headlights open wont come on
Thread Starter
1st Gear
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
headlights open wont come on
1981 corvette..everything electrical works perfect except the headlights. they open and close just fine but dont light..all other lighting works fine..does it have a fuse in the box or perhaps inline?..or is it a relay and where are they located?
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,278
Likes: 4,372
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi sc,
Welcome!
First Post!
I believe you'll find there's no fuse for the headlights - that circuit is protected by a self-resetting thermal circuit breaker that's internal to the headlight switch.
So perhaps a switch problem?
Regards,
Alan
Welcome!
First Post!
I believe you'll find there's no fuse for the headlights - that circuit is protected by a self-resetting thermal circuit breaker that's internal to the headlight switch.
So perhaps a switch problem?
Regards,
Alan
Last edited by Alan 71; Oct 16, 2017 at 10:49 AM.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 11,953
Likes: 4,508
From: Virginia
The dimmer switch may also be the culprit I just fixed mine over the weekend. The low beams, only, worked. I had to swap out the dimmer switch on the steering column. I had the seat out, dash gauges out, and steering wheel off, and it was still a chore. But now both high and low beams work in my '80.
There are other threads that show you where to break connections and ring-out pins with a voltmeter to confirm where the problem is.
Pro
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 516
Likes: 72
From: Modesto California
It's not uncommon for the plugin on the headlight switch to melt and lose contact.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
If you have factory stock wiring, the following items could cause your problem:
bad headlamp switch, bad connections to switch
defective HI/LO beam switch
burned out headlamps (not likely, if they all used to work!)
fried fusible link at the horn relay
wiring problems with the headlamp circuit
If someone has installed headlamp relays on your car, that relay could be defective.
bad headlamp switch, bad connections to switch
defective HI/LO beam switch
burned out headlamps (not likely, if they all used to work!)
fried fusible link at the horn relay
wiring problems with the headlamp circuit
If someone has installed headlamp relays on your car, that relay could be defective.
Last edited by 7T1vette; Oct 16, 2017 at 02:39 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 7,427
Likes: 1,560
From: mount holly NC
2025 c3 ('74-'82) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2019 C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods)
Do you have a bad connection?
Remove the left side headlight connector and with the switch pulled out to the second click see if you have 12 volts at the connector.
Check the ground connections:
1 at the inboard side of the alternator.
2 On the metal front cowl support between the head lamp door and relays.
3 At the front left corner of the radiator mounting bracket.
Check the ground connections:
1 at the inboard side of the alternator.
2 On the metal front cowl support between the head lamp door and relays.
3 At the front left corner of the radiator mounting bracket.
