Bad headlight switch?

[Greg_B]

I installed a new headlight switch two days before super celebration... it worked fine but the dimmer wouldnt dim properly... no headlight issues though. I got a new one from one of the Bronco houses... Driving to the motel Saturday night the headlights flickered and went out... glad it didnt happen on the mountain road from Gatlinburg...

Anyway... It did it again tonight.... So I pulled in Autozone and bought a new one... installed it so we will see how it goes tomorrow.

Is that common for the aftermarket switches? The original one lasted 36 years but that one didnt last two days.

I have everything to install relays but I still dont like the fact the switch wouldnt last...

Greg

 

[broncnaz]

Most likely the issue is the dimmer switch. Its common to have issues with it or the wires at or near the connector. headlight switches do go bad but usually last a good long time. its just the circuit breaker inside that keeps tripping so you get no lights.

 

[miikee73]

I might be all wet here ,but I thought the voltage going through the switch,especially with halogen lights heated up the switch causing the circuit breaker to trip. The relay set up eliminates the voltage going through the switch.
And as far as the first switch lasting 35 yrs,I think the quality of the original surpasses the chinese replacement.
Just my .02,don't take it to the bank..

 

[broncnaz]

All true a relay takes the high amp draw out of the system so the circuit breaker wont trip. So relays are a good idea but in the stock system the dimmer switch or wiring is usually the culprit. Doenst mean he didnt get a bad switch but usally the dimmer switch caused the issue in the first place.

I might be all wet here ,but I thought the voltage going through the switch,especially with halogen lights heated up the switch causing the circuit breaker to trip. The relay set up eliminates the voltage going through the switch.
And as far as the first switch lasting 35 yrs,I think the quality of the original surpasses the chinese replacement.
Just my .02,don't take it to the bank..

 

[miikee73]

All true a relay takes the high amp draw out of the system so the circuit breaker wont trip. So relays are a good idea but in the stock system the dimmer switch or wiring is usually the culprit. Doenst mean he didnt get a bad switch but usally the dimmer switch caused the issue in the first place.

seeing as he still has the problem ,I would have to agree with you.He could probably put the orig switch back in and replace the dimmer.I'm just not a fan of the crappy replacement parts available....A whole nuther story!!

 

[broncnaz]

And install some relays then he'd probably never have a issue again.

 

[DirtDonk]

Agree that you can get a bad new switch, but you already said your dimmer switch was bad Greg. How's come you don't get a new one of those and eliminate it as a possible culprit?
I've had bad dimmers kill the whole light show before. All of mine were intermittent though, and you could always get the lights to come back on with some fiddling, but replacing them always fixed the issue.
The floor-mounted dimmers just take a beating over the years and are cheap to replace.

Good luck. You're gonna love the relays.

Paul

 

[Greg_B]

Agree that you can get a bad new switch, but you already said your dimmer switch was bad Greg. How's come you don't get a new one of those and eliminate it as a possible culprit?
I've had bad dimmers kill the whole light show before. All of mine were intermittent though, and you could always get the lights to come back on with some fiddling, but replacing them always fixed the issue.
The floor-mounted dimmers just take a beating over the years and are cheap to replace.


Good luck. You're gonna love the relays.

Paul

I need to clarify a little... when I was referring to the dimmer I meant the dash light dimmer which is part of the head light switch. I replaced the high beam dimmer several years ago although it could also be bad I didnt consider it because I could wiggle the head light switch and the lights would flicker on and off. I bet I havent used high beam lights or even touched that dimmer in months. I will go ahead and replace it though.

Greg

 

[DirtDonk]

Ahhhh, OK. Sorry I misunderstood the issue.
Sounds like your new headlight switch is bad then, if you can wiggle it and make the lights go out.
If not the switch, then certainly the connector or a wire or two in that area.

Since it did it with the old switch too, that starts to point away from the new switch and to the wires and connectors.
Check them very closely for burns, corrosion, looseness and any breaks in the insulation.
Even to the point of wiggling the wires a few inches back into the harness just in case there's a factory splice that's failing. That last would be very unusual, as these splices are super sanitary and very robust. They last half of forever in most cases, but even that's no guarantee.

I don't think a bad dash ground would effect the light switch, but I could be wrong. Either way though, making sure that the dashboard has a perfectly good connection to the body is beneficial for lots of things. So might be worth a few minutes to add a wire connecting the dash to the firewall.

Good luck.

Paul