Headlight wiring experts please step in...
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
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From: B'Ville NY
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St. Jude Donor '05
Headlight wiring experts please step in...
Hello, I'm finding that my factory headlights on my 74 have the 2 outside lights on during low beam function and then shuts off those when the inner high beams are used. Is there a simple way to keep the low beams lit while activating the high beams?
FWIW, I'm trying to wire BiXenon lights and they work great during the low beam function, but shut off when the high beams are selected which obviously won't work. I'm hoping to use the high beam switch for activating the shutter of the BiXenon.
Thanks
FWIW, I'm trying to wire BiXenon lights and they work great during the low beam function, but shut off when the high beams are selected which obviously won't work. I'm hoping to use the high beam switch for activating the shutter of the BiXenon.
Thanks
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
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From: Dayton, Ohio
Sounds like the high beam filaments in the outer bulbs are burned out.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2000
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From: B'Ville NY
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St. Jude Donor '05
Well its actually hard to tell, but all 4 plugs have power thru the green wires, but when I change the hi beam switch, only the brown wires (2 plugs) become power while the green wires then have no power to them. 
The 3 prong plugs have brown, green, and black wires while the 2 prong plugs have just green and black.
The 3 prong plugs have brown, green, and black wires while the 2 prong plugs have just green and black.
Race Director
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From: Dayton, Ohio
Green is high and you should have 4 filaments lit 2 in the high beam inner bulbs and 2 in the low beam bulbs. Remember the low beam bulb has 2 filaments , a low beam filement and a high beam filament.
High beam has only 1 a high beam filament.
6 filaments in 4 bulbs
High beam has only 1 a high beam filament.
6 filaments in 4 bulbs
Race Director
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From: Dayton, Ohio
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Race Director
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From: Dayton, Ohio
OK reread your OP. Not sure what you want exactly but here is a thought.
You could use the headlight switch to turn on only your low beams through the brown wires by tying the blue at the dimmer to the brown removing them from the dimmer.
Then by adding a hot wire to the dimmer you can turn the high beams on using the dimmer.
This way you can have all your beams on and not overload the HL switch.
You could use the headlight switch to turn on only your low beams through the brown wires by tying the blue at the dimmer to the brown removing them from the dimmer.
Then by adding a hot wire to the dimmer you can turn the high beams on using the dimmer.
This way you can have all your beams on and not overload the HL switch.
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
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From: Dayton, Ohio
Well its actually hard to tell, but all 4 plugs have power thru the green wires, but when I change the hi beam switch, only the brown wires (2 plugs) become power while the green wires then have no power to them.
The 3 prong plugs have brown, green, and black wires while the 2 prong plugs have just green and black.
The 3 prong plugs have brown, green, and black wires while the 2 prong plugs have just green and black.
Maybe I'm confused but it sounds like you have either the brown hot - low beams or you have the green hot - high beams.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2000
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From: B'Ville NY
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St. Jude Donor '05
Race Director
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From: Dayton, Ohio
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 7,562
Likes: 9
From: B'Ville NY
Cruise-In III Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05
I'm trying to install lights that are both hi and low beam in one. They have a shutter that partially covers the beam during low beam, then the shutter lifts exposing the whole beam for high beam. I can control the shutter with the dimmer switch like stock, however I can't have the bulb go out when switching.
Uploading pics, will post soon.
Uploading pics, will post soon.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2000
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From: B'Ville NY
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St. Jude Donor '05
Here are the pics to what I'm doing, I installing the BiXenon lights in the grill area and the flip up light area will be glassed in.
This pic shows the solenoid for the shutter on the left of the light before the ballast.
You can see the shutter in this pic.
This pic shows the solenoid for the shutter on the left of the light before the ballast.
You can see the shutter in this pic.
Last edited by SmokedTires; Jun 16, 2010 at 06:39 PM.
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
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From: Dayton, Ohio
I'm trying to install lights that are both hi and low beam in one. They have a shutter that partially covers the beam during low beam, then the shutter lifts exposing the whole beam for high beam. I can control the shutter with the dimmer switch like stock, however I can't have the bulb go out when switching.
Uploading pics, will post soon.
Uploading pics, will post soon.
( I think this would be easier than putting diodes in so you can power the bulb from both the green and brown. )
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 7,562
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From: B'Ville NY
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St. Jude Donor '05
That sounds more like we're on the same page 
So what you're saying is, run a new wire to the dimmer switch and I should have constant power at the light as long as its to the blue?
So what you're saying is, run a new wire to the dimmer switch and I should have constant power at the light as long as its to the blue?
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
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From: Crossville TN
You just need to make sure the [blue] wiring (and any others you make changes to), and the fuses in those systems, can support any added current load your new system will require. Otherwise, you will fry a fusible link in your wiring harness and be "out of business" very quickly.