Newbie with C3 Headlight Problem
Thread Starter
4th Gear
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Newbie with C3 Headlight Problem
I just purchased a 1982 Vette so I hope you'll be patient cause I already have a hundred questions but I'll only work on my headlight problem for now.
I was driving down the road with the highbeams on the other night when the headlights simply shut off. All of the other running lights remained on, and only the headlights shut off. As I fumbled with the switch nothing happened. I continued driving and in about 4 minites, the lights came back on. Then they went off and on again about every minute, I then put them on low beam and drove about 10 minutes home and they remained on low beam the intire way.
Am I looking at a dimmer switch problem or maybe a bad light switch?
Thanks in advance.
Scott
I was driving down the road with the highbeams on the other night when the headlights simply shut off. All of the other running lights remained on, and only the headlights shut off. As I fumbled with the switch nothing happened. I continued driving and in about 4 minites, the lights came back on. Then they went off and on again about every minute, I then put them on low beam and drove about 10 minutes home and they remained on low beam the intire way.
Am I looking at a dimmer switch problem or maybe a bad light switch?
Thanks in advance.
Scott
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 218
Likes: 0
From: Panama City Beach Fl
Your high beams go thru a circuit breaker built in to the headlight switch. Thats whats kicking on any off. Either its weak or you have to much current draw. Since it's a pain to change this switch you may want to do a search here. Someone installed a couple of relays that the headlight switch drives and the power for the lights comes off of the B+ at the alternator. Keeping the strain of carring the lights off of your switch. This is on my to do list.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 3,503
Likes: 2
From: Raleigh NC
The same thing happened to my '77--it's the circuit breaker.
I made a relay box for the nose and ran power direct from the alternator as No Spin said. Lights were much brighter after that too.
Then, because I had plenty of power available, I switched to 4 high intensity H4 fixtures and bulbs. I was running 65 amps of headlights with no problems.
Then I switched to HID bulbs and I'm happy for the moment.
I made a relay box for the nose and ran power direct from the alternator as No Spin said. Lights were much brighter after that too.
Then, because I had plenty of power available, I switched to 4 high intensity H4 fixtures and bulbs. I was running 65 amps of headlights with no problems.
Then I switched to HID bulbs and I'm happy for the moment.
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 16,483
Likes: 1
From: The Only Corvette in Gila Bend, Az.
St. Jude Donor '09
Welcome to the Corvette Forum Scott,
Nice to see you got one of the rarest 82's made.(Gold!)
Since your going to need it, here is the link to the Crossfire forum: http://www.crossfire.homeip.net/
Your avatar sure looks like a CnV photo, is that where you bought it??? Where do you live???
Here is the link on how to get your headlights to work brighter:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/showthread=1115027
Be sure to read the link that norvalwilhelm provided....
Nice to see you got one of the rarest 82's made.(Gold!)
Since your going to need it, here is the link to the Crossfire forum: http://www.crossfire.homeip.net/
Your avatar sure looks like a CnV photo, is that where you bought it??? Where do you live???
Here is the link on how to get your headlights to work brighter:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/showthread=1115027
Be sure to read the link that norvalwilhelm provided....
Thread Starter
4th Gear
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Thanks again
Thanks for the links!
Actually when I was shopping for a gold vette, I had downloaded multiple pics off the internet. I don't remember for sure which pic went with which car so I just picked one. It may or may not be the actual photo of my car, but it's identical to the picture, both color and condition. I was told there was only 648 gold cars made, but I don't know if thats true or not.
I purchased my car in Mason City Iowa from a private party, about 40 miles from where I live.
I found my car on Minnesotacars.com
Actually when I was shopping for a gold vette, I had downloaded multiple pics off the internet. I don't remember for sure which pic went with which car so I just picked one. It may or may not be the actual photo of my car, but it's identical to the picture, both color and condition. I was told there was only 648 gold cars made, but I don't know if thats true or not.
I purchased my car in Mason City Iowa from a private party, about 40 miles from where I live.
I found my car on Minnesotacars.com
Last edited by compserv; Jul 4, 2005 at 08:50 PM.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 707
Likes: 18
From: Reinholds PA
my lights went off like that on saturday I had hibeams and dash lights Today replaced dimmer switch cost 8 bucks all works well Easy to do 2 screws and snap in plug mine is in the floor dont know about your year i have a 71
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