Puzzling, indeed...

When headlight switch is Off (DTRL): Driver side light outer light is on, passenger is not
When headlight switch is turned clockwise (On): Parking lights on, both lights off
When headlight switch is turned clockwise and pulled out (on + Fog lights?): both inner lights on at low
When high beams are on: both inner lights on at high

Also, passenger side light notwithstanding, is this the proper function of the lights?

Some questions:

• What do you mean "both inner lights on at low"? Are they dim?
• When do the fog lights come on?
• Have you checked the fuse (#20, 10amps) for the right low beam? Each light has its own fuse.
• Do the headlights and wiring to them appear to be factory, or has someone messed with them?

My Passat is a B5.5, but I believe the headlights work the same:

• Headlight switch on with ignition off: parking lights only
• Switch off: DRL (low beams) on
• Switch off, parking brake applied: DRL off, parking lights only
• Switch on: low beams on (same as DRL, but adds parking lights and dash lights)
• Switch pulled out: low beams + fogs
• Switch on, high beam selected: high beams on, fogs off (regardless if headlight switch pulled out)

 

X2 on the above... Also, make sure you're seeing the actual low beams come on, and not just the little "city lights". Folks sometimes get confused when they see light coming from there.

 

Early and late B5 lights are different.

Early headlights have the fog lights built into the headlight housing. It uses a two-filament bulb in the inboard position. When you pull the switch out, it lights up the low beam for fog lights. When you push the stalk forward or pull it back, the bulb's high filament lights for high beams.

The outer bulbs are the main/low headlight beams. Unless you've disabled the DRLs they should illuminate when the car is running and the hand brake is off, at like 80% power. When you turn the switch, they should have full brightness.

I would check your fuses. One for each low beam.

 

Thanks all for the responses! I've been out of town for a bit, so haven't been able to check back on this post. I checked the number 20 fuse, and it looks perfect. Incidentally, does anyone know where I can get a fuse chart? The headlights look pretty factory. I don't see any strange looking wiring going into the headlights, either. The fog lights and highbeams work great. It's just that one regular beam/DRL that isn't working. From the sound of it, it sounds like I have the early headlights since the fog and highbeams use the same bulb.

I'm half tempted to just try replacing the bulb one more time just to be sure, but I've done it several times and it never seems to work.

Edit: oh, I forgot one more thing. When I turn the regular beams on, instead of going from DRL to regular beam, the DRL that does work turns off, the DRL that doesn't work remains off. The parking lights do come on.

Headlight switch on with ignition off: parking lights only
Switch off: Driver side passenger DRL only on
Switch off, parking brake applied: DRL off, parking lights only
Switch on: Parking lights and dash lights only (should be low beams, but nothing)
Switch pulled out: Fogs only
Switch on, high beam selected: high beams on, fogs off (regardless if headlight switch pulled out)

 

Hmmm, you may have a bad headlight switch in addition to either a blown fuse or bad bulb.

 

Headlight switch: Do you mean the actual switch in the interior, or some other switch?

 

The one in the interior!