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Right (Passenger) headlight not receiving power


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Hi folks!

 

I don't really post often (or ever?). I usually just scour for ideas and steal people's tips and solutions :) 

At this point, though, I'm all out of ideas on how to fix my very first real issue with the car that I prefer to not use the dealer for. 

 

I have a 2013 Ford Edge SEL - maybe 4 months ago I installed a 55W HID kit from AbsoluteHID.ca (I am in Canada) and they worked great at first!

 

Since then, my passenger headlight would sometimes flicker only when starting the car (the lights come on as soon as accessory power is on, even with push start it flickers a few times).

This only happens while the car is turning to start, but after starting the lights work flawlessly.

 

However, a few days ago the passenger headlight went out and will not turn on no matter what I do. 

1. Replaced the HID light bulb, and swapped the ballast/light bulb between driver/passenger sides and the passenger side remains out while the other works on the driver side. 

2. Swapped the original light bulb back into the passenger side

3. Tested fuse for left and right headlights inside the driver side fuse box (both are fine) 

4. Using a multimeter, checked the headlamp connector (not inside the headlight housing, but the one that also seems to provide power to the orange light on the side of the headlight ...) and confirmed no power to 3 pins of 5 pins (power only for orange light is available, ground is fine). Image listed below of the connector I'm referring to. I did find it odd that the orange light (not even sure what its called.. not the turn signal, but a light on the side that is on only when the lights are on) is attached on the same connector but hey...

 

I'm basically out of ideas and can't find much about which relay to start checking that could be causing this, especially since the relay is likely sitting in front of the two fuses, and is one relay to both headlights - which means both would be out if it was a relay issue. I may be wrong here.. 

 

Any thoughts on whether this could be some sort of relay or other fuse that is causing ONLY the passenger side headlight to not see power out of a connector with other lights that are receiving power?

 

My only other thought here is some sort of PCM/SJB issue and sure hoping its not :( I know the dealer will charge me quite a bit to diagnose and replace those if it is.

 

image.png.a2193c3c90c98dfd5cc0312adcb274f6.png

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UPDATE:

 

1. Checked the wiring and started tracing it to see if I can find a spot where it is cut, melted, having issues.... found nothing!

2. The wire traced back to near / below the main fuse box near the battery, and the wiring seems to split (similar color wires at least?) between the main fuse box, battery junction, and then somewhere even further which I only assume is the fuse box in the driver side panel. 

3. All along that area I can't seem to get any connectors apart to test where voltage drops, but where I could test I can confirm no voltage (up to battery junction/fuse box. 

 

This is leading me to believe that I am missing something very obvious here - and that it isn't a wiring issue.

 

Is there possibly a control via the BCM/PCM that would cause the computer to stop sending power to one light because of the flickering it did for a few weeks during start of vehicle only?

perhaps at one point it decided this was dangerous, and shut power off to that side until I take it to dealer for example :)

 

I'm grasping at straws. I don't want to go to the dealer! 

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FIXED!

 

Final update, wanted to share the solution to make sure anyone experiencing similar can see this.

 

Due to the flickering of the HIDs that I installed without a relay/extra wiring to the battery (which I have now installed) .. the car's SJB (smart junction box) and Computer thought that there was a short to ground, and faulted that specific light and shut it down.


I plugged in my Veepak reader, and used the "forscan" app on Android (amazing app by the way) to run tests on each module; which tested the BCM (Body Control Module) and the FLM (Front Light Control Module) 

Both showed faults:

- BCM: Right Front headlamp short to ground

- FLM: Missing / Inactive Front Right headlamp

 

Resetting the FLM didn't resolve,  but did allow the BCM to think a light was now available - then resetting the BCM, which takes a few steps, allows the BCM to send power to the light again.

 

Once the BCM was reset, it did show a fault on the ICM (instrument cluster module) but that was fixed with another reset, and all is back to normal.

 

Supposedly, ford technicians have an automated "reset everything" which would've fixed this as well.

 

If anyone is interested in screenshots or videos, I can run through the same steps again on my phone and take screenshots to show them - though its very straight forward.

Buy a veepak or similar ODBII reader, plug it in and download "Forscan Lite" on android, iOS, or Windows phone/laptop.  Connect the two and a menu of options becomes available!

YOu can also diagnose issues, where it gives you live readings of states for switches, circuits, etc..

 

 

 

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  • 1 year later...

Unfortunately I don't have the Edge anymore, but if I recall the steps were:

 

1. Buy the ForScan app in iOS/Android play store

2. Plug in the ODBII reader, launch app and connect 

3. Click "Service"

4. At the time, there was a "plus" to add services/tests  Click it and add:

     - "Front Light Control Module"

     - "Body Control Module"

5. Perform a 'reset' on the FLM first, then the BCM 

6. Now the check engine light will illuminate, or at least another check via the app will reveal an ILM fault, perform a 3rd reset on all codes and life goes back to normal

 

Basically, the body control module / front light control module thinks there is a fault because the lights flicker, it assumes there is a ground short and just cuts off power to that light.

 

Sorry I can't be of more help

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