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#1 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 161
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No headlights. . .
I drove to work today, and my headlights worked. I then drove to a meeting, and my headlights worked. Then I left my meeting, and no headlights. My tail lights work, side marker lights work, high beams work, dash lights work, dome light works, but no headlights.
So, I drove home with my high beams on. Alas. My question, though, is this likely a switch issue? What's the best way to track down this electrical gremlin? Thanks
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1972 Chevy C-10 ~ 188,000 miles give or take |
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#2 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2003
Location: ne florida
Posts: 2,665
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Re: No headlights. . .
check your dimer switch,i bought a truck one time and didn't have head lights turned out it was the dimmer switch. it was all corroded[sp] and i put a new one in and had lights it's worth a try.
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#3 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 161
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Re: No headlights. . .
The dimmer switch seems to work fine in all regards, except for the headlight function. No flickering or odd operation. But a switch sounds like a cheap fix.
Posted via Mobile Device
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1972 Chevy C-10 ~ 188,000 miles give or take |
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#4 |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Eastvale, CA
Posts: 82
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Re: No headlights. . .
My headlights don't work sometimes as well, seems to be the high beam switch on the floor. right now I just keep clicking it until the headlights come back. Maybe check to see if a wire came loose or fell off.
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#5 |
Registered User
Join Date: May 2008
Location: S.W. Chicago, IL.
Posts: 317
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Re: No headlights. . .
I would replace the dimmer floor switch and check the plug & wiring that goes to it.
If all you other lights work properly, I would suspect the dimmer connection. |
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#6 |
1969 Custom 30 wrecker
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Pottsville, Pa
Posts: 2,611
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Re: No headlights. . .
Try wiggling the plugs on the back of the headlights. (with switch on in low beam) Alot of times there's a bad connection there.
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#7 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Glencoe Alabama
Posts: 510
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Re: No headlights. . .
My vote goes to the dimmer switch.
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72 Cheyenne super 10 08 3500 HD 4dr dually 12 ford flex (wifes ride) 76 Monte Carlo 83 Chevy short wide Silverado 96 Mazda Miata, 2000 Allegro Bus |
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#8 |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Center City, MN, USA
Posts: 3,254
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Re: No headlights. . .
If wiggling the plug down by the dimmer switch gets you your headlights back, you have a cheap, easy fix in your future.
Go to NAPA and buy three pieces of part number 725147. You can go to NAPA online and see what they look like. Go home, unplug the dimmer switch, mark/write down/remember where each wire goes then remove each wire from the connector. There is a little tab on the wire terminal that needs to be depressed with a little flat blade screwdriver to get the wire and terminal out. Cut off the old, green, furry terminal. Clamp on your new terminal. Insert the wire where it came from. In reality you only need to remember what the "in" wire is to that switch. The high and low can be swapped as the switch doesn't care it just alternates between the two circuits. I would take this time to clean the male connectors on the switch as long as you got your hands dirty. Brush them clean then apply a little electrical grease so the connection will last another 40 years. Screw dimmer switch back down and plug in your re-habbed connector. Done in about 30 minutes and for less than a crappy cup of coffee. You'll be so happy and in for so little money at this point that I suggest you search this forum for "relay headlight upgrade" and put another $15 or so bucks into your lighting system. (You'll need 6 more 725147 and two relays and some 10 or 12 gauge wire). When done you'll wonder how you drove for 40 years at night without the relays.
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'70 cab, '71 chassis, 383, TH350, NP205. '71 Malibu convertible '72 Malibu hard top Center City, MN |
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#9 |
Rottenwood Garage Member
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Marietta, Georgia
Posts: 4,321
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Re: No headlights. . .
Normally its the dimmer switch or the headlight switch going bad. It could also be your connection at your wiring harness block on the cab. Have you had it a part lately?
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#10 |
20' Daredevil (Ret)
![]() Join Date: May 2003
Location: Jefferson State
Posts: 13,647
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Re: No headlights. . .
Great advice above. Since the high beams works, your dashboard switch is OK, and grounds are also OK. Everything points to either the dimmer switch or a poor connection at the dimmer switch.
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- Mike - 1972 K20 LWB 350/350/205 RIP El Jay |
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#11 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Iredell, Texas
Posts: 582
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Re: No headlights. . .
![]() -Richard
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I may have too many Chevys... Is that possible? ![]() 68 c50 pickup build: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=704713 |
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#12 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 161
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Re: No headlights. . .
$20 in replacement parts, and it turns out it was a loose wire. . .
Oh well. I now have a new headlight switch and a new dimmer switch. Thanks for all the help.
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1972 Chevy C-10 ~ 188,000 miles give or take |
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#13 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Iredell, Texas
Posts: 582
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Re: No headlights. . .
Just for future generations, where was the loose wire?
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I may have too many Chevys... Is that possible? ![]() 68 c50 pickup build: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=704713 |
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#14 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 161
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Re: No headlights. . .
It was a loose wire on the plug to the floor dimmer switch...
Posted via Mobile Device
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1972 Chevy C-10 ~ 188,000 miles give or take |
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#15 |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Dallas, Texas
Posts: 4
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Great information on this forum!
The topics on headlight problems helped me figure out the connections were bad at the dimmer switch. I was beginning to suspect the headlights themselves and I looked at the ground wires also. I jumped the three wires together at the dimmer switch and all four headlights lit up! The PO torn up the dimmer switch connector looking in the wrong place for a short in the wiring(I found a short in the alternator soon after I bought the truck). I ordered a dimmer switch and a dimmer switch connector at Rock Auto. |
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#16 |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Plainwell,Michigan
Posts: 1
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Re: No headlights. . .
Mistakenly crossed positive and negative posts.
Headlights stopped working. This forum is most helpful. I had looked to many places. I am glad I waited to take action.. My issue was also the connection at the dimmer . Crossing the wires must give just enough energy to create a loss of connection. Very fortunate that was all it did. I had already replaced the dimmer. I just cleaned the gak from around the contacts, installed and removed the plug a few times and carefully applied some dielectric grease to the spades and connector. Instant headlights ! In the process found a ground for a backup light I had installed that had fallen off. That works again as well ! Great forum ! The shared info is very much appreciated . Last edited by Magnafyed; 08-21-2016 at 04:28 AM. Reason: Misspelled word |
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#17 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Portland, Oregon
Posts: 436
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I bet it's a loose wire.
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#18 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: East Tn (In the heart of the Smoky Mtns)
Posts: 1,871
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Re: No headlights. . .
Clean all your contact, and dab a little dielectric grease on them. Over time humidity causes corrosion build up and a break in contact. Another thing I do is to get some electrical contact cleaner, and spray into the female portion, to clean the hard to get to contact points. One last thing is to check all your grounds. These to are prone to the corrosion phantom
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