I just picked up an '08 TL from a private party. I didn't need to drive it at night for the first week I had it, but when I did the other night, it doesn't seem to have any high-beams. Push the level forward and the indicator comes on in the dash and the fogs go off, but nothing changes up front in the headlight. Aren't the DRL's supposed to be the high beams too, or are the HID's supposed to do both? Checked fuses, bulbs, etc. Not sure where else to start digging.

Thanks

 

3GTLs use a Bi-Xenon headlight system

In 2004-2006 the inner lights were fog lights; in 2007-2008 they made these the DRLs.
For 2007-2008 the fog lights have been moved to the bottom of the front bumper; the DRLs go off when your lights are on and have no other functionality

In 2004-2008 the outer projection housings contain the HID bulb and the low/hi-beam shutter. When you turn the lights on the xenon gas ignites and you've got your low beams.. when you flick the stalk foward you should hear a 'click' as the shutter opens, and the light pattern should extend a bit further and higher up

The best way to test it is to pull over in a quiet place and try turning them on, if you hear the clicking that's the shutter activating; which means they should be working

 

Thanks for the clarification. I didn't realize the change in '07. So I checked this out, and it appears that neither of the shutters are operating. Seems odd to me that both of these would go out with only 14K on the car, so there must be a common component that is not working. Anyone know of a thread that covers testing these things?

Thanks

 

Welcome to the board..

Why check it yourself, even if you bought it from a private party can't you just take it to the dealer? Does the car still have warranty or lost it because of a private sale?

 

hi....i just bought a 06 TL and it has 07 headlights on it.when i put on the high beams nothing happens, when i twist the fog lamp switch i think the high beams go on.... is that normal?

 

I might be wrong, but for the solenoid I think its called to flip up, its suppose to be connected to harness, maybe that harness came lose? Why not try to check that first.

 

best way to check is aim your light at garage door and turn them on. when you change from low to high beam, the light should change, it shoots higher now. when you turn on fog light, you get wider but still low light. the fog lights don't come on with high beam I believe.

 

My closest dealer is 6 hours away, that is why I was trying to figure it out. I found the problem. I tore the bumper off last night after finding the video on how to do it on this forum. Tested the shutter connection and no voltage, so I went looking. On the drivers side behind the air intake assembly there is a bolt that has about 8 or so ground wires it holds down of various sizes. The two smallest ones had come out of the crimp on the connector. I fixed that and presto, they work. They ground the shutters for both headlights in that one location. I wonder now if they have ever worked. Thanks for all the input.