Hello,

this is my first time posting to this site. I hope you all can help me with a problem. i have a 1988 pick up w/ 4cyl and EFI. i have two problems with it:

1) my low beams do not work. it's only my low beams. the highs work fine.
2) when the engine heats up, the car stalls when i'm not hitting the gas.


what could the problem be with both of these issues. what can i do to fix these issues.

thanks in advance.

I'd check the fuses for the light problem ...things get wonky and it's usually a fuse if the high beams work.
There's a Toyota mechanic who is on the forum so he'll probably correct me but that's where I'd look first.
Then at the bulbs.

My car does the same thing with the stalling/flooding...I just blame it on being old!

4.22.2007...I have same problem with 1985 LE Van low beams...there are none..only high...I believe that fuse handle left and right separately...therefore the fuses may not be a fault...I had mine replaced...any further ideas? Paris

I am not familiar with the vehicle in question. That said, I'd hook up a DVM (digital volt meter [check radio shack if needed]) and see if you're getting voltage on the connector that contacts the bulb (when low beam setting is on). I know you have current on high beams, but we can't overlook the possibility that the low element burned out in both simulataneously (improbable, yes. impossible no). If no current at either connector, I'd check the light switch itself with the DVM. A light wiring diagram would help here (see Advance Auto Parts or other for basic Toy repair manual).

My gut says it's the switch and that the current is applied to both low beams by a single element. Often times, things like this tend to be due to a single point of failure. IF the switch does not supply current to the appropriate wire when low beams are set to on, the switch is the likely culprit. Check a bone yeard (junk yard) for a cheap fix. Take your old one with you if you go this route to make sure it's an OEM match.

-riv

Also, it's rare that both bulbs will go at the same time, but alot of times a bulb will work on high beam when it won't work on low beam anymore. But two at once is a stretch.

It would be possible that one bulb went first but went unnoticed until the second one went. I have driven with just one for a little one without noticing one was dead.

Yes, me too. The last time it happened I didn't know it until a state trooper stopped me lol.
He was, at least, a nice guy!

Well i've got an 87' and my high beams weren't working, I just got it and violently kept flikering the lights to high then low then my high beams came on. Might be your switch going out, because now when I am driving with my lows on it flikers itself to high and off when I go over bumps. Just plain old

also my truck was just dying at stop signs, I just let my fuel mixture screw out some and that fixed the problem. Also I have a carb, not sure what you have. If EFI then I don't have a clue.

I once had an issue with my high beams and found out that their fuse was different from the low beams fuse. So maybe that is the issue. It's something to check.