head lights

Fischer · 02-05-2012, 05:04 PM

My head lights went out the other morning for about a minute.

nothing else went out.

I left the low beams on and didn't have another problem.

is there a reason why they would go out and come back on like that?

9297oldram · 02-05-2012, 05:49 PM

The headlight switch is a common problem along with the wiring. Check the ground wires on the radiator support at the battery ground, see if they are clean and tight. I put my brights on a relay to take a load off the switch, they are alot brighter now.

Fischer · 02-05-2012, 05:59 PM

thats a good idea. do you still turn on the brights with the factory switch?

j_martin · 02-05-2012, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fischer

thats a good idea. do you still turn on the brights with the factory switch?

1. There's a thermal breaker in the headlight switch. When it gets old, and starts to heat up, that breaker will blink out from time to time.

2. If the headlight relays are properly installed, only coil current goes through all the wiring. The factory headlight switch and steering column switches both work as you would expect. Power to both high and low beams is controlled by relays.

Fischer · 02-05-2012, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by j_martin

1. There's a thermal breaker in the headlight switch. When it gets old, and starts to heat up, that breaker will blink out from time to time.

2. If the headlight relays are properly installed, only coil current goes through all the wiring. The factory headlight switch and steering column switches both work as you would expect. Power to both high and low beams is controlled by relays.

directed at number "2"

are the high and low beams run off relays from the factory or do you mean thats how it should be if i were to install them myself?

can the thermal fuse be replaced?

j_martin · 02-05-2012, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fischer

directed at number "2"

are the high and low beams run off relays from the factory or do you mean thats how it should be if i were to install them myself?

can the thermal fuse be replaced?

1. They're wired directly through the switches, which is why the switches overheat. They used to catch fire, and the "fix" is the thermal breaker.

2. The breaker is internal to the switch. It indicates the switch is failing and overheating anyway.

If you wire in relays now, you may not have to replace the switch.

Fischer · 02-05-2012, 07:52 PM

thank you. this the best info i've gotton from this forum. i hope its ok if i ask you questions from time to time.

9297oldram · 02-05-2012, 07:59 PM

No problem that's what we're here for, just let us know when you fix your problem and what it was. That's how we all learn.

JC1390 · 02-10-2012, 04:31 PM

im in the same boat... mine went out on the way to tracto supply. fiddled with the "turn signal switch" and i could kind of get the low beams to come on. High beams worked fine.

Now when i turn my headlight on... Its just my highbeams...however when i flip the switch to turn my "highbeams on" i got nothing...just the blue indicator on the dash.

I ordered a new switch. Anybody else have an issue like this? I was hoping it was just the switch but im not sure anymore.

GBR 92 dually! · 02-10-2012, 04:55 PM

Mine kept flickering on and off driving down the road... Replaced the light switch and it fixed it. got the part for $7 at a salvage yard

9297oldram · 02-10-2012, 04:57 PM

That happened to me I drove home from work holding the high beam dimmer back. I replaced the switch and all was good. I then put my high beams on a relay since I drive mostly with them.

Fischer · 02-18-2012, 08:46 PM

just put the high and low beams on relays. what a difference. so much brighter and not as hard as I thought to do.

Thanks again for the help.