73 Headlamp questions.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
From: chickamauga georgia
73 Headlamp questions.
hey guys, i need some more electrical help, this time for the other end of the car.
First, for the single-filament lamps (low-beams) is there a specific post for positive and negative?
Here's my dilemma. Had one brite lamp out. The bulb was fine, the negative side was shorting and the connector was loose. In the process of taking the connector apart i did not keep up with which side the hot / green wire and the black / negative wire was in....so i possibly have them crossed.
If so...will this matter? I tell myself not, because it is an inline circuit....and the light works. However, could having the wires crossed on one of the high beams cause the switch to blow?
After putting everything back together, i tested and tested and tested and all lites worked. Then, as i was leaving the shop i decided to test one more time......No headlites. All other lites worked, just not headlamps. I have tracked the problem to the switch and will be picking one up tomorrow.
BTW, i also cleaned and greased all the other headlamp connections when i was repairing the short in the one lamp.
My concern is, i do not want to put the new switch in if i have a wire crossed that may have blown the switch. Unfortunately, the Chiltons wiring diagram is not very helpfull when it comes to the connections to the bulbs.
Could it be a complete fluke that my switch just happened to go bad on the headlamp circuit only....possibly cleaning the connections was drawing more amps thru the original 73 switch and it just gave out? Or, is it possible i have a crossed connection on one of the single filament bulbs. As i said, all worked good for a while, and several tests, then nothing.
The way i see it, power goes in one side and out the other.....so it shouldn't matter. And i'm hoping the switch is a fluke. But, electricity and wiring mind-boggles me, so i ask for help.
Thanks for any help guys.
First, for the single-filament lamps (low-beams) is there a specific post for positive and negative?
Here's my dilemma. Had one brite lamp out. The bulb was fine, the negative side was shorting and the connector was loose. In the process of taking the connector apart i did not keep up with which side the hot / green wire and the black / negative wire was in....so i possibly have them crossed.
If so...will this matter? I tell myself not, because it is an inline circuit....and the light works. However, could having the wires crossed on one of the high beams cause the switch to blow?
After putting everything back together, i tested and tested and tested and all lites worked. Then, as i was leaving the shop i decided to test one more time......No headlites. All other lites worked, just not headlamps. I have tracked the problem to the switch and will be picking one up tomorrow.
BTW, i also cleaned and greased all the other headlamp connections when i was repairing the short in the one lamp.
My concern is, i do not want to put the new switch in if i have a wire crossed that may have blown the switch. Unfortunately, the Chiltons wiring diagram is not very helpfull when it comes to the connections to the bulbs.
Could it be a complete fluke that my switch just happened to go bad on the headlamp circuit only....possibly cleaning the connections was drawing more amps thru the original 73 switch and it just gave out? Or, is it possible i have a crossed connection on one of the single filament bulbs. As i said, all worked good for a while, and several tests, then nothing.
The way i see it, power goes in one side and out the other.....so it shouldn't matter. And i'm hoping the switch is a fluke. But, electricity and wiring mind-boggles me, so i ask for help.
Thanks for any help guys.
Last edited by Shannon Born; Jan 26, 2016 at 09:03 PM. Reason: additional info
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,050
Likes: 205
From: Lewes Delaware
Try this schematic (courtesy of forum member Peterbuilt):
http://www.vetteprojects.com/bmv/mis...tte%201973.pdf
Fran
http://www.vetteprojects.com/bmv/mis...tte%201973.pdf
Fran
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
From: chickamauga georgia
Wow, Thank You very much for posting that. That is much more clear and detailed than the diagram i have been using, and i think i can figure out what i need from that. Thanks again, very helpful.
