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Tracker1989-2004
This compact SUV proved itself to be a fine ecnomical vehicle, good for making its way along any type of surface. Platform: CAMI (Suzuki)
2004 chevy tracker has an issue with the headlights. The driver side headlight only comes on very dim. It doesn't change between brights and dims either just stays dimmer then the passenger side ever gets. The passenger side operates as normal low/high beam work properly. I have looked and I can't find where there would be a fuse or relay anywhere. Any info would be greatly appreciated thanks!
If you pull one headlight fuse in a working Tracker that headlight goes very dim but not all the way dark. That seems to be your symptom so start by checking that headlight fuse. The very dim illumination is caused by a semi-resistive path through the DRL diode from the good fuse for the other headlight. If you pull the second fuse in a working Tracker both headlights go completely dark. If the fuse is bad, replacing it may result in another blown fuse. If that happens you will need to determine why the circuit is pulling more than 15-amps.
ok so we checked the fuses and they are fine. swapped them out and no change. if you pull the right side fuse they both go out and if you pull the left hand side there is no change. so does that mean there is no power getting to the left fuse?
For sure it means there is no power getting to the left headlight. It could mean no power to the fuse or a broken wire after the fuse. You will need a voltmeter or a 12-volt test light for this next test. Pull the connector off the back of both headlights. It's a tight space but it's doable. Use the diagrams below to locate pin 3 on the connectors. Use a meter or test light and probe pin 3 to ground. You should have 12 volts at all times even if the key and lights are off. Report your results.
Pin 1 is the LOW beam. Pin 2 is the HIGH beam. A typo in the manual had had them labeled wrong.
This diagram is correct.
Last edited by L84sky; February 23rd, 2019 at 7:01 PM.
That's actually good news. You've verified what we suspected and now we are certain the problem is somewhere between the battery and the headlamp. Now it's time to check the voltage at the fuse. In the picture below you can see the fuse has two exposed metal pins imbedded in the blue plastic body. If you don't have 12 volts (to ground) on the pin on the closest to the engine, the problem is between the fuse block and the battery. If you do have 12 volts on the right side, the problem is between the fuse block and the headlamp. It you find 12 volts on the right side but nothing on the left, the fuse is blown. Like before, compare the readings between the left and right headlight circuits.
I like to use a test light but a voltmeter will work just as well.
February 22nd, 2019, 2:44 PM
2004 Tracker Headlight issue
