headlights - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

orange72 · 01-14-2003, 12:59 AM

ok guys i need some help on this one. my headlights come on most of the time but here recently they have for some reason had a tendency to not want to come on. one night i left a gas station and got on the road and my headlights wouldnt come on. so i got out popped the hood and wiggled the connection on the headlights and they wouldnt do anything. so i get back in shut the door and they pop on just like theres a short some where. well the other night at a friends house i get ready to leave and the wont do anything. my park lights and tail lights would work but my headlights wouldnt do anything. i wiggled the headlight connections, pulled in and out on the headlight switch and nothing. i figured it was out for the count this time and that as soon as possible i would have to change the switch. well today i pulled the headlights on to see if they would work and they did. can anyone help me out on figuring out what the problem is. its really worrying me to know that i might not have lights when i need them. thanks

Longhorn Man · 01-14-2003, 01:10 AM

Pull back the carpet and look at the connection for the dimmer switch. It's probably full of green corrosion and rust.
Clean and replace if needed.

RON WOODGEARD · 01-14-2003, 01:36 AM

The other thing may be, The light switch itself, Check the connections on it by wiggling them. remember these trucks are old and lots of crap has built up between the contacts. wiggling will break through that corrosion, making metal to metal contact again.

RON

Suicide-D · 01-14-2003, 02:05 AM

I'm having the exact same problem... I haven't checked the dimmer switch yet... I kicked that truck to the curb until the weekend... let me know if you resolve your situation and I have already changed my headlight switch and that isnt it... so my money is on the dimmer

*Black67Devil* · 01-14-2003, 04:04 AM

I had that same problem when I first got the truck - the dang lights went out at 9:30 at night, after I left the grocery store. I tried everything wiggling the sockets etc etc etc. I wa sso frustrated I got into the cab, and kicked the floorboard, and they came on, just like that- DIMMER SWITCH! dang - I felt dumb.

mrein3 · 01-14-2003, 08:05 AM

Ditto here. Low beams wouldn't work. Pulled back the floor mat, de-furred the connections, haven't had a problem in at least 5 years.

Suicide-D · 01-14-2003, 09:27 PM

Thats what it was on mine... our old friend corrosion...I cleaned up the pigtail and dimmer switch with my dremel tool and they worked. I then got ambituous and cleaned up the parking light sockets and what do ya know... they work now too...I only had to waste money on one un-needed part this time. not bad...

orange72 · 01-14-2003, 11:31 PM

thanks guys ill check that out this weekend. right now its hard to tell because the lights are working but this weekend ill take out my dimmer switch and clean the connections. i really apreciate the help thought. i never even thought about the dimmer.

O'l Buck · 01-15-2003, 04:07 AM

Mine's the dash lights, I hafta wiggle the switch to get 'em to work. one of these days I'm gonna get off my lazy butt and fix that.

01-14-2003, 12:59 AM	#1
orange72 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: huntington,texas,united states Posts: 399	headlights ok guys i need some help on this one. my headlights come on most of the time but here recently they have for some reason had a tendency to not want to come on. one night i left a gas station and got on the road and my headlights wouldnt come on. so i got out popped the hood and wiggled the connection on the headlights and they wouldnt do anything. so i get back in shut the door and they pop on just like theres a short some where. well the other night at a friends house i get ready to leave and the wont do anything. my park lights and tail lights would work but my headlights wouldnt do anything. i wiggled the headlight connections, pulled in and out on the headlight switch and nothing. i figured it was out for the count this time and that as soon as possible i would have to change the switch. well today i pulled the headlights on to see if they would work and they did. can anyone help me out on figuring out what the problem is. its really worrying me to know that i might not have lights when i need them. thanks __________________ 1972 chevy long bed. Currently under construction!! Bagged, 383/700r4.

01-14-2003, 02:05 AM	#4
Suicide-D Registered User Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Katy, TX...but the love of my life resides in Dublin,OH. Posts: 1,408	welcome to the club... I'm having the exact same problem... I haven't checked the dimmer switch yet... I kicked that truck to the curb until the weekend... let me know if you resolve your situation and I have already changed my headlight switch and that isnt it... so my money is on the dimmer

01-14-2003, 04:04 AM	#5
Black67Devil Account Suspended Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Purgatory ( no, not Colorodo) Posts: 81	same prob I had that same problem when I first got the truck - the dang lights went out at 9:30 at night, after I left the grocery store. I tried everything wiggling the sockets etc etc etc. I wa sso frustrated I got into the cab, and kicked the floorboard, and they came on, just like that- DIMMER SWITCH! dang - I felt dumb.

01-14-2003, 08:05 AM	#6
mrein3 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Center City, MN, USA Posts: 3,254	Ditto here. Low beams wouldn't work. Pulled back the floor mat, de-furred the connections, haven't had a problem in at least 5 years. __________________ '70 cab, '71 chassis, 383, TH350, NP205. '71 Malibu convertible '72 Malibu hard top Center City, MN

01-14-2003, 09:27 PM	#7
Suicide-D Registered User Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Katy, TX...but the love of my life resides in Dublin,OH. Posts: 1,408	we have a winner.... Thats what it was on mine... our old friend corrosion...I cleaned up the pigtail and dimmer switch with my dremel tool and they worked. I then got ambituous and cleaned up the parking light sockets and what do ya know... they work now too...I only had to waste money on one un-needed part this time. not bad...

01-14-2003, 01:10 AM	#2
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,690	Pull back the carpet and look at the connection for the dimmer switch. It's probably full of green corrosion and rust. Clean and replace if needed.

01-14-2003, 01:36 AM	#3
RON WOODGEARD Resident Young Old Dude ! Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Nevada Posts: 1,948	The other thing may be, The light switch itself, Check the connections on it by wiggling them. remember these trucks are old and lots of crap has built up between the contacts. wiggling will break through that corrosion, making metal to metal contact again. RON

01-14-2003, 11:31 PM	#8
orange72 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: huntington,texas,united states Posts: 399	thanks guys ill check that out this weekend. right now its hard to tell because the lights are working but this weekend ill take out my dimmer switch and clean the connections. i really apreciate the help thought. i never even thought about the dimmer. __________________ 1972 chevy long bed. Currently under construction!! Bagged, 383/700r4.

01-15-2003, 04:07 AM	#9
O'l Buck Recovering Truck Driver Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Orleans, NE USA Posts: 1,883	Mine's the dash lights, I hafta wiggle the switch to get 'em to work. one of these days I'm gonna get off my lazy butt and fix that. __________________ 67 K-20 350, SM465, Eaton rear, 4.56 no spin option 00 Dodge 2500 4x4, 24V cummins, 5 speed Chad South Central Nebraska



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