Help! Headlights

CablerNC

CablerNC

Junior Member
Started my car. Turned headlights on. Ran maybe 30-45 seconds and headlights cut of and won't turn back on. Any suggestions??
 
I would start with the Circuit Breaker. Check and see if there is power to the CB. If there was an electrical problem between the CB and the headlights it would trip the CB. It should reset if it is working so check the power into it first. If it is a pre-CB car, then there will be a fuse in the same location.

What year car are we talking? Stock wiring?
 
A little more information could be helpful here. Stock or home grown wiring? 6 or 12 volt? Common to any: Check the circuit breaker or fuse for the headlights. If the breaker does not auto reset or the fuse is blown look for a short in the wiring to the lights.
 
41ford1 said:
A little more information could be helpful here. Stock or home grown wiring? 6 or 12 volt? Common to any: Check the circuit breaker or fuse for the headlights. If the breaker does not auto reset or the fuse is blown look for a short in the wiring to the lights.
Click to expand...

Sorry, 12 volt 39 Deluxe. All wires look to be stock but electrical is not my strong suit
 
OK, check and see if you have: 1.) Parking Lights, 2.) Dash Lights & 3.) Tail Lights.
Does the wiring use the original lighting switch at the base of the steering column (control switch in the center of the steering wheel) or does it have a dash mounted lighting switch added?
 
Dash, clock lights ok, no tail, parking or headlights and yes on the original switch on steering column
 
IF the dash and clock light are still connected through the lighting control switch (at the base of the steering column) then there is an issue somewhere in the switch. The power comes from the battery to a fuse mounted under the dash (if still stock). From the fuse the power would go to the lighting control switch. The switch is a round disk that has connectors for various lighting functions in groups of three around the disk. One group is the stop lights (all three connects are stop light related). Another group is tail lights, and instrument & clock light. The third group is headlight and parking light related, one position is high beams, one low beams and the third one is the parking lights.
 
My first guess would be that the instrument lights and clock light have been rewired separate from the light switch as it would be odd that they were the only function still working at the light switch (but it is possible). The instrument lights and clock light should be connected to the tail lights originally, so if the tail lights are also out, that is why I would guess they have been rewired separate.

So, the 39 would have originally had a fuse under the dash on the firewall next to the ignition resistor. Now you will have to see if the fuse is still used and if it is good. You could try replacing the fuse and see if that corrects the problem. If it is OK or blows again when replaced then the problem is further along.
 
JSeery said:
My first guess would be that the instrument lights and clock light have been rewired separate from the light switch as it would be odd that they were the only function still working at the light switch (but it is possible). The instrument lights and clock light should be connected to the tail lights originally, so if the tail lights are also out, that is why I would guess they have been rewired separate.

So, the 39 would have originally had a fuse under the dash on the firewall next to the ignition resistor. Now you will have to see if the fuse is still used and if it is good. You could try replacing the fuse and see if that corrects the problem. If it is OK or blows again when replaced then the problem is further along.
Click to expand...

Ok, thanks a bunch!! I will see what's up tomorrow, thank you!!!
 
Use a voltmeter or test probe to check for voltage at the battery side of the starter solenoid, then the battery side of the fuse and then the lighting feed side of the fuse. If the car is still wired like the original the main power for the battery will connect through the starter solenoid to the fuse and look similar to the one on the diagram. If not we will need to figure out how it is wired.
 

Attachments

  • Wiring Check2.pdf
    Wiring Check2.pdf
    211.5 KB · Views: 20
  • 41JrVSQtbsL.jpg
    41JrVSQtbsL.jpg
    18.3 KB · Views: 0
Maybe I'm missing something but I'd check the headlight bulbs first. Since everything else seems to be working, there's a possibility they may be burned out.

Ya see.. I waaas missing something!
 
Last edited:
thanks for responding with the solution....always good to hear about a successful solution to a problem.....have fun....Mike
 
If you hadn't found it, I was going to suggest a problem at the dimmer switch.
Glad you got it working. Lights are good to have
 
Kahuna said:
If you hadn't found it, I was going to suggest a problem at the dimmer switch.
Glad you got it working. Lights are good to have
Click to expand...

Dimmer switch should not have caused a problem with the parking lights and tail lights, that's why I was asking which lights were not working. All of these originate at the lighting control switch. It turned out to be the power into the lighting control switch which is logical.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top