so my headlight is acting up lately and I m hoping to get some inputs from you guys

Regular headlight works fine (housing up, lights on) but if I just want the headlight housing to stay up (lights off, just housing is up), it doesnt work.

So supposedly if I turn the light switch knob clock-wisely to 3pm position, the headlight housings should open up and stay up (with headlight light bulb off)
However when I turn the light switch knob to 3pm position, both headlight housings open up, headlights are off, and after 3 seconds it close on its own (switch knob still at the 3pm position, pls refer to the attached picture)


I have tried a new light switch and a different headlight retractor relay in front of the battery, still does the same (opens then closes in 3 seconds)



Any idea? Thanks

Did this just start happening at random? Did you do anything with the wiring lately?

There is also a "Retract Control Relay" behind the driver side kick panel. That is the piece that does the timing of when the lights come up and go down.

Download this wiring diagram and see pages 30, 31 and 32. It will tell you how to test each piece of the system.
http://files.aeu86.org/manuals/ewd-ae86 ... parrot.pdf

Wiring can be pretty tricky, so take your time. Good luck.

What Grant said, try testing that relay. Itk behind the drivers speaker, blue in color iirc

Test the voltage out of control voltage pins leading from the switch. The switch to the light control. There should be a negative switching continuity and a constant power feed. From the control, the retractor relay/motor should have continuous voltage between light on and retractor hold.


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This actually happens to me sometimes I usually just have to turn the knob faster for it to stay up and off lol. or just open my door after the car is off.. but if you want to drive around with your headlights up I'd try just turning the knob with a bit more force. just dont break it. theres also the headlight retractor relay in the front of the engine bay mine went bad and cause only 1 headlight to move up and down so maybe that could be it. could be the other relay they mentioned. I'd try my idea since its easy and I've had the same thing happen on 2 diff corollas and my solution worked both times.

Thanks guys for the inputs

Grant:
No, the "3 second" incident happens everytime I put the knob in 3pm position.
No I haven't touched the wiring besides replacing the faulty headlight switch.
Originally I suspected it could be the new headlight switch causing the problem so tried a different working one, still does the same so I ruled out headlight switch
I will definitely look into the one behind driver side kick panel. Thanks

Morgan:
Thanks. I located it last night.

Moto-P:
Thanks, will definitely look into that

Esenpai:
tried the relay in front of the battery, doesn't help.
will look into other relay and your solutions
Thanks

If you determine your blue relay behind the driver speaker is bad I have a working spare. Can send for cheap.

well I had put it another working headlight retractor relay (bluebox) and didnt seem to solve the problem.......

Perhaps my next try should be another headlight switch and headlamp retainer ?

just a dumb question, what does the headlamp/headlight retainer (85961-24010, under dash on driver side) do?
Does it have anything to do with the headlight retractor motor?

Thanks

I dont think so

Problem finally fixed
It turns out pin 7 in the female connector (the wires that go into the car) for the light control switch was disconnected.
I connected it back and now it works like new!

Thanks for all the help