Electrical help

[boobaru]

I was driving my 84' subie home from getting registered in idaho (wouldn't pass E/I in my hometown) and my volts were shooting way up. All of my auxiliary lights and all outside/headlights would flare up as my volts fluctuated. My headlights blew out. I eventually realized that my battery was hitting some metal and I think that was the problem, but now my headlights only work when I have the brights on (all four lights work...) but when the brights are off my headlights don't work at all. I have disconnected my bright headlights and just dirve with my brights on (because the other ones work) I am thinking that I blew out a wire and wanted to know where the best place to start looking for that, or whatever might be the problem? p.s. I have checked the fuses

Thanks, Steadman

[Turbone]

Well for one thing, your explanation is a little confusing.

but now my headlights only work when I have the brights on (all four lights work...) but when the brights are off my headlights don't work at all. I have disconnected my bright headlights and just dirve with my brights on (because the other ones work)

You might have blew out your low beams. If so you are going to have to buy new headlights. I would also have your alternator tested as the regulator might have been damaged, not to mention the rest of the unit.

[boobaru]

ya, that is a little confusing.... its hard to explain. I will try once more.

 

when "brights" switch is off (but headlights switch on), no beams are on.

[not normal] [this is the problem]

when "brights" switch is on, low and high beams (headlights) are on, toghether.

[this is normal]

so, the low beam headlights only work if the brights are on,

this means i have to have my "brights" on for any/all headlights to work because my low beams don't work when the "brights" are off.

 

sorry so confusing, im trying to make it understandable.

any help on what could possibly be the problem would help a lot!

[NoahDL88]

I believe that the low beams have two fillaments, a low and high beam in the low bulb, turn on the low beams and try for voltage with a test light, or get a new bulb and see if that works, you could even go to the junk yard and try a bulb from there, but it may not be worth the hassle, and those could be burnt out too.

[Turbone]

The lights dont cost that much, and if the old light is good at least you have a spare.

[boobaru]

ok, that might be a lot more simple than i thought, that is good! thanks for all of your help.

[GeneralDisorder]

Yes - the low beam bulbs have two filiments. Check your fuses for one thing - there's a fuse for each side (right and left). If your bulbs all work when you turn on the brights, then you might have blown the low beam filiment on the outer bulbs.... but likely your blew the fuses for them if the fuse was the right size.

 

GD