After38Years

Took the wife out for a sunset cruise to check out my instrument panel lighting after having replaced my headlight switch. All went fine until I switched on the high beams. Began losing all front headlights intermittently. Decided to head for home before it got completely dark. Acted like a breaker clicking on and off.

Lights came back on for a few seconds and I realized I was still on high beams, switched to low beams and headlights stayed on rock solid. Went for ice cream.

I'm suspicious of the new light switch. Problem is that I can't recall whether I had used the high beams on the old switch (recent restoration with very few miles on it).

Any thoughts?

Thanks!

Frankie the Fink

There is a LONG recent thread about repro headlight switches and their crappy thermal internal breakers, and, adding relays to help with the issue...

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...tting-out.html

After38Years

Thanks Frankie, I didn't even know there were thermal breakers in the switch. The thread describes exactly the problem I encountered except that I was fortunate to be able to use the low beams to get home. I tried searching the forum before I posted but I guess I didn't use the right terms.


Checking ebay shows that NOS switches are going for about $200. I may take the original switch apart to see if it would be feasible to transfer the thermal relays to the repro switch. Failing that, it's time for the relays.

Geralds57

It may be a bad dimmer switch. The headlight circuit runs through the dimmer switch to feed all the headlights.

After38Years

Not impossible, Geralds57. My wife reminds me that we did drive at night without dash lights and with high beams a few days before I put in the new switch to correct the dash light problem. It's likely a problem with the new switch which I'll have a look at later this week. Dimmer switch would be next on the list if the switch checks good.

Tnx

65GGvert

As you probably read in the thread above, switching to high uses more current than low and overcomes the threshold of the breaker in the headlight switch and the lights cycle off and on as the thermal components in the headlight switch heat and cool. The dimmer won't cause it to pulse or cycle, but can cause them to be intermittent. Pushing the dimmer a couple of times will usually overcome the issue for a while if that's it. Yours sounds like the headlight switch breaker.

Frankie the Fink

I don't want the OP to lose sight of the fact that wiring could be the issue; even if your headlight switch thermal breaker is sound....old, corroded or Bubba-ed wiring could have increased resistance and cause the switch to 'strobe' the headlights.... Just something to note as you work through the problem...

After38Years

Thanks for the replies,

I've ordered another replacement switch to try before I go the relay route, so I'll post the results.

All wiring harnesses have been replaced during the restoration, so there SHOULD not be a problem with bad connectors, etc. Of course, there should not be a problem with a reproduction light switch either...