please help .... i have aftermarket projector headlights which currently do not turn on .... have had the lights for over a year without an issue ... fog lights, high beams, parking lights (corner lights) all can be turned on just fine ... last time i used the car before the issue, was only using the parking lights, but i did turn on the headlights for a few seconds after that when the car was not starting ... that is the last time the headlights worked (not sure if the car not starting and turning on the headlights at that time caused a short or something ) .... when the car did not even attempt to crank to start, the first thing i tried was the headlights and they turned on .... i turned all of the fuses carefully and then the car started up .... car starts fine, but the headlights, do not turn on ... not sure if the following is related, but i can see that this car used to have remote start that tapped into the headlight wiring behind the headlight switch and then the connections were removed when someone decided to remove the remote start ... i mention this because my next step is to look at the back of the headlight switch wiring to check for a loose wire etc .... these projector lights use a 6 wire european connector .... the us cars came with 4 wires so that is what i have been using this whole time ... i temporarily changed the orientation of these wires to confirm that the headlights are still good .... if i really can't correct this issue i will just switch the connections of the fog lights with the headlights since i barely use the fog lights .... i do thank u for taking the time to read my post and any help would be greatly appreciated

Went to the mechanic today and he believes the issue lies in the combination (turn signal) switch .... which may possibily be correct ... as long as i have had the car, it never did activate the high beams by pulling on the turn signal switch, only by pushing turn signal switch to keep high beams on .... any ideas? can you normally only flash the high beams on a w124 by pulling on the turn signal switch?

Yes that is Flash to Pass........

__________________
A Dalton

Since he opened the thread I want to ask a question. I have the same problem only mine will not flash or turn on the high beams at all. How much is that arm to replace?

car: 94 e420

thank you Arthur for the confirmation ... and the part is about $160 or $170

Check fuse #2 first.................

__________________
A Dalton

fuse #2 had a little corrosion and I cleaned it, but the headlight washers still operate normally, which i think are also on fuse # 2 ... i removed the headlight switch from the dashboard, unplugged it and plugged it back in still no headlights ... is there a relay that I should also check?

If you don't do the combo switch yourself, it's expensive. The steering wheel has to come off and the lower dash removed on the driver's side. I did it about a year ago on my '91 300E for the cost of a new switch ~$150...

You'll need a breaker bar and torx bit, plus be careful handling that airbag...

-GH

__________________
For Now:
1992 Mercedes Benz 500SL
1998 BMW 528i
2003 Honda Element
2002 CBR600F4i
1977 Coachmen Motor Home

yea i found the instructions to remove the steering wheel online and it is of course what i was worried about doing .... if you don't mind me asking, what were the car's symptoms that made you change the combo switch? also i have noticed the outside temperature gauge acting funny ever since the headlights stopped working properly ... it has never shown the correct temperature as long as i have had the car, it will go one by one all the way to the highest temperature and then to the lowest negative temp but the brightness of the numbers remained constant ... however, now the brightness of the numbers goes dim alot then goes back to normal back and forth many times ... not sure if it is related to the issue ... sorry guys for the long posts, i just don't want to change the combo switch and have the headlight issue continue

The temperature sensor and controls are a separate system from the combo switch issue you now have.

Here's what you do. Order the combo switch online. Once it's delivered, remove the lower dash on the drivers side and unplug the existing combo switch. Plug the new one in and test the functions. If it doesn't fix it, return it to the online vendor and start from square one again. If it fixes it, remove the steering wheel and replace the switch.

On my '91, I had headlights low and high beams that would not come on when turned on with the dash switch. I had parking lights functioning. I could jiggle the old combo switch and get the headlights on for 10-30 seconds at a time.

-GH

__________________
For Now:
1992 Mercedes Benz 500SL
1998 BMW 528i
2003 Honda Element
2002 CBR600F4i
1977 Coachmen Motor Home

wow thank you nissan .... sounds like a plan .... will try it out and update the thread

I can't say thank you enough .... it was the combo switch and now even have the flash to pass feature too .... there is an extra connection that came with the replacement combo switch and was wondering if anyone knows what it is for .... i couldn't find any place for it and the old combo switch connector didn't have it

Attached Thumbnails