Headlight and Fuse Troubles

[Benheidi55]

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? 

[mudkicker715]

I am to guess replace the headlight switch.

[rmick]

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.

[Benheidi55]

Alright I'll try to replace the switch, maybe the dimmer switch too?

[vangremlin]

Replace or check and clean the dimmer switch, on the 80 models they were on the floor and subject to getting dirty and corroded.

[mudkicker715]

Is this an 80? I saw the avatar and thought it wasn't.

[Benheidi55]

Yup! The gold old 1980 without Select Drive and a lot of the fun goodies and options that came later.

[Benheidi55]

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?

[Benheidi55]

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.

[DAVE]

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

[vangremlin]

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.

[rmick]

http://amceaglesden.com/guide/Lighting_Wiring_Schematic

[Benheidi55]

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.

[vangremlin]

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!!