Cutlass Ciera V6-3100 3.1L VIN M SFI (1996)
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Typical Headlights Schematic
Step 2: Read the Headlights Electrical Schematic
This is the step that will save time and labor. Remember, it is essential to understand how a circuit should work, before trying to figure out why it
doesn't.
After you understand how the circuit should operate, read the schematic again, this time keeping in mind what you have learned by operating the
circuit.
Since both LO beams work, you know that the Headlight Switch, the YEL wire, the LO contacts of the Headlight Dimmer Switch, terminal "1E"
of C100, the TAN wires and grounds G1O5 and G109 are all good.
Furthermore, since you saw that the HI Beam Indicator came ON when the Headlight Dimmer Switch was moved to HI you know that the HI
contacts of the Headlight Dimmer Switch and the LT GRN wire between the Headlight Dimmer Switch and C100 are good.
At this point, you could test for voltage at the RH Headlamp with the Headlight Dimmer Switch in HI. However, it is extremely unlikely that the
HI beam filaments have burned out in both headlamps, or that both headlamps connections are bad. The cause must be a bad connection at C100,
or a break in the LT GRN wire between C100 and the RH Headlamp.
You have quickly narrowed the possible causes down to one specific area, and have done absolutely no work on the vehicle itself.
Step 3: Find the fault and repair it
Using the Component Location List and the corresponding figure, you can quickly find C100 and the LT GRN wire, locate the exact trouble point
and make the repair.
Step 4: Check the repair by performing a System Check on the Headlights Circuit
This, of course, means making sure that both HI beams, both LO beams and the HI Beam Indicator are all working.
Now suppose that the symptoms were different. You may have operated the Headlamps and found that the LO beams were working, but neither
the HI beams nor the HI Beam Indicator were working. Looking at the schematic, you might conclude that it is unlikely that both HI beam
filaments and the HI Beam Indicator have all burned out at once. The cause is probably the Headlight Dimmer Switch or its connector.
Checking Terminal Contacts