Symptoms
- High beam indicator doesn't light up on the dash
- No extra brightness when switching to high beam
- Low beams work normally in all conditions
- High beam flash-to-pass feature also doesn't work
Likely causes
- CommonBurned out bulb filament for high beam (on dual-filament bulbs)Many bulbs have separate filaments for high and low beam, and one can fail while the other works.
- CommonBlown high-beam specific fuseSome vehicles fuse high and low beams separately.
- PossibleFaulty high-beam relayA relay dedicated to high-beam function can fail independently of the low-beam circuit.
- PossibleFaulty headlight switch or stalkThe stalk lever used to activate high beams can wear out or fail electronically.
What to do
- Check the fuse box for a blown high-beam specific fuse and replace with the correct amperage.
- Test the flash-to-pass feature (pulling the stalk toward you) to see if it also fails to activate high beams.
- Check if your vehicle uses separate bulbs for high and low beam, or a single dual-filament bulb.
- If dual-filament, inspect the bulb to see if the high-beam filament looks broken while low beam looks intact.
- Locate and test the high-beam relay if your vehicle uses one, swapping with an identical relay to test.
- Check the headlight stalk for looseness or inconsistent engagement into the high-beam position.
- Replace the bulb, fuse, or relay based on what testing reveals.
- Have a shop check the stalk switch if fuses, relay, and bulb all test fine.
Tools and parts
- Fuse puller or pliers
- Replacement fuses
Headlight bulb (dual-filament if applicable)Search: “headlight bulb for [your car make model year]”
High beam relaySearch: “high beam relay for [your car make model year]”
When to call a pro
If flash-to-pass also fails to activate high beams, the fault is likely upstream of the bulb (relay, fuse, or switch), which a shop can trace quickly.
Safety
Generally low risk
Generally low risk for a careful person. Stop if anything looks different from what this guide describes.