97 outback sport headlights not working

[sledneck0695]

so I just purchased a 97 subaru outback sport an on the way home I got on it coming down a hill to see if it had any vibrations and it hit the governor (110) and my head lights dimmed out than quit working totally, I pulled off the next exit and checked the bulbs and the bulbs are fine my dash light and radio still work fine, Any idea what it could be??

[lmdew]

There are a couple of relays in the engine compartment fuse box that control the voltage to headlights.  You could pull the relay and jump the main contacts to see if they work directly.  Check the fuses in there as well.  Load, Ground, Power those three components make up an electrical circuit.

 

Search Load Pro on you tube, you will find some great electrical training videos by Dan Sullivan.

[Bushwick]

You didn't throw the serpentine belt, did you? Do you have a voltmeter? I'd start by checking that the alternator is charging. If the battery has 11-12v, headlights will be dim. I popped a belt on my old Lincoln Mark VIII doing burn outs once. Had the engine light not come on, I'd probably have not even known it threw the belt.

 

Next, check the fuses. The relays mentioned above are in the underhood fuse box, on the driver-side inner fender behind the battery. If leaning over the driver-side fender with radiator to your left, and car door to your right and looking directly down at the fuse box, the 2 black relays on the far right (they are situated like the front seats, one closer but in a left/right arrangement if you were in the car) will represent the left/right head lights. 

 

I was messing with mine recently when a light failed after only several months of usage, so I thought it was possibly the connector or relay first. Anyways, if you remove a relay and a bulb is burned out, both lights can get dim. Seems to affect the high beam filament somehow.

 

Mine actually has a cracked connector too. And that has been an issue.