Here'* a weird one. Just had the battery replaced two days ago. It was running like a top and then just dropped off a cliff - dead. Of course it is the expensive under the back seat model, but I just realized as I went to drive in the dark this morning that the low beams don't work. High beams are fine. I replaced the low beam lamps less than a month ago. I called the shop (guys I trust), and the manager said that the low beams have nothing to do with the battery replacement. I find this troubling and hard to believe as they were working when I brought the car in for the battery replacement.

Is he right? They are checking it out this afternoon, but I feel compelled to press them on this. Is there an unrelated system that they could have accidentally affected during the process of replacing the battery?

Fanks.

I would check the relays. I just had a dead battery and tracked it to a relay for the antenna. It'* possible the relay stuck and drained the battery. Removing the battery reset the relay and now it'* dead.

Well, after seven years of battery life I guess it needed replacing anyway, but your explanation is plausible as to why it just up and died overnight. I will have the relays checked and not even worry if there was any life left in that old battery. Will report back for a solution.

Thanks!

Wait a minute. This is replacing a relay - I can do that. Why am I even considering bringing this to a shop? All I need to know is, where are my relays located? Hopefully under the hood...

For the headlights, yes its in the underhood box

Low beams are Relay #28

Yup - found all this out when I removed the fuses and relay to check. Unfortunately, they all test well, so I could not find the reason. The manual provides only the vaguest of information on the 'Twilight Sentinel.'

There is a reference in the manual to a 'main fuse box' near the battery, which is what the gang at the shop will have to look at tomorrow since they had the back seat up. I will be livid if they tell me it is something else. I'd hate to have to dump a shop after a ten year relationship.

I'm thinking that since the daytime running lights no longer come on, that perhaps they are part of a system like the radio, or the driving computer. Both were reset when the battery was replaced. Perhaps this is similar and I just don't know how to reset it.

Any other ideas?

How did you test the relay?

Is there one like it in that box?

Id still swap it to see just in case,,,,internal tips could be burnt

Removed and tested with a multimeter. Even put a new one in to see for sure, and the lows were still inop with the new relay. Despite being replaced in tandem no longer than a month ago, I have to suspect the bulbs are shot already. It seems to be the only explanation.

Wouldn't you know, it turned out to be the headlamps I had replaced a month prior. I excluded them from my troubleshooting process as they were brand new. Before you ask, I did not touch them with my fingers when installing, I just got a couple of lemons. Something, however, blew these bulbs. I guess there is a chance the sudden battery death and the headlamps are unrelated, but who knows.

Glad to see you found the problem. As many on the forum have learned, always check the obvious stuff first.

Fuses..? bahaha