It sounds like a bad headlight relay switch. It is located under the dash near the brace that holds the brake pedal.
Normally caused by faulty dimmer switch.
It might be the high/low beam switch. Had to replace one on my '96 when I had only low beams.
Does the car have fog lights? I have a 2003 Sunfire that the high beams would not work on. This was caused by a short in the fog light wiring. I had the fog lights rewired separate from the harness (about $100) and the problem was fixed.
the problem is the switches themselves, just poorly designed.
Not uncommon in that model; apparently the wiring harness is weak at the low-beam wire; read more in the forum below. gminsidenews.com/forums/f53/1997-pontiac-sunfire-headlights-40665/
Hmmm.... it seems unlikely that both low beam elements would fail at the same time, but it's possible. Replacing the headlight lamps is cheap and easy and would be my first attempt at fixing the problem. Is your DRL indicator on the dash flashing? They'll do that when the lamp(s) burn out. Since the DRL's AND the low beams don't work, I wouldn't suspect the headlight switch, however this is not beyond the realm of reason.
i had this same problem. it was faulty wiring underneath the battery.
Pulling the turn signal switch toward you should switch the lights to the low beams. If that doesn't work, you may have to replace the switch, which means replacing the entire turn signal stalk.
the low beam part of the bulb could be bad.
Low beam bulb burnt out? Replace bulb. Bulbs OK? If the dimmer switch is also the turn signal/cruise/headlight on and off switch, you probably have to replace the entire switch.
Seperate circuits I believe.
you may have a bad relay. If both of them are out, that is probably the relay for the high beams or it could also be a fuse.