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

mantisman23 · 08-28-2010, 12:09 AM

Tonight when i was about home and my headlights started to go on and off just my headlights though my taillights and park lights stayed on just fine. Is it my headlight switch starting to go out or my dimmer switch. And i also have been noticing the last couple of times i've drove it with the lights on the dash lights are flickering some and tonight i was having to turn it sometimes cause they would go out.

Thanks

**El Jay** · 08-28-2010, 12:39 AM

IF(big if) you don't have a problem downstream of the headlight switch, I'd say the problem is there because the headlight switch has the circuit breaker for the headlights.

raycow · 08-28-2010, 03:22 PM

It sounds like you have an intermittent short somewhere in the headlight circuit. The circuit breaker in the switch is opening and closing to prevent the wiring from burning up. There is no quick fix for this. You will just have to search for the short.

Ray

mantisman23 · 08-28-2010, 07:14 PM

the wiring is all completely new. I added brighter lights when i did the resto I just ordered a heavy duty harness that has relays for the lights i'm thinking this could be a fix to my problem and i will replace the light switch at the same time.

raycow · 08-28-2010, 07:25 PM

If you have higher wattage bulbs than stock, that could be causing the circuit breaker to cycle. You will know for sure once you install the relays.

Ray

mantisman23 · 08-28-2010, 08:14 PM

should i just do the harness and not the switch and see if they work or just do them both at the same time?

**El Jay** · 08-28-2010, 10:10 PM

Put them headlights on relays & it could very well solve your problem.

Beatcoaster · 08-30-2010, 01:54 AM

I had the same problem with on/off lights, sort of, I eventually traced it to the dimmer, swapped it out, and all was good - for $7 or so it's cheap piece of mind - especially since it kept my stock wiring headlights from working correctly at the time. I have since added the typical relay setup and h4 headlights - but it's nice knowing the dimmer will always work as well!

68gmsee · 08-30-2010, 09:22 AM

Always go with the easiest, cheapest possibilities first unless you know for sure what the problem is.

As mentioned above, the hi/lo switch is a good cheap fix. Lots of us have had problem with it and the light sw itself. Lt. sw has an internal rheostat that can deteriorate with age.

Check for loose connections.

Battery cables in good or new condition.

Insure you have good ground straps from all parts of the truck isolated by mounts and old rustied bolts.

Defective alternator/regulator. Easy enought to check at some auto parts stores.

08-28-2010, 12:09 AM	#1
mantisman23 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Nyssa Oregon Posts: 21	headlights Tonight when i was about home and my headlights started to go on and off just my headlights though my taillights and park lights stayed on just fine. Is it my headlight switch starting to go out or my dimmer switch. And i also have been noticing the last couple of times i've drove it with the lights on the dash lights are flickering some and tonight i was having to turn it sometimes cause they would go out. Thanks Last edited by mantisman23; 08-28-2010 at 12:09 AM.

08-28-2010, 12:39 AM	#2
El Jay Gone to greener pastures Join Date: May 2007 Location: Gateway to the Delta Posts: 7,354	Re: headlights IF(big if) you don't have a problem downstream of the headlight switch, I'd say the problem is there because the headlight switch has the circuit breaker for the headlights. __________________ '69 Chevy 1/2 T LWB Stepper: Daily Beater '72 GMC 3/4 T Fleet: Another Daily Beater '72 Plymouth Gran Coupe: ? "Ah women. They make the highs higher and the lows more frequent." Friedrich Nietzsche "Never kick a fresh turd on a hot day." Harry S. Truman GUN CONTROL: Never having to say, "I missed you." Always fire two warning shots into your attacker's chest area before putting a bullet between his eyes. Paraphrased from Louis Awerbuck

08-28-2010, 03:22 PM	#3
raycow Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: San Francisco, CA USA Posts: 2,454	Re: headlights It sounds like you have an intermittent short somewhere in the headlight circuit. The circuit breaker in the switch is opening and closing to prevent the wiring from burning up. There is no quick fix for this. You will just have to search for the short. Ray

08-28-2010, 07:14 PM	#4
mantisman23 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Nyssa Oregon Posts: 21	Re: headlights the wiring is all completely new. I added brighter lights when i did the resto I just ordered a heavy duty harness that has relays for the lights i'm thinking this could be a fix to my problem and i will replace the light switch at the same time.

08-28-2010, 07:25 PM	#5
raycow Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: San Francisco, CA USA Posts: 2,454	Re: headlights If you have higher wattage bulbs than stock, that could be causing the circuit breaker to cycle. You will know for sure once you install the relays. Ray

08-28-2010, 08:14 PM	#6
mantisman23 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Nyssa Oregon Posts: 21	Re: headlights should i just do the harness and not the switch and see if they work or just do them both at the same time?

08-28-2010, 10:10 PM	#7
El Jay Gone to greener pastures Join Date: May 2007 Location: Gateway to the Delta Posts: 7,354	Re: headlights Put them headlights on relays & it could very well solve your problem. __________________ '69 Chevy 1/2 T LWB Stepper: Daily Beater '72 GMC 3/4 T Fleet: Another Daily Beater '72 Plymouth Gran Coupe: ? "Ah women. They make the highs higher and the lows more frequent." Friedrich Nietzsche "Never kick a fresh turd on a hot day." Harry S. Truman GUN CONTROL: Never having to say, "I missed you." Always fire two warning shots into your attacker's chest area before putting a bullet between his eyes. Paraphrased from Louis Awerbuck

08-30-2010, 01:54 AM	#8
Beatcoaster 69 Fleetside Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Lake Stevens, WA Posts: 333	Re: headlights I had the same problem with on/off lights, sort of, I eventually traced it to the dimmer, swapped it out, and all was good - for $7 or so it's cheap piece of mind - especially since it kept my stock wiring headlights from working correctly at the time. I have since added the typical relay setup and h4 headlights - but it's nice knowing the dimmer will always work as well! __________________ 1969 Chevy C10 Custom Camper - "Frame On" Restoration Blueprint 383 w/ 405hp@5200rpm & 441ft-lbs@4200rpm / Jegs TH350 w/2300 Stall / Drivelines NW 2-Piece Shaft / stock 3.08's / CPP 4" Drop Rear, 3.5" Modular Drop Front Last edited by Beatcoaster; 08-30-2010 at 01:55 AM.

08-30-2010, 09:22 AM	#9
68gmsee Active Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Centrally located between Houston, Austin and Waco. BCS area. Posts: 7,947	Re: headlights Always go with the easiest, cheapest possibilities first unless you know for sure what the problem is. As mentioned above, the hi/lo switch is a good cheap fix. Lots of us have had problem with it and the light sw itself. Lt. sw has an internal rheostat that can deteriorate with age. Check for loose connections. Battery cables in good or new condition. Insure you have good ground straps from all parts of the truck isolated by mounts and old rustied bolts. Defective alternator/regulator. Easy enought to check at some auto parts stores. Last edited by 68gmsee; 08-30-2010 at 09:23 AM.



Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.

Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.