Hello everyone,
I've got a 2001 Accent 1.6 GSI with auto trans. I have the following problem: The DRL work fine, but when the headlights are turned on, the tail lights go out. I've checked the fuses, diodes and swapped out the tail light relay for both the horn and DRL relays with no difference. With the DRL running, I have 12v to the tail lamp fuses. When I switch to the headlights, I get no voltage to the tail lamp fuses. I've taken the multifunction switch apart and seem to have continuity between the wires at various switch positions. I also have no instrument cluster lights-are they related? I've been to Hmaservice.com but am not sure how all the power is routed. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated

Hello Woodchips,

Welcome to this forum,
I have a 2001 and I can't recall if the DRL turn OFF normally when you turn the headlight ON.

I will check after work, and will reply

A+

see ya

Thanks,
I've downloaded some schematics of the DRL system and am in the process of tracing all the wires to and from the DRL control module (easy enough on paper!) Is the module the gray box under the fuse box in the engine compartment?
Thanks again

I'm not sure if this is going to help you, but i had a situation in which my tail lights worked, yet i had no brake lights. I had no idea that they weren't working, so i replaced the bulbs. Didn't work, so then i totally ripped apart my whole car and just went thru the wiring from the back at tail light assembly up to the front. When i couldn't find the problem, i followed the brake light switch up to where it meets the wire harness, and there it was. Looks like the previous owner, who pretty much totally screwed this car totally, some how either jumped the fuse box or shorted it out, which totally melted the wires. I had to rip the whole dash out, splice and solder in new wires, and that fixed the problem. You said you checked fuses, and replaced some stuff, i would check wires just to make sure everything is good. I would think if the wires were shot, you would blow fuses. The same could be for your dash lights. I have a 2000 accent, I know there are fuses in the engine compartment as well as inside. If everything you are checking is ok, i personally would check wires just to see if something shorted out or melted. I hope this helped a little, after this car, wiring is def something that takes alot of time to find especially with the fact my car was such a pain.

Thanks for the info. Yesterday I finally had some time to look at the car. After checking and tracing wires, I found that that the DRL resistor is shot (one is on order). I don't know if that is part of the problem, but I will re-test when I get the unit and keep you updated. I also had time to replace the rotting oil pan-does it never end?

Just and update: got the new DRL resistor and installed it. Now the DRL system seems to work (in my original post I was mistaken in thinking that the parking lights were the DRL as they came on instead of the headlights). Still have no tail lights when the headlights are turned on although I do have tail lights when the parking lights are on or instrument cluster lights. I'm starting to lean towards the multifunction switch-any thoughts?

Success! After checking the continuity of the wire (Y/B) from the DRL control unit to the first diode (good) and the continuity of the wire (G) from the diode to the multifunction switch (bad), and, after removing the relay and fuse box from the engine compartment, I discovered that the wire from the diode had corroded and broken. I spliced in a new wire and now have tail lights and interior lights. Don't know why only that wire corroded. For anyone with no instrument cluster lights it might be an idea to check the underside of the engine compartment fuse box.