Headlight issues - Need help

[rogersla]

I need some help. I have a long overnight drive coming up tomorrow night and my headlights are all of a sudden not working.

2006 Elise.

The only headlight bulb that comes on with the switch is the little secondary bulb at the top of the lower lamp housing. That, along with the side markers and tail lights come on as usual with the top switch button.

Nothing seems to happen when I hit the lower switch button.

The high beams will come on with the flash function on the turn signal switch (pull toward driver). When I push the switch forward to lock on the high beams, nothing happens.

I checked the fuses and the bulbs and all are fine. It has to be the lower light switch or possibly the switch in the turn signal arm, or both, as far as I can tell.

I'm a 4 hour drive the wrong direction to the nearest dealer. I'm thinking of wiring in a temporary switch to see if I can get thru the weekend. It's a seemingly simple 3 wire switch, I figure it should be pretty easy to temp in something to get me by. Even if it doesn't get me high beams, I could live with that. Anyone have any advice I should consider before diving in?

[waydui]

Have you removed the light switch panel and inspected all the wiring?

It's possible that the wires to the headlight switch are loose or disconnected at the switch terminal. It's a regular rat's nest of wires around that switch and I have experience with some of them getting pulled or loosened, cutting the connection.

Just a guess...

Regards,
Wayne

[rogersla]

Yeah, I have that panel open. All the connections were tight and no visible issues. I was hoping for loose connectors as well...

[TheViper]

Check fuse F15. If that's OK, check that you have 12V on all 3 headlight switch wires after turning both it and the side light switch on.
Michael

[rogersla]

I re-checked all the fuses (overkill, I know) in the passenger side front fuse block. All are fine. I, also, found one of the connections disconnected behind the panel. But, it was just the side connection that lights up the little panel lights next to each button. That cable is short, I figure it came apart as I opened the panel.

The top button still seems to be working fine and all the lights it controls (side, tail, secondary light near high beam) are fine.

The 2nd button (low beam headlights) is working at the dash at least as far as the turn signal switch because if I activate that button, then I can once again lock on full time high beams. But I still have no low beams at all.

If you see a white Lotus travelling down the west coast with only it's high beams on, you'll know it's me... I was contemplating how to strap the turn signal arm into the high beam flash position. Now at least they will stay on high without that. I'm willing to accept small improvements at this point...

[TheViper]

If all the relevent fuses are OK and you have voltage both in and out of the switch, then you probably have a "Switch Pack Module" fault.
Michael