRL relay which is in the convenience center which is inside the vehicle on the fire wall, just on the left side of the brake pedal

That is not exactly right. If there is power at the yellow wire going to the dimmer switch it does not necessarily mean the dimmer switch is bad. Read my post above, I had a wire broken coming FROM the dimmer switch(tan coming out of the multifunction switch) to the DRL relay. Also, if the high beams are coming on and the low beams arent then that tells you there is power on the yellow wire coming into the dimmer switch. Why? Becasue the high beams and low bames BOTH get their power from that yellow wire. But they use two different wires and paths coming out of the switch. Not trying to argue, but I racked my brain when I ahd this problem and I looked at that schematic long and hard.

It's true the yellow wire is power for both highs & lows, but that power goes through the DRL relay for the lows only. Definately try changing the DRL relay(bottom center position, convenience center).......Steve

I was mainly replying to the problem of having no headlights other than the drl, didn't realize it was from august.

You & me both Jeremy. After I posted I looked at the original date. Wonder what he did to fix it??.....Steve

I dug up this post b/c it seemed as though no one had an answer for it. Now i think i know what my problem is. It's got to be in the multi-switch, b/c i had a problem with my wipers about six months ago and it ended up being a wire that was pull out somewhere inside the steering column. I haven't had a chance to find look at anything yet, but i bet thats where its at. I let ya know when i find it.

The good news is that i found my problem. The bad news is that its not an easy fix. It endined up being in the harness inside the steering column. I have a couple wires that are all corroded and one that was broken was the tan one. So I have some soldering to do.

The good news is that i found my problem. The bad news is that its not an easy fix. It endined up being in the harness inside the steering column. I have a couple wires that are all corroded and one that was broken was the tan one. So I have some soldering to do.

I had the exact same problem which I stated in a post above. Glad you found it. Is the tan wire broken off right where it goes into the turn signal assembly? Thats where mine was. I bet this is a bigger problem than we know. I wonder whats making these wire's break. Mine looked it was probably due to heat over a long period of time. The tan part of the wire was browned on the end and the wire was very brittle. I soldered mine as well. Took a couple of times to get it right, but I got it. It would go a lot easier if you had an extra hand to help you.

Thanks for the tip. I was wondering myself what the problem was. I suppose there is some heat build up there and the fact that it is right where the steering column tilts is probably not very good on the wires.
Thanks for the help.

Had a peculiar instance with my headlights on my '96 Silverado somewhat similiar to this problem. I had no headlights, but had parking lights all around, turn signals, brake lights, etc with the switch all the way on. Had the same thing when it was set to parking lights only. Tried the dimmer switch to toggle between highs and lows, but didn't get anything. Checked all fuses and ended up taking it to the dealership after I tried a new headlight switch and that didn't fix it. Turned out to be the "combination switch" which is just a fancy Chevy term for turn signal switch. They call it the combination switch because it controls the turn signals, high and low beams, windshield wipers, and cruise control. The part from Oreilly's cost about $180 vs. the dealership who wants $300 for the part alone before labor. I let the dealership replace it because they have to remove the steering wheel and disable the airbag to change it out.

So, if all else fails, you might want to check out the combination switch. Try seeing if you can even get the high beams to come on when the switch is on. That might help you narrow it down.

Hope this helps. This one had me baffled.

Yeah, i ended up replacing my turn signal assembly too. I got mine off ebay for 90 bucks plus shipping, and i installed it myself without removing the steering wheel, it took a little while, but it seems to work great. Thanks anyways for the information.

i have a98 silverado 4x4, when i turn on the key my daytimes come on. when i switch to park lights and low beams....it doesnt get any brighter.and when i move the tilt ,sometimes it kills the low beams totally until i readjust it. ANYBODY KNOW WHAT THIS IS? im new with this truck and totally lost. thanx

:banghead: i have a98 silverado 4x4, when i turn on the key my daytimes come on. when i switch to park lights and low beams....it doesnt get any brighter.and when i move the tilt ,sometimes it kills the low beams totally until i readjust it. ANYBODY KNOW WHAT THIS IS? im new with this truck and totally lost. thanx well i pulled the plastic around the steering wheel only to find that there was a broken purple wire, tan wire and a bluewire. can i buy just the plug instead of the whole combo switch??:banghead:

My 1985 chevy did the same exact thing, I kept messing with my turn signals while lights are on and turned left turn signal on, then pulled back while it was on. Which should turn my brights on but that ended up turning my lights on. Hope that helps! Just mess with your turn signals while lights are all the way on. You can't use turn signals after or they will go off again