I've got a 2000 ES300 Platinum. If I'm not mistaken this is how the headlights/fog lights work: With lights in the off position the fog lights are on. When the headlights are turned on the low beams come on and the fog lights shut off. When the high beams are tuned on the low beams shut off. Is this correct?
Here's my situation: I replaced the high and low beams with Sylvania Silverstar bulbs. Now when the light switch is in the off position the high beam bulbs are on, but not nearly at full strength. When I turn the light switch to the on position the low beams come on and the highs shut off. When I turn the high beams on they come on and the low beams stay on. The foglights never come on.
Could somebody tell me what's up?
Thanks, Martin

 

With the headlight switch OFF you will have only the high beams lit at partial brightness this is your DRL Daytime Running Lights turn the switch to first position This is you parking lights the second position is headlights low beam and no DRL push lever forward this is your high beams. OEM fog lights are controlled by a (ring)switch next to your headlight switch fog lights only operate when your low beam lights are on. Depending on what state you live in fog lights are required to be on with your low beams only the way the factory has it setup.

 

Couldn't have explained it better myself. A lot of Lexus headlight switches get worn and the white markers that identify everything gets worn off. This is the case on my RX, if you look at the stalk, there is no way to know what position it is in. You just have to know by twisting.

I am not sure about a 2000 ES, but our 99 RX has an auto position that we just leave it in with the fog lights on. When it gets dusk, it automatically switches from DRL's to low beams w/fogs on.

Check you owner's manual to see if the 2000 ES has the auto setting.

 

Sounds like normal operation to me.

 

Thanks for the quick reply. I'll check for the "ring" switch in a few minutes when I head out-I wasn't aware of it. I've had the car for a few months and didn't know there was a seperate switch! I new I was overlooking something stupid.... Thanks again.

 

u can also rewire it by doing the fog light mod, which enables u to have control of you fogs w/ or w/o the use of hls being on at the same time, check it out here
http://sr1.clublexus.com/forums/es30...gen-es300.html