weird headlight problems - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

stepsidewanted · 01-02-2006, 08:53 AM

My headlights stopped working. The tail lights and rear side lights work, the front passenger side light and bumper light work. Neither head light nor the driver's side light or bumper light work. The dash lights work. I checked the bulbs. Any clues?

I have no experience working on my truck (1971 stepside), please help.

LUV2XCLR8 · 01-02-2006, 08:58 AM

1st -

to the board from west 10-uh-c

2nd - cant help, but there is alot of stuff in our FAQ's section that may
help out

, or others will respond & chime in, HeadLights burned out ?

FAQ's - http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=157669

70GMCer · 01-02-2006, 09:00 AM

Bad ground wire or dirty/rusted light sockets. Also check your headlight switch for corrosion/dirt. Same thing happened to me a while back. Turned out to be the headlamp sockets were rusted up and not making contact. I just used a piece of sand paper to brighten up the lamp prongs, and a little screw driver to clean out the sockets of any rust.

stepsidewanted · 01-02-2006, 09:17 AM

Thanks for the replies.

I know it's not the bulbs b/c I bought new ones. It just seems weird that they would both stop working at the same time. Plus the side light in the driver side fender and the turn signal light in the the bumper on the driver side don't work either. All other lights work fine, so it can't be the switch, right?

Are there different relays or fuses for each side?

**Palf70Step** · 01-02-2006, 09:21 AM

My guess would be the headlight switch since all the front is out. You can also check the wiring connection as it comes out of the firewall.

LONGHAIR · 01-02-2006, 10:25 AM

99% of the time it will be the dimmer switch on the floor. All of the head light's power goes through there. The switch "decides" whether it goes to the high or low beams...........If the switch goes bad, it goes nowhere.

stepsidewanted · 01-02-2006, 10:57 AM

Got it! Thanks again.

It was the dimmer switch on the floor. High beams worked but low did not. I just assumed that neither worked. I removed it, cleaned the contacts and now it works.

The driver side marker light and turn signal still don't work though. I swapped bulbs with the passenger side and the passenger side works fine. Thoughts?

smbrouss70 · 01-02-2006, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LONGHAIR

99% of the time it will be the dimmer switch on the floor. All of the head light's power goes through there. The switch "decides" whether it goes to the high or low beams...........If the switch goes bad, it goes nowhere.

I just had to change my dimmer switch to get my lights working again. around $5 at autozone.

01-02-2006, 08:53 AM	#1
stepsidewanted Registered User Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Macon, Ga Posts: 4	weird headlight problems My headlights stopped working. The tail lights and rear side lights work, the front passenger side light and bumper light work. Neither head light nor the driver's side light or bumper light work. The dash lights work. I checked the bulbs. Any clues? I have no experience working on my truck (1971 stepside), please help.

01-02-2006, 08:58 AM	#2
LUV2XCLR8 The LuvShack Garage Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Maple Grove, TN (West Side) Posts: 30,484	Re: weird headlight problems 1st - to the board from west 10-uh-c 2nd - cant help, but there is alot of stuff in our FAQ's section that may help out , or others will respond & chime in, HeadLights burned out ? FAQ's - http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=157669 __________________ Owner/Op: "TN Classic Transport Carriers" The Toy: "Square Vette" 72 Hybrid Blazer Toy Barn: "LuvShack" 40 x 60 x 20 Shop Tow Piggy:"Maddy" 88 Silverado 3500 Hauler: "Feathers" 14 Aluma 8218T Last edited by LUV2XCLR8; 01-02-2006 at 09:01 AM.

01-02-2006, 09:00 AM	#3
70GMCer Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Joppa, Maryland Posts: 4,408	Re: weird headlight problems Bad ground wire or dirty/rusted light sockets. Also check your headlight switch for corrosion/dirt. Same thing happened to me a while back. Turned out to be the headlamp sockets were rusted up and not making contact. I just used a piece of sand paper to brighten up the lamp prongs, and a little screw driver to clean out the sockets of any rust. __________________ 1997 GMC Sierra Ext 1965 Mustang

01-02-2006, 09:17 AM	#4
stepsidewanted Registered User Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Macon, Ga Posts: 4	Re: weird headlight problems Thanks for the replies. I know it's not the bulbs b/c I bought new ones. It just seems weird that they would both stop working at the same time. Plus the side light in the driver side fender and the turn signal light in the the bumper on the driver side don't work either. All other lights work fine, so it can't be the switch, right? Are there different relays or fuses for each side?

01-02-2006, 09:21 AM	#5
Palf70Step State of Confusion! Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Gulfport, MS USA Posts: 47,083	Re: weird headlight problems My guess would be the headlight switch since all the front is out. You can also check the wiring connection as it comes out of the firewall. __________________ Bill 1970 Chevy Custom/10 LWB Fleetside 2010 Toyota Tacoma PreRunner SR5 Double Cab - DD Member of Louisiana Classic Truck Club (LCTC) Bill's Gallery Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift. Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God!

01-02-2006, 10:25 AM	#6
LONGHAIR just can't cover up my redneck Join Date: May 2004 Location: Columbus OH Posts: 11,414	Re: weird headlight problems 99% of the time it will be the dimmer switch on the floor. All of the head light's power goes through there. The switch "decides" whether it goes to the high or low beams...........If the switch goes bad, it goes nowhere.

01-02-2006, 10:57 AM	#7
stepsidewanted Registered User Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Macon, Ga Posts: 4	Re: weird headlight problems Got it! Thanks again. It was the dimmer switch on the floor. High beams worked but low did not. I just assumed that neither worked. I removed it, cleaned the contacts and now it works. The driver side marker light and turn signal still don't work though. I swapped bulbs with the passenger side and the passenger side works fine. Thoughts?



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