Headlights not working right....

[gamellott]

I've already read in a couple of the threads that the headlight switch is very prone to failure. This morning, I fired off the Pathfinder for the first time since I got the brakes fixed (Still waiting on replacement parking brake shoes before I tear into the seals and bearings).

 

I made it a couple of feet out past the driveway, and I noticed I forgot my coffee. Turned around and got it. When I was walking back to the truck, I observed that one of my headlights is out. Both high and low beam. I thought, that's unusual, it's usually only one. When I got back in for my commute, the hi-beam indicator now remains lit regardless of the position it is in, and the one working light does toggle between the filaments.... 

 

I haven't done any actual troubleshooting past what I have described above and I looked at the bulb itself. It looks fine.... so.... Switch eh? At least these seem to be readily available...

[Steve_RI]

Yea, the switches aren't expensive, but it may be worth taking a look at the connections on the current one, could be a stuck contact(s)

[gamellott]

Ok, in the slight case that anyone was wondering what happened to all of this.... I bought and swapped out the switch with no changes. Knowing that there is almost nothing in the circuit aside from a switch, I looked around the wiring harness, looking for signs of mice and destruction. Nothing... I pulled the bulb that was out and then my high beam indications on the dash returned to normal. I just happened to have a spare bulb in my toolbox and popped it in. Ta-Da!!! everything is back to normal. Does anyone need a slightly used headlight switch now?

 

So, in retrospect, I recommend pulling the bulb first if this ever happens. Nothing seems to be typical with this thing 

[Slartibartfast]

Sounds like when the bulb popped, the filament bridged the high and low beam circuits together.