Hi everyone,

I own a European HHR, and I'm experiencing a strange issue with my headlights. When I unlock the car using the key fob, both headlights work fine. However, when I start the engine, the right headlight turns off. I've also noticed that the left parking light (sidelight) is not working.

Has anyone experienced a similar problem?

Some observations and thoughts:

• Could it be a faulty bulb? The left parking light is out; could this be causing the issue with the right headlight?
  
• Could it be a grounding issue? I've read that poor ground connections can cause strange lighting behavior.
  
• Might it be related to the Body Control Module (BCM)? I understand that the European HHR models have different lighting setups compared to the US models.
  

I'd appreciate any advice or experiences from others who have dealt with similar issues.

Thanks in advance!

 

I’m thinking a bulb issue for the headlight and the signal light. Inspect the ground and the bulb socket for melting .

 

Turn on the headlights. Switch from low beam to high beams. If the low beam is out and the high beam works, then you have a bad bulb.
When you operate the fob it flashes the high beams.

 

Good advice. I think this is the most likely problem. Instructions for changing the headlight bulb are in the owners manual (free on line.) Not as hard as it looks. Use thin strong gloves.

It is HIGHLY unlikely that this is a BCM problem. Should further diagnosis be required…

• Was your car originally sold in Europe, or imported from North America, resulting in modifications to lamp wiring?
• What are the rules regarding daytime running lamps in The Netherlands? (Or, what were they at the time the car originally came to the Netherlands?)

Those matters may influence how the system is wired.

 

I don't know why the BCM would be different. The only differences are the tail lights and back up lights, that is just wiring.
In Europe the brake lights need to be a separate bulb from the tail lights, usually that means rewiring the back up lights to be tails and adding a spotlight for back ups. And re aiming the head lights.
The side marker lights are not connected to the head lights. If this is a 2008 the DRLs are low beam, no tail lights.

 

thanx guys, i will check you advise and come back with an update.

Car is original EU

 

You nailed the year Donbrew, a 2008

 

yep 2008 sorry missed that

 

Not really relevant, but a suggestion, tighten the four bolts in the under hood fuse box, real tight!!


Then push all the fuses and relays firmly into place.

 

Each headlight has a fuse for each hi and lo beam. Worth a look.