Low beams inop , where to find switch

[NONHOG]

My low beams are not working and yes I know some threads about that subject , been reading them ! Good info ! My question is where have you all been sourcing your switches ? I will most likely go with Napa cause they are close (if they have them) and they will deliver it to me . Any reason not to go with Napa ? I would prefer supporting venders on this site , however I need to get it back in working order ASAP .
What has worked for you ? thanks !

[mbgmike]

Go to NAPA or the closest place.

[lks dcvn]

[mrein3]

Do the relay upgrade to your headlights after you put in the new switch. You'll never have to put in another switch.

[70GMCer]

Got mine from Advance Auto for around $9

[NONHOG]

Got my new switches and I replaced both battery terminals. I will check and clean all grounds . I may not just yet do the relays but I like that idea .
electrical is not my strong point . What kind of relay do I ask for are there universal headlamp relays ?
I hate asking parts guys for a part that did not come on the vehicle in question .

[mrein3]

Originally Posted by NONHOG

Got my new switches and I replaced both battery terminals. I will check and clean all grounds . I may not just yet do the relays but I like that idea .
electrical is not my strong point . What kind of relay do I ask for are there universal headlamp relays ?
I hate asking parts guys for a part that did not come on the vehicle in question .

I bought the relays I used at Checkers. You're right, if you ask the guy he'll start clicking away on a computer terminal. You need to look in the electric parts section. I have a picture of the back of the bubble package - which may or may not do you any good. It does show what it looks like. Most of the Bosch style relays are black colored.

You need two relays. One for high beams and one for low. The back of the package at Checkers shows you how to hook them up.

Figure out what wire is high and what wire is low in the existing wiring at the headlight.

For low beams:
Hook terminal 30 to the battery through a fuse or circuit breaker - use 10 or 12 gauge wire. 86 hook up to the wire you determined to be low beam - you may be able to pull the wire from the headlight connector and plug it right into 86. 85 to a good ground. 87 you need to split a wire off of and hook up to both headlight's low beam terminal - use 10 or 12 gauge wire.

Repeat the process with the other relay only substituting existing high beam wires for low.

$5 each for relays. About $10 worth of wire. One of the cheapest and easiest upgrades you can do to an old vehicle.

[72lb4x4]

If your low beams don't wirk but the high beams do, its obviously not the headlight switch.
Wiggle the connector on the dimmer switch on the floor.

[BLACK AND BLUE 67-72]

NAPA dimmer switch, Echlin # DS-115 $9.49 or Mileage Plus # DS115SB $5.49. Headlight switch Echlin # HL-6554 $27.99 or Mileage plus #HL6554SB $12.49. But I really think that it is your dimmer switch.

[lts70]

I was also leery about wiring in relays but it is not bad at all. I just grabbed two out of a dodge car at the junkyard with as much wire as I could get, cost me $2 in all.The threads have plenty of info to get you through it. You can also Google the topic and get even more info. It was so easy that now I have two relays running my electric fan. Two more on my power windows and locks. I even built a wiper delay switch with three relays, bus switch and the wire diagram in the FAQ's. After the first two junk yard grabs I got a set of ten relays and pigtails on eBay for the price of one or two at an auto parts store. With shipping I think it cost me $12 for all ten and I have had no problems with any of them.

['68OrangeSunshine]

Be sure to check the continuity on the low beam elements in the headlamps themselves.
Once I had both lowbeam elements burn out at about the same time. I went all thru the system, R & R'd the dimmer switch, nogo. Finally I put in new headlamps and that was it. This was on a GMC with a 4 lamp system. When the brights were on, all 4 headlights were on, on low beam [2 lights] nothing.

[NONHOG]

When I was checking it was dark out and pouring rain (shop is not ready yet)
I wiggled the connection at the dimmer and nothing . And I started with new
headlights. I figured when I do have time I want all the parts with me !
I'll post the results .