Headlights Died, Circuit Breaker?

[Keek]

My headlights died.
Park lights work, but headlights won't turn on.

Jump direct from battery to headlight post and they work fine.

So I'm thinking fuse, but owners manual says circuit breaker in switch?

Any way to re-set this?

Ideas?

 

[Dude seriously]

The headlight switch does have a thermal breaker that should reset when it cools. I don't know if there is a manual reset. Typically I hear the guys saying they have to replace them (assuming the problem is in the switch).

 

[gnpenning]

Did the headlights quit on both high and low beam? Does the high beam indicator light work? Have you checked for power? With what?

 

[garberz]

Try bypassing the dimmer switch, the center terminal has power when the headlight switch is on. Connect the center terminal to either of the other two terminals. The dimmer switch is a common failure point.

 

[69red]

Check the high/low switch on the floor and the harness that plugs into it.

If that switch is bad you can lose lights like you have.

 

[Keek]

Thanks guys,
It's a bit dark and way frigid right now to check it.

I'll check the dimmer switch first before doing anything else or trying to replace the headlight switch.

Note: By wiring direct from the battery to the passenger side headlight, both worked. If we clipped it to the high beam post on the light, the high beams both come on. When turning on the headlights, the park lights come on, but not the headlights.

I also think the dimmer switch was a bit finicky when I first got this 72 Bronco so if it is fubar'd, and that can cause the headlights to quit, then that might be the problem.

I'll let ya'll know.

 

[Keek]

It was the dimmer switch.

Thanks guys.

Sure is nice to have Bronco Brothers to help out.

 

[Kauai72Bronco]

Glad to hear you got it figured out. When mine did that it was b/c one of the wires in the headlight harness was rubbing where it passed through the core support behind the headlight and was shorting out.