2002 Explorer low beams won't come on!

[Scordeiro1978]

So last night got a call from a friend's wife because she was stranded with no headlights. I managed to get it home on the high beams without making to many enemies. Upon investigation I've found both bulbs are good, underhood fuses & micros for headlights & drl are fine, high beams work as do for lights. Only thing affected is low beams & drl. Anybody have any ideas? Thank you in advance.

 

[Retci]

Hi! Have you checked all the plug/wires? I had a trailblazer with a similar issue, turns out it was faulty wires. Which is a pain in the neck to track down. You'll need a voltage meter and have to follow the wiring harness.

I hope this gives you a lead!

 

[CallMeSyd]

Have you tried fully cycling the headlight switch through all positions? Also the fuses for these are kind of weird. Just to be extra sure, here's a video. If none of this helps, you may just need to start tracing wires.

 

[CallMeSyd]

Had to go back and edit cause stupid video didn't paste right.

 

[J_C]

I'd also consider the MFS, multi-function switch on the steering column, whether it might have corroded internal contacts, or the connector to it has wire/contacts pulling out the back. Ultimately you trace along the circuit to see where power stops if there are no visual clues.

Your MFS can probably be disassembled and cleaned out, I know on 2nd gen explorers it just needs a torx screwdriver and clean the old hardened grease out and oxidation off the copper (or maybe they were brass, I vaguely recall them being copper colored) contacts, then a little dielectric grease and reassemble.

 

[4rd Xplora]

Do 3 gens use the lamp outage module? I know my '96 does.

 

[CallMeSyd]

No. They only have the series of fuses shown in the video above. They have a separate fuse for left and right low beam, the switch, and the fuse for the switch, and then the other fuse for the highs, along with the relay. The outage module was no longer a thing after 98.