Head Light Tale of Woe

[LMBaker]

I have 1996 sidekick JLX Sport 1.8L 4x4 Automatic trans.  188k miles and counting

Ok where to start the daytime running lights work just fine , but when I turn on the headlights I get nothing no low beams no high beams and it turns off the daytime running lamps. also the daytime running lamps stay on when I switch on the park lights and I can flash the highbeams. Same is also true when I have the headlight switch in the off position. The Problem only presents itself when I switch the headlights on. Battery and Headlights recently changed so I know they are good. I need to know if this is a fuse problem a switch problem or a relay problem. Blinkers and hazards work fine so I am confused at this point.

[fixkick]

sure fuse are first.
but a voltmeter finds  this.
DRL fail, module
bad wiring or connectors burned.
or bad combo switch,
fuses
not lamps. those are good.

first fuses blown
the make sure  the hand brake lever works (it has  switch) and must work.
DRL only goes active if brake released.


see my pdf,  it can show how to trace the cause.
https://fixkick.com/power-elect/DRL/95-97DLR-USA.pdf

next see if DRL box pins look burned as they love to do.. many did,

in 1997 they went to PWM modulated lamps ditching the right finder huge resistor (for dim lamps)
I do not now which version in your sport j18
lets assume is same 96 for 96, g16 to j18
headlamp dead.
that "FLASH=pass"Test you did is very wise tell me HL grounds are good, just 1 test.
as you can see low breams are dead if DLR box is dead( or inputs wrong) just one wire there. red/white pin 2 dead.
the FLASH mode hides a bad relay. pin 2 must to go ground or there will be no manual lamps.
RL1 can be called the DRL bypass relay, it directly (via combo) ground the HL and they glow if fuses not blown. (and are not blown because flash works)
pin 3 must be 0v too, or the coil on RL1 is energized. Pin3 is grounded via combo to G202.
I say RL1 bad  or coil not energized, a voltmeter finds this out easy, just at  RL1,

RL1:  no need to keyon,
HL on.
pin 1 =12vdc
pin 2,3,4, 0vdc

pin 3 is key here,  this turns on the relay.

[LMBaker]

Update I went full rouge and changed every fuse in the sidekick. When that didn't work I started following your instructions. I got lucky and swapped out the headlight relay and just like that my headlights started working properly again. I am not sure how you got so wise but I'm thankful. Fun fact while I messing with all this I ran the code checker 0 codes not one. For the record you have been bailing me out for some time now. I searched 1996 sidekick and saw my old posts from years ago about a water pump and one about an EVAP code that had me scratching my head. For the most part these vehicles are tanks, but when they act up it can get real goofy. I gotta say you are the best resource I have found to help troubleshoot and repair sidekicks period. Thanks man and have a nice day.

[fixkick]

Thanks and many more good years to you !