'99 Protege no low beam headlights, high beam fine

[CarmineForte]

Hi,

This is my first post so: Hello Everyone! :)

I've searched the forums but have not been able to find the solution to my problem.

A few days ago both my low beam headlights started to flicker every once in a while. When they flickered I noticed the blue "high beam" indicator on the dash would light up. The blue light would flicker on and the low beams would flicker off.

Tonight after work I started up and I had no low beams! Only high beams.

So, whatever was going wrong seems to have failed solid. Low beam filaments are fine so not a lamp issue.

I can only assume that Mazda wireed the headlamp relay such that, if the coil was not energized, the high beams would be on. (The high beams are wired to the Normaly Closed contacts)

I would have a look at the relay but I have no idea where it is. :(

I know there are several relays in the fuse box under the hood.

Does anyone know which relay I need to repair/replace? I have opened up relays in the past and reflowed cracked solder joints. It seems that there must be a broken coil joint or a loose coil connection somewhere.

Does this car have a history of eating headlamps switches by any chance. I dealt with that one once before. No fun at all...

Happy Motoring,
Carmine*

[P-Funk!]

Could be the high beam switch failing. Can you swap it out and see if that fixes it?

Or swap the relays with a similar one and see if it works (less likely).

[boostdprotegelx]

hm. i actually think your low beams may have just burnt out. check that! or it's the switch.

[P-Funk!]

yeah, but... they come back on...

Yes, check the bulbs again, but...

[CarmineForte]

Yes, both low beam bulb filaments are okay. No doubt about it.

What I discovered is that, if I turn the switch on the stalk very slowly I can get the low beams to come on and they stay on.

I am not sure if the switch is at fault or possibly the relay.

Where did Mazda hide that relay anyway? I have no idea. Anyone have any experience with this?

As for the switch: does not look like fun to replace. Anyone ever done that before? (uhm)

Hey, thanks for the replies y'all! (yippy)

C*

[KZL_99ES]

i have nearly the same problem, but i'm just going to get some HIDs soon!