Car: 93 Honda Accord.
Problem: No headlights and right turn signal is goofy.
History: Installed an amp the other day. As I was turning the gain up on the amp (never got more than 1/2way on the gain), I lost a channel. Possibly blew something internally on the amp. The channel that blew was driving a small pair of 5.25's. Nothing crazy. After that channel blew, that's when I noticed the funny electrical stuff happening. I have no headlights at all. Even went and bought new ones and still nothing. When I put the right turn signal on, it just stays lit. No fast flashing or anything. Verified all bulbs work. Also, when I turn the headlights on, the right side turn signals come on and stay on.

I've checked all the fuses. Only thing that I'm not sure about is in the fuse panel under the hood, there is a "Lighting" relay. It doesn't come out. No idea if it's bad, or what all it even controls.

I'm just looking for suggestions as I can't drive at night obviously. Thanks.

 

If it isn't the bulbs then you need to start checking for power at the lights. Get a multimeter and start checking wires and grounds. What you are going to have to do is get some circuit diagrams for your lights, and then start testing circuits. I would look for current bleeding between the turn signal curcuit and the headlight circuits. Sounds to me like your headlights either have broken wiring in the harness or the have shorted to ground.

Also seems like the turn signal circuit is shorted into the headlight circuit. My best educated guess is the haedlight and right hand turn signal circuits have shorted into each other. Which would be why when you turn on the headlights the turn signal comes on. I would look at your wiring harness. A relay is not going to cause that kind of problem, it is essentially a switch. You power the relay and it opens or closes a circuit.

 

sounds like blown relays to me... esp the blinker not blinking.

like the other guy said, you're going to need a multimeter. if you dont have one, a cheaper Greenlee brand one is only like $20-30 at lowes, depending on if you get it with the kit (which you wont need) or not. ive had one of them for years, and for basic use, its a great tool. plus, if you're into car stereo and stuff like that, its a great investment anyway.

okay, so obviously there isnt voltage at the headlight plug (neither high or low beam, right?). the blinker has voltage, but doesnt blink. the two cant be shorted on each other, or the blinker wouldnt light up. plus if there were a direct short, a fuse would blow somewhere... or you would smell burning.

that leads me toward the relays, but im not familiar enough with the vehicle to advise you specifically. check my signature and follow the link. find your car's service manual and download it. it should tell you where the relays are located, and how to test them, etc.

but im 99% on the blinker being a relay. as for the headlights, if there is a resistor or something that changes the voltage (for high and low beams), there is a chance that its been blown, causing the lights not to work at all. that's just my train of thought anyway.

 

Quick update. The right side blinker DOES flash when the turn signal is activated. However it blinks really fast as if a bulb is out. However, BOTH front and rear turn signal bulbs work.

 

you need to download the manual for your car, first thing.

in the manual, it says that there is a "lighting relay" in the under-the-hood fuse box (above the passengers wheel well). there is also a dim-dip resistor and a dimmer relay (elsewhere on the car), just for starters. its all in the book!

as for the lights, open the manual in adobe reader and go to page #869. thats the section on lighting components location, how to test them, and if you scroll up from 869, there are wiring diagrams that tell you what color goes to where, and what its for.

the bottom line is that each electrical problem is unique. it could be as simple as a fuse or relay needing replaced, or it could be a short in the wiring. but you'll have to do some testing to find out. ive linked to the book that tells you everything you need to know about the car, so unless you wanna pay (or sucker ) someone else into doing it, you're going to just have to read the book and troubleshoot to figure it out.