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Headlight idiot lamp?

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Old Jul 28, 2010 | 11:18 PM
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Default Headlight idiot lamp?

I have under the "door ajar" idiot lamp a light ( never has lit up ) that says "headlights"
What is it an idiot lamp for...I can see from the drivers seat if the light is open and fiber optics tell me it's on not that I don't see it lighting the road,
Where is the switch for this headlights idiot lamp?
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Old Jul 28, 2010 | 11:31 PM
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There is a switch on each of the headlamp linkages...it signals when the headlamps are up and in the locked position (turns off the headlight lamp).
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Old Jul 28, 2010 | 11:31 PM
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Bats, each headlight has a micro-switch to tell you if the headlight didn't open all the way.

Your switches may have had their wires cut in which case they will not light up.

When I open my headlights the headlamp light is lit briefly until they are fully open.

cc

Ah, gq got there first.
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Old Jul 28, 2010 | 11:59 PM
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My '73's burns all the time and is bright enough to read a newspaper at night. I hate it!
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Old Jul 29, 2010 | 12:05 AM
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Okay..very cool...I love silly gadgets... so when you turn on the lights the idiot lamp should be lit until the headlights are fully open..

I have to look closer as to why mine doesnt work,

As far as sort of annoying in such an odd way is that seat belt light that you have to turn off each time...so I guess in 69 they wanted to suggest you buckle up and it was good enough to make you turn off a lamp reminding you to do so...

Eddie if your headlight light burns all the time then either something isnt fiully open or a switch is out of whack...
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Old Jul 29, 2010 | 12:10 AM
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Originally Posted by The13Bats
As far as sort of annoying in such an odd way is that seat belt light that you have to turn off each time...so I guess in 69 they wanted to suggest you buckle up and it was good enough to make you turn off a lamp reminding you to do so...
You still have to do that in a 71.
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Old Jul 29, 2010 | 12:12 AM
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Originally Posted by The13Bats
Eddie if your headlight light burns all the time then either something isnt fiully open or a switch is out of whack...
Yeah, there is one switch that is broken. Guess I need to replace it so it will turn off because the doors are opening all the way. Thanks
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Old Jul 29, 2010 | 12:29 AM
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Originally Posted by Eddie & the Cruisers
Yeah, there is one switch that is broken. Guess I need to replace it so it will turn off because the doors are opening all the way. Thanks
Yep...hopefully mine will be just as easy fix...
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Old Jul 29, 2010 | 05:36 AM
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Unless you're seeking originality, don't fix it, I did and that microswitch will either break or will be out of alignment and you'll be annoyed by that bright red light. I just unplugged them both in the headlights side. That also reminds me when I fixed my seat belt warning light and now I have to press that buttom every time I turn the keys, and everytime when I let someone drive my car he will say "hey, I buckled the belts but I still got that warning light on, you gotta fix that" .. I wish I didn't fix that sh*t!
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Old Jul 29, 2010 | 09:17 AM
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GM discountinued them years ago, Paragon now repros them. The same little black plastic switch was also used behind the key lock for the alarm, to activate the alarm.
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Old Jul 29, 2010 | 12:11 PM
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Originally Posted by Eddie & the Cruisers
Yeah, there is one switch that is broken. Guess I need to replace it so it will turn off because the doors are opening all the way. Thanks
You should be able to simply remove the old broken switch, and that will turn off the light. When I baught my 72 the light never came on. I looked under the headlight buckets, and saw the connectors hanging there. Installed new switches, and everything has worked like new since. So, simply removing the broken switch(s) should disable the light until you can get new switches.
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Old Jul 29, 2010 | 12:30 PM
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Originally Posted by Mashman
You should be able to simply remove the old broken switch, and that will turn off the light. When I baught my 72 the light never came on. I looked under the headlight buckets, and saw the connectors hanging there. Installed new switches, and everything has worked like new since. So, simply removing the broken switch(s) should disable the light until you can get new switches.
Just unplug the switch or switches and the light should go out.
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Old Jul 29, 2010 | 12:32 PM
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Originally Posted by HamadUP
Unless you're seeking originality, don't fix it, I did and that microswitch will either break or will be out of alignment and you'll be annoyed by that bright red light. I just unplugged them both in the headlights side. That also reminds me when I fixed my seat belt warning light and now I have to press that buttom every time I turn the keys, and everytime when I let someone drive my car he will say "hey, I buckled the belts but I still got that warning light on, you gotta fix that" .. I wish I didn't fix that sh*t!
Not on all cars I just Popped mine in (paragon) and its been working ever since.Ive been fixing stuff on the car puttting it back the way it came from the factory.
When re-selling A Corvette these little things will get more money out of the car if there working not all Unhooked JMO .
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Old Jul 29, 2010 | 03:47 PM
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Originally Posted by ...Roger...
Just unplug the switch or switches and the light should go out.
What you say do would leave the wires open circuit.
So are the switches open circuit or closed circuit to turn the idiot light off???
I would have guessed open circuit turned the idiot lamp off but it appears I would have been wrong...
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Old Jul 29, 2010 | 04:53 PM
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You have to press on the button and open the circuit to turn the light off.
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Old Jul 29, 2010 | 05:25 PM
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Hi,
Here's a picture of the switch and the 'finger' pushing on the 'button' Roger mentions, in the headlight door 'open' position.
Regards,
Alan



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Old Jul 29, 2010 | 05:27 PM
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When it cools off about 9 tonight I will go take a look at mine...
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Old Jul 29, 2010 | 08:36 PM
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Great... another thing that I will have to fix on mine... Thats the fun of it though
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Old Jul 30, 2010 | 12:10 AM
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Heck, I had to replace one switch but mine have worked ever since I bought the car in 1993. My problem is that the seat belt timer stopped working. Had to unplug it and now no seat belt buzzer or light. Can't find anyone that makes a repro.
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Old Jul 30, 2010 | 06:01 PM
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My '72 seat belt light goes off when I buckle up. If I remember right, it is connected to a switch in the belt retractor.
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