Both Low Beam Headlights Out

[misterpatrick]

Hello all,

both my low beams are out. It's neither the fuses or the bulbs. I've seen this on the forum before but haven't seen a solution. I'd love to fix it myself as we just spent a lot of money of new tie-rods for the car.

It's a 2000 Beetle and has always had some electrical issues. Occasionally one of the instrument cluster lights will go out for a day or two, the cruise control went out for a bit once and just started working again a week or so later. Just general ghosts in the machine.

So, any idea what might cause this? Thanks!

[misterpatrick]

Ok,

this gets weirder. The light work if you leave the headlights turned off (I'm guessing that's the automatic detection kicking in), but with the headlight dial turned off the console lights are all off. So we can drive with headlights, but no console. As soon as we turn the lights on, they switch off thought he fog lights do turn on.

Could this be the relay or something or a bigger logic/computer board problem?

[Audiomechanic]

That IS weird. Well, start from the simple and work to the complicated. Try the headlight switch first. Do you know anyway else with a NB? The switch is easy enough to pop out. You can swap it with one from a friend's car and see what that does.

It's a start anyway.