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  • March 28, 2024, 02:43:59 PM

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Author Topic: Headlight and Fuse Troubles  (Read 4066 times)

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Offline Benheidi55

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Headlight and Fuse Troubles
« on: December 01, 2018, 05:27:59 PM »
Hey all, so I was beginning work on my 1980 lighting systems and I ran into a bit of a bug I cannot figure out. The fuses for my parking lamps kept on burning out. Now that stopped and all my lighting systems kept working except my regular headlights. Im aware of the issues with the headlight switches going bad, but my gauge lights work and dim like they're supposed to. High beams and running lights are working also. Could this be a problem with a bad ground?  :amc:
80' Eagle Wagon Maggie

Offline mudkicker715

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Re: Headlight and Fuse Troubles
« Reply #1 on: December 01, 2018, 06:46:23 PM »
I am to guess replace the headlight switch.



Manitowoc WI

Offline rmick

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Re: Headlight and Fuse Troubles
« Reply #2 on: December 01, 2018, 09:15:58 PM »
Another option to replacing the headlight switch is to install  relays in the circuit. This way all the power doesn't go through the switch  and goes directly to the headlights. The switch controls the relays There are kits on Ebay but the relays on them are cheap and I would use a separate power feed for high and low beam for the relays.
72 Javelin AMX
72 Javelin SST
72 Gremlin with 4.0
81 SX 4

Offline Benheidi55

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Re: Headlight and Fuse Troubles
« Reply #3 on: December 01, 2018, 11:25:08 PM »
Alright I'll try to replace the switch, maybe the dimmer switch too?
80' Eagle Wagon Maggie

Online vangremlin

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Re: Headlight and Fuse Troubles
« Reply #4 on: December 02, 2018, 06:05:54 PM »
Replace or check and clean the dimmer switch, on the 80 models they were on the floor and subject to getting dirty and corroded.
1981 Kammback 258 - "Pepe"
1980 Coupe 258 - "Ginger
1972 Gremlin X 304
1978 Gremlin 4 cyl 121 - sold
1964 TBird 390 - sold

Offline mudkicker715

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Re: Headlight and Fuse Troubles
« Reply #5 on: December 02, 2018, 07:41:40 PM »
Is this an 80? I saw the avatar and thought it wasn't.



Manitowoc WI

Offline Benheidi55

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Re: Headlight and Fuse Troubles
« Reply #6 on: December 05, 2018, 03:36:19 AM »
Yup! The gold old 1980 without Select Drive and a lot of the fun goodies and options that came later.
80' Eagle Wagon Maggie

Offline Benheidi55

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Re: Headlight and Fuse Troubles
« Reply #7 on: December 09, 2018, 05:26:35 PM »
So today I finally got my new switch and put it in. Unfortunately no luck, I pulled the headlights on and the instrument cluster light fuse popped and my low beams still don't turn on, but my high beams do. Any help?
80' Eagle Wagon Maggie

Offline Benheidi55

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Re: Headlight and Fuse Troubles
« Reply #8 on: December 09, 2018, 05:52:13 PM »
So today I finally got my new switch and put it in. Unfortunately no luck, I pulled the headlights on and the instrument cluster light fuse popped and my low beams still don't turn on, but my high beams do. Any help?

If anyone know how to get to the dimmer switch let me know, I have a replacement for that as well but I just don't know where to locate it. :(
80' Eagle Wagon Maggie

Offline DAVE

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Re: Headlight and Fuse Troubles
« Reply #9 on: December 10, 2018, 09:38:01 AM »
should be bolted to the lower steering column with a rod that goes up to the turn signal switch opposite side of the ignition switch

Online vangremlin

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Re: Headlight and Fuse Troubles
« Reply #10 on: December 10, 2018, 07:49:59 PM »
Since this is a 1980 model and the dimmer is on the floor, I think you can just pull back the carpeting and it should be screwed into the floor.
1981 Kammback 258 - "Pepe"
1980 Coupe 258 - "Ginger
1972 Gremlin X 304
1978 Gremlin 4 cyl 121 - sold
1964 TBird 390 - sold

Offline rmick

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72 Javelin AMX
72 Javelin SST
72 Gremlin with 4.0
81 SX 4

Offline Benheidi55

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Re: Headlight and Fuse Troubles
« Reply #12 on: December 10, 2018, 10:33:47 PM »
Thank you guys for all the help, turns out it was a bad wire on the plug of the dimmer switch. Fixed that and didn't even need to replace it yet. I may look into the relay setup anyway.
80' Eagle Wagon Maggie

Online vangremlin

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Re: Headlight and Fuse Troubles
« Reply #13 on: December 11, 2018, 01:36:35 PM »
Glad you found the problem.  Those ones that are mounted on the floor get subjected to a lot more abuse than the later column mounted variety!!
1981 Kammback 258 - "Pepe"
1980 Coupe 258 - "Ginger
1972 Gremlin X 304
1978 Gremlin 4 cyl 121 - sold
1964 TBird 390 - sold

 

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