2000 Chevrolet Cavalier: headlights failing or too dim

Filed Mar 16, 2011 · Electrical, Engine · 50,000 miles · GA

Purchased used 2000 cavalier in 2006. First problem (which has continued for 5 years) is that the service light will come on when the car is cranked unless the headlights are first turned on. If you turn the headlights off while driving, the service light comes on. It will not go off unless you turn the car off and restart it (with headlights on). Second problem is that fuel hand does not reflect accurate amount of gasoline in tank. It goes up and down while driving (with the check gauges light on). Or sometimes it is stuck on e or stuck on f regardless of how much fuel is actually present. Third problem is that car intermittently overheats and is always losing coolant. I have replaced thermostat, water pump, & radiator. Three different mechanics cannot find a leak in the cooling system (despite pressure testing, compression testing, & block testing). We are baffled why it cannot retain constant coolant levels. This is a very frustrating situation as I am left without reliable transportation.

Filed Jul 26, 2007 · Electrical · IA

I can't tell you the exact date of incident. It was about 2 yrs. Ago. The head lights would not stay on. They would go off and on when driving at night. It was only the dim lights. We got a switch and had mechanic put it in. Plus a relay. It didn't do any good. I took it to the chevy garage recently. They told me it is the wiring harness. They said a lot of people are having this problem with these cars. It will be expensive to fix. I was wondering if you are aware of this at all. The consequences are driving at night with no lights. Please respond. Thank you.

Filed Jan 11, 2006 · Lights · 40,000 miles · FL

Daytime running lights on my daughter's 2000 chevy cavalier have failed. As a result she has no low beam headlights. Per local dealer the lights are "wired into the computer and day time running lights cannot be bypassed so that the low beam headlights work." per the dealer the solution is the replacement of a computer module at a cost of $500.00. As headlights are a safety requirement I feel that whatever steps are necessary to make the low beam headlights operable is the responsibility of general motors, especially since the day time running lights are not a mandatory item in the USA.

Filed Aug 22, 2005 · Lights · CT · crash · fire · 1 injury

2 car vehicle collision-see police report. On the above date and time, the bethel fire department was dispatched to the intersection of reservoir st and grassy plain street for a motor vehicle accident. Upon arrival a two car mva was discovered with a small vehicle fire extinguished by the bethel pd. Bethel car one, pete holmberg, requested this fire marshal due to the fire damage to the vehicle. Upon my examination of the vehicle, I observed the front end of the involved vehicle with moderate front-end damage. The right front headlamp assembly area did sustain some melting and burning to the rear of the unit. The left front headlamp assembly was found on the ground away from the vehicle. The bulbs for each unit were connected to the wiring/socket area. The impact of the collision caused the plastic housing around the bulb to break and dislodge the bulb from the headlamp assembly. The bulbs were part of the daytime running light system; therefore they were on at the time of the accident. The heat from the bulb ignited the plastic wiring harness on the left side of the vehicle (see photo #7). The heat from the bulb on the right side of the vehicle ignited the plastic wire harness as well as the plastic headlamp assembly (see photo #5). The fire caused minimal damage to the vehicle and the fire was extinguished with a dry chemical fire extinguisher. The cause of this fire has been ruled accidental caused by a break in the plastic retention clip for the headlamp assembly loosening the bulb from its proper placement and then touching combustible materials and igniting.

Filed Jan 28, 2005 · Electrical · 78,171 miles · CA

1.) leaking battery (acid) caused the electrical harness at the conector under the battery to become deteriated (corroded). 2.) this affected the headlights by cutting off the electrical current and shutting off the headlight. A night time failure could have been very dangerous. 3.)I took the vehicle to a repair station and paid $300.00 to have the problem fixed. The harness was not replaced, only patched because a harness replacement would have been too costly for me.

Filed Jan 12, 2005 · Electrical, Engine · 2,917 miles · MO

The vehicle only had 2917 miles on it when the steering rack had to be replaced. *nm at 6237 miles the dealer had to replace a strut mount and a bearing plate. The engine light illuminated and the o2 sensor and starter was replaced. The intermediate shaft was replaced twice and the headlamp was replaced.

Filed Jul 23, 2004 · Lights · 95,074 miles · TX

Problems with vehicle starting up as well as getting the headlights to work.*mr the consumer had the recall work performed which was related to the ignition. The consumer believes that the ignition failure may have also caused the failure of the headlights. The recall stated that the high current could produce enough heat to melt internal switch parts. The consumer also experienced smoking and a burning smell at the steering column. The consumer was told by the technician that the headlight switch shorted out and that repair would cost $270. The consumer feels this should be replaced along with the ignition recall.

Filed Jun 8, 2004 · Lights · 60,000 miles · IL

When turning right or left steering column produced a popping sound. As a result, turn signals failed, and headlights blinked on and off.

Filed Oct 23, 2003 · Electrical, Lights · 59,700 miles · TN

High beams & drl's stopped working, checked fuses, none blown. Took to dealer and found that battery that had been previously replaced for leaking, was again leaking. The acid damaged headlight wire harness making drl's and high beams non-functional. Dealer says battery has no warranty even though battery states 5 year warranty.

Filed Aug 22, 2003 · Electrical, Engine · 79,734 miles · CA

Simultaneously while driving, check engine light will flash on. Headlights flashed on/off 4 times or ther was a clicking noise in the front end. Dealership indicated the this might be caused by electrical system failure.

Filed Feb 8, 2003 · Electrical · 41,000 miles · AZ

Battery terminal leaked, and since a lot of wiring is located under the battery, the acid ate the wires that go to the headlights, turn signals, and running lights. My highbeams work, and my drivers side turn signal work. Warranty wont cover, they said it was the battery. Why have wiring under the battery?

Filed Nov 5, 2002 · Electrical · OK

Battery leaked acid from positive post down into battery box which drained into engine compartment and on to the electrical harness junction which is routed under the battery box. There is no drain tube to drain any acid overflow down under the car. The acid burned through the junction and shorted out the main harness to all the lighting on the front of the car. If this had been at night I would have lost my headlights and turn signals. There is minor damage to torque converter housing and motor mount. I'm waiting now to hear from the dealer as to when the car will be returned to me after the repairs are done, and see if chevrolet will take care of the repairs. It is my belief they need to install a drain tube in the battery box and reroute this harness away from this area. I fear as to what would happen if this had been at night and I was driving down the road at highway speeds. This battery was the one that came with the car. *****dims 11 ivoq entry posted after 12/12/02 cut-over to artemis*****769324. *ak