Does the instrument panel dimmer switch work when this happens? If not, the most likely cause is a defective light switch. That switch has two sections, one for tail lights, etc and another for the headlights. If the headlight doors fail to open only when this happens, if not the switch, then it could be a loose fuse #5 in the "Tail Lts" position in the inside fuse panel.

 

Also we have the 96 factory service manual available for download in the 4th gen tech section. Provided by GaryDoug for our members. Use the wiring diagrams and troubleshooting lists to help you find your problem.

 

thanks for the replys. first i meant headlight doors where there's the letter s in my posting but it seems you figured it out. As for the headlight switch the dimmer switch works and the headlight doors never open unless I unplug the headlights from the module manually and plugging back in. Although if they do close some of the time and the taillights that's just three times in the last four or five months this has happened. I'll look into the wiring diagrams thanks! and I'll check that futures fuse a little bit

 

OK, now with more information, I think the switch is intermittent. But check the fuse anyway. The next time this happens, check to see if the I/P dimmer (not the headlights dimmer) control works. If not, the switch is the culprit.

It sounds like the headlight door controller may be bad or is missing the headlight "on" signal (not park/tail lights on) from the switch. When you plug it back in, it reinitializes by opening the doors.

 

checked the fuse, it's good and secure. I'll have to check on the dimmer in the morning.. as for the headlight doors it gotta be a signal in the switch I'm assuming? i deleted the connectors at the headlight MOTORs and soldered them in hopes it was a bad connection as it wasn't. beyond that back to the lights, are you suggesting its Also in the switch just a different part of it?

 

There are two inputs to the headlight door module. I believe both have to be on for the headlights door module to work and raise the doors. So the headlight section could work; but if the park/tailights section does not work, then the doors do not raise up. The sequence is: 1) taillights on, nothing happens to the doors, 2) headlights on and the doors raise up, 3) headlights off and the headlights go out but the doors stay up, 4) taillights off and the doors come down.

I mistyped in my previous post. I should have said tailights "on" instead of headlights "on".

The bottom line is that the park/tail light switch section is intermittent.

 

Okay i see what your saying i think.... would you suggest a whole new headlight switch?

 

I think that would be the next step unless you can check it with a meter after removal. Should be about $30 new, or you could get a whole used panel with switch on eBay for less.

 

yeah ill do a little shopping and stop back with results. thanx!!

 

i got the switch in the mail for 8 bucks. i was wondering before i have time to put it in and test it out i was curious how do you test it? i have DMM.

 

well i swapped out the switch and nothing... any suggestions on the next step?

 

We'll have to dig deeper.

Is the problem 100% now? In other words, do the tail lights never come on now or are they intermittent (sometimes ok)?

If 100% of the time, check these and report back with the results:

Radio lights

Hazard lights

front parking lights (not DRL) with ignition off

fog lights

instrument panel lights

stop lights

turn signals

12v at both ends of the tail lights fuse (reference to body ground)

Does the headlight door problem only occur when you have no taillights? Do they work if/when you do have taillights?

Can you get a wire attached to the orange wire on the back of the light switch while the switch is still attached? A wire splice would work. You would use that to troubleshoot the problem if it is now intermittent.

You may have answered these question before. But please check them again.

 

off the bat I can tell you that both the headlight doors and the tail lights arent working 100% of the time and I don't believe they are related because the headlight doors have been an issue for over a year and it's been constant and the tail lights is something that's only happened one two three times periodically just for a brief day or two and went back to operating normally in the last year or so but I'll go out and get the information you requested as soon as I get a chance here thanks

 

Attatched is the information you requested GaryDoug

 

Go to the back of the car and open the hatch. Pull back the carpet at the very back and find the 6-wire electrical connector there, it should be on the driver side rear corner. Unplug it and plug it back again. Does that help?

 

...

 

Since your front parking lights work, this proves headlight switch and power supply are good. All parking lights come off of single output from headlight switch.

But after the single output leaves the headlight switch, there are several splices in the wiring where multiple wires branch off. Also 1 or more connectors in the wiring to the back lights.

So your problem must lie in the splices, connectors, or wires going to tail lights. Also bad ground or sockets at tail lights could be the problem.

 

hmmmm. well i haven't had a chance to tear into it. was gonna bring up some wiring diagrams for reference... Although something else to add to the mix is I've noticed periodically the tail lights will illuminate as if the brakes are being applied (very bright) and only the 3rd light works as it should (headlight switch on) ..... not sure if that opens or closes any doors but figured I'd throw it in here in case.