dc1065 (142.68.133.71) - Tue Jan 13 21:41:07 2009

Hi,

I have a 98 cavalier that has no high beams, no low beams, and even no daytime running lights.

The dashlight use to blink all the time, but now it is just stuck on.

Any one have any ideas on where to start??

Thanks

Reply #1 Bob Rutter (99.225.15.20) - Mon Feb 16 10:24:33 2009

Just had same problem. Fixed it myself rather than face large sums of money to resolve it with dealer. According to dealer rep I spoke with, Cavaliers have a chronic problem with headlight shorts. The problem centres on the location of the wire harness (low and across front) making it susceptible to corrosion. Your problem is very likely one or more broken spots in a wire. It could be as simple as a broken ground but this is the concundrum: a new harness costs several hundred dollars and, while the mechanics are capable of opening up your existing harness and repairing it, they say at least three hours of labor is required, two hours alone if the harness is replaced. But the situation is complicated by a further design problem. After repairing the harness, you may find it still doesn't work. The electronic control module, which I'm told controls all electrical functions, may be at fault. It is located in the driver's front wheel well where salt, water and corrosion can attack it. Cost according to my local GM dealer: $660. My solution? I hard-wired the headlights and put new switches under the dash. I now require two switches to have head and tail lights on but it sure saved me a pile in dollars and stress.

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