location? headlight relay...
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From: O Fallon IL
location? headlight relay...
I don't have my chilton handy- the headlights wont turn on- all fuses look good- I think the switch is ok- before this happened they would work for a while- after some time of driving they would flash- someone told me it might be the headlight relay
...anyone know where the headlight relay is located?
(1987 htch bk)
Thanks
...anyone know where the headlight relay is located?
(1987 htch bk)
Thanks
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2000
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From: The Top of Utah
Leave the Chiltons under the tire to keep the car from rolling and get yourself a FSM. The headlight relays, there are three of them, are under the relay cover that covers all three of them on the front of the left front wheel well. "Someone" should tell you that the headlight relays are only to power the headlight actuation motors. The head light bulbs are powered directly by the headlight switch, through the dimmer switch. If the headlights have been flickering, chances are you have a short in a headlight wire and the flickering was the breaker blowing and resetting. I'm guessing it is time to break out the old DVOM and go short hunting. You may have to replace whatever it is you burned up, if anything, by not fixing it sooner.
RACE ON!!!
RACE ON!!!
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Most GM light switches have a thermal circuit breaker built into or mounted on the switch. A high current draw (short) will cause the bi-metalic strip to curve, turning off your lights. Once the strip has cooled, your lights will come back on. This was GM's idea for "limp home head lights"
You may have a short it your headlight wiring, indicated by the lights staying on for short periods of time. If they stay on longer, it's probably time to replace the switch. They get old and worn out like the rest of us>
You may have a short it your headlight wiring, indicated by the lights staying on for short periods of time. If they stay on longer, it's probably time to replace the switch. They get old and worn out like the rest of us>
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From: Summerland B.C. Canada
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From: panama city beach Florida
I don't have my chilton handy- the headlights wont turn on- all fuses look good- I think the switch is ok- before this happened they would work for a while- after some time of driving they would flash- someone told me it might be the headlight relay
...anyone know where the headlight relay is located?
(1987 htch bk)
Thanks
...anyone know where the headlight relay is located?
(1987 htch bk)
Thanks
David
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Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 52
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From: panama city beach Florida
Leave the Chiltons under the tire to keep the car from rolling and get yourself a FSM. The headlight relays, there are three of them, are under the relay cover that covers all three of them on the front of the left front wheel well. "Someone" should tell you that the headlight relays are only to power the headlight actuation motors. The head light bulbs are powered directly by the headlight switch, through the dimmer switch. If the headlights have been flickering, chances are you have a short in a headlight wire and the flickering was the breaker blowing and resetting. I'm guessing it is time to break out the old DVOM and go short hunting. You may have to replace whatever it is you burned up, if anything, by not fixing it sooner.
RACE ON!!!
RACE ON!!!
(Leave the chiltons under the tire to keep the car from rolling)
I could not of said it better, Why do they sell those crappy books. I use the GM service manuals only, They cost a lot more but tell you what you need to know.
David
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From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
NCM Sinkhole Donor
The Chilton and Haynes books are best used as an emergency backup paper supply for the outhouse.
CFI-EFI is correct. As long as the headlamps are rotating up and down, the relays are fine.
FWIW, the relays are still available as an AC Declo part. There are two different relays used. There is a relay for each of the headlamp motors and the 3rd one is an isolation relay which changes the polarity of the motors so that they run backwards when lowering the buckets.
Headlamp Motor Relay: GM p/n 10031018
AC-Delco p/n: D1784
Isolation Relay: GM p/n 10039962
AC-Delco p/n: 15-2386
CFI-EFI is correct. As long as the headlamps are rotating up and down, the relays are fine.
FWIW, the relays are still available as an AC Declo part. There are two different relays used. There is a relay for each of the headlamp motors and the 3rd one is an isolation relay which changes the polarity of the motors so that they run backwards when lowering the buckets.
Headlamp Motor Relay: GM p/n 10031018
AC-Delco p/n: D1784
Isolation Relay: GM p/n 10039962
AC-Delco p/n: 15-2386
Race Director
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From: The Top of Utah
Originally Posted by dukecebrelli
thanks a lot guys! New switch it is... as for the chilton... I really did use it to sop up some spilled beer last night
Don't just run out and buy a head light switch. It could be just fine. You may have an over load, or a shorted wire blowing the breaker. Now that we've told you how it works (available in the FSM), it is up to you to do the final diagnostics.
RACE ON!!!
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From: O Fallon IL
Thank you for the info everyone
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From: SE NY
Cruise-In II Veteran
ok- newbie question here.... what is FSM?
