i have an 88 maxima the driver side headlight doesnt work the fuse is good and the harness is alive, i tested?

Question

the harness and it has juice on it,, but when i put a test bulb it wont lite up what could be the problem? the harness has 3 wire on black one red and one orange,,pls someone help me , the right side is working fine,, thanks

Answer 1

99.9% of the time it is a faulty head light switch each side high and low is run through the switch... pretty easy to change get new part at the dealer though

Answer 2

20th anniversary car. I have seen this problem before. Take the clam shell off the steering column mow remove the head light combo switch there is a semi transparent cover under which are what looks like reeds. remove break off the plastic cover Those reeds are headlight contacts for parking dash lights and high and low beam one will be discolored. A temporary fix is to clean that contact. However once tungsten becomes overheated it chemically changes and sanding down works for several weeks or months or the cleaning sanding contact arm might get bent so it never works again. It will take you about 30 minutes and a #2 Philips screwdriver to see what it takes to change either the whole switch or repair the old switch saving the $90.00 for a new switch. At any rate you will be more able to see how the headlights function.

Answer 3

If you have power and you know the bulb is good, then you lack ground!! Easily tested by running a wire from battery ground to the black wire on the bulb. Orange and red should be high/low beam power. Check for power at both with a testlight, and if both light up, the black wire is indeed the ground. If you have power and ground and the bulb still wont light, the socket is bad.