Headlight Problem - Please Help

[itaintez]

I lost headlights a couple months ago and still can not figure it out. When I turn on my headlights all the proper lights come on and work except the headlights. If I mash the floor switch, the brights and the headlights come on together like they should. So after reading forums I replaced the headlight and the bright lamps. No luck there. Next I replaced the floor switch, no luck there. Today I replaced the headlight switch behind the dash and still no luck. The switch sticks so I will be sending it back for another, but I don't think there is anything wrong with it.
The only thing left I can think of is wiring. I am not an electrical person, but I have shallow pockets so I am trying to figure it out. I can't find a diagram on what wire does what to the headlight/dimmer switch, but if I knew what did what I would have an idea of which wire to trace. Does anyone know where I can find a diagram on this? Has anyone else had this problem this bad? What could it be and please don't just say grounding issues - I can't find any, but I am no expert. This is my 72' Jimmy and it is driving me nuts. It also doesn't start, but one issue at a time. Thanks for any help in advance. -Nick

[bigbadchev72]

check the dimmer switch plug for corrosion

[tim21391]

this might be a dumb answer...but could it be the voltage regulator? this might be a dumb answer to but could a fuse do that...sorry im no help

[tim21391]

or possibly the plug that fits onto the headlight has junk buildup in it?? im just throwing out ideas

[old man jimmy]

Your headlights have no fuse. Their's a breaker built into the headlight switch. Sounds like you have covered all the right ground. I'd go along with checking your plugs for dimmer & light switch. When you say "it don't start" It does turn over right? So you do have juice to the lights?

[itaintez]

Thanks Guys, any suggestion is help to me. I should have added that before I had the issue, I replaced every exterior bulb (except the license plate bulb) and used led bulbs where I could to pull slightly less juice and just for the hell of it. I also replaced the hazard flasher unit and brake light flasher unit on the fuse panel at that time and the brake light switch. The headlights worked then but stopped a couple days later. I keep some QD electric cleaner on hand so every bulb connection and every electric connection gets a good spray as I work on it. - I try to only do things once and am a tad OCD(says the wife). I did clean the plug on the switch, but it is up in there good so I couldn't see it well but I will go back with a flashlight. I will see if I can find that voltage regulator. I am not sure where that is at but maybe Chilton will help me there.
The not starting issue is a booger, but I do have plenty of juice. It will crank all day and seldom starts. I verified it is getting fuel and spark but maybe not enough of one or the other. When it does start though it runs GREAT so I can drive along all happy and then it just dies on me (engine shuts off but I still have electrical power) so I coast to the side of the road and it will continue to crank and not fire back up. I plan on using the tax return for that one. I just want to get my hadlights working.

[cdowns]

i'd check the ground wires from the headlights as well as all the connections at the plugs also check the there is a ground wire from the radiator core support to the frame// a piece of sandpaper used to make rusty metal connections into shiney metal can do wonders for an electricial circuit

[DANTES JIMMY]

I Agree With Downs Check Grounds To The Core Support To Make It Simple Since You Are Not An Electrical Person
Get A Test Light
Hook To Pos Batt Terminal
Touch To Core Support At Multple Places Ideally Where The Lights Ground
I Think Factory Is Around Driver Fender Front
If It Lights Up You Have An Ok Ground To The Core Support
But After That Stick It Into The Plug Of The Light At The Ground Side If It Lights Up You Have A Good Ground At The Plug
Unhook From Pos Terminal Of Batt And Hook To "hot" Side Of Plug And Stick Other Side Into Ground With Switch On If It Lights Up
You Have Bad Connection At Bulb Or Bad Bulb
If You Had A Ground Fail It Could Have Blown All Your Bulbs At Once Not Common But Could Happen

[itaintez]

Alright guys, Hell with this truck. I've been on it all morning. This wiring has been cut into more times then Jena Jameson. If/when I figure out this one, it won't be long before the next mystery pops up. I think I am turning to painless for a whole new wiring kit to clean up the mess. Thanks for all your help. -Nick

[jaros44sr]

I had a fuel filter clogged up once, seemed to have the same thing going on, I could even see the fuel flow but it wasn't enough. I agree on the new harness, sometimes you just have to bite the bullet....

Who's Jena Jameson???

[itaintez]

I put one of those clear filters on so I could see the flow, but I bet your right and it isn't enough. I checked painless' website and found the kit for my truck and there was a seperate piece for a/c so I got the part numbers, went to summitracing and both pieces (18-volt system by the way) was around $420.00 together I thought it would be a grand or more. Either way I'll leave the brights disconnected for now and buy that kit when I can. Jenna Jameson is a famous p0rn star. Go to google images enter her name and you will see. Thanks for your help. -Nick

[jojotonka]

Originally Posted by jaros44sr

Who's Jena Jameson???

HAHAHAHA!!!!!!! That was funny!!!

I tell ya what Jaros44sr, I'll bring one of her movies to the sand dunes this summer. Then you can see her, all of her, inside and out. ;-)

[itaintez]

I didn't mention it before, and probably still shouldn't.....but youporn.com could probably get you acquainted

[jaros44sr]

OOOOOKKKKKK, looks like my knowledge of worldly things are very limited, but please, don't enlighten me grasshopper. And if my wife reads this I will not be coming to the dunes

OK momentary off topic, back on

[89 crew]

you all seem to be making this harder than it should be. take the test light, hook one end to ground then try all three of the dimmer switch connections (with the switch plugged in and lights on) 2 should light up, hit the dimmer switch the other should light up. If that works then the problem is going to be between the dimmer switch and the headlights. and it will be on the wire that isn't high beam. If you don't want to replace the whole loom now just replace that wire. If the dimmer test doesn't work as described then replace the dimmer switch. The head light switch has to be good. It only has on and off. The ground has to be good cause high beams work. I couldn't tell from your description of problem. When the high beams come on do the low beams come on also?

[itaintez]

Yes, when I turn the brights on - the low beams come on with it. When I turn off high beams, none of the headlights (low or high) come on, but all the other correct exterior lights do.

[Angelse68cal]

I had the same problem with My Jimmy and It was the Dimmer the Plug had gotten corrosion on it and had a lil Rusty area. So I clipped the ends off and replaced it with a new one from a donor and it fixed the problem

[89 crew]

To test to find where the problem is for that. first you need something like this. http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=90899
set it to check resistance. unhook the dimmer switch and try each connection in all combinations. If you have contact it will be a short between those 2 wires, or bad headlights. So then unhook both headlight plugs and try one more time. if short is still present replace those 2 wires.If the short isn't present after unhooking the headlights but was before, then replace the headlights. If you don't have contact either way try the same test on the dimmer switch. If you have contact between more than 2 of the connections at a time the switch is bad. If all of that tests out as ok hook it back up. then hook a piece of wire to the neg terminal of battery and slide it in with the ground connection on the headlight. either side should do. If the problem is still there replace both headlights. If the ground wire makes it go away run a new ground wire to the headlights.

[old man jimmy]

Originally Posted by itaintez

Yes, when I turn the brights on - the low beams come on with it. When I turn off high beams, none of the headlights (low or high) come on, but all the other correct exterior lights do.

I totally agree with 89 crew. If you had mentioned this in your first post would have been simple. Just about has to be in your dimmer switch, or wires to it. a whole bunch easier than rewiring the whole truck, unless it really needs it. Good luck guy.