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highbeam problem #697358 05/13/10 09:03 PM 05/13/10 09:03 PM
Joined: Jan 2005 Posts: 1,527 minnesota Kirby OP pro stock
Kirby OP pro stock Joined: Jan 2005 Posts: 1,527 minnesota	My A12 Bee's headlights go completely out after they've been on for a while, kick the switch to lows, and they come back on (lows that is) I know that means either the headlight switch, or the dimmer switch is getting hot, or has poor connections. Where is the best place to start?

Re: highbeam problem [Re: Kirby] #697359 05/13/10 09:32 PM 05/13/10 09:32 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 32,932 Grand Prairie,Texas stumpy I Win
stumpy I Win Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 32,932 Grand Prairie,Texas	Start with the headlight grounds on the radiator support. Then check the floor switch for corrosion. Then the only thing left is the headlight switch.

Re: highbeam problem [Re: stumpy] #697360 05/13/10 09:53 PM 05/13/10 09:53 PM
Joined: May 2005 Posts: 4,727 Florida BDW master
BDW master Joined: May 2005 Posts: 4,727 Florida	Same problem here, please post what you find.

Re: highbeam problem [Re: Kirby] #697361 05/14/10 12:46 AM 05/14/10 12:46 AM
Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 36,040 Lincoln Nebraska R RapidRobert Circle Track
RapidRobert Circle Track R Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 36,040 Lincoln Nebraska	Quote: Where is the best place to start? dimmer sw live every 24 hour block of time like it's your last day on earth

Re: highbeam problem [Re: Kirby] #697362 05/14/10 06:55 AM 05/14/10 06:55 AM
Joined: Mar 2010 Posts: 357 Lake Elmo, MN Evil Monkey enthusiast
Evil Monkey enthusiast Joined: Mar 2010 Posts: 357 Lake Elmo, MN	It wouldn't be the headlight switch, because that runs both high and low beams, so it wouldn't matter if you switch to lows when it goes out - they would be out also. I think (but I'm not positive) that the ground would be the same for both high and low beams. If so, then the same thing applies - it wouldn't matter if you switched to low beams, they would still be out. I'm thinking you have a dimmer switch, or a bad connection, which would most likely be at the dimmer switch, or maybe at the bulkhead connector. 1974 'Cuda 360/TKO 1990 Ram Van 1998 Neon

Re: highbeam problem [Re: Kirby] #697363 05/14/10 07:02 AM 05/14/10 07:02 AM
Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 11,543 chicagoland,usa B buildanother I Live Here
buildanother I Live Here B Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 11,543 chicagoland,usa	Headlight switch is very likely cause. (my 79 warlock did that after install of 4 hella bulbs. High beams on for a few minutes, went out, clicked back to low beams, came back on. New switch fixed it. I think there is breaker in switch.) Last edited by buildanother; 05/14/10 07:26 AM.

Re: highbeam problem [Re: Kirby] #697364 05/14/10 08:59 AM 05/14/10 08:59 AM
Joined: Apr 2009 Posts: 54 Houston, TX C Crunchy_Frog member
Crunchy_Frog member C Joined: Apr 2009 Posts: 54 Houston, TX	I would check the dimmer switch first. Do a simple feel test. Turn the headlights on high and touch the DS (use back of fingers). If it gets hot, contacts have hi resistance. Power = current squared x resistance. Easiest thing to get to first.

Re: highbeam problem [Re: Kirby] #697365 05/14/10 10:31 AM 05/14/10 10:31 AM
Joined: Jun 2008 Posts: 1,822 Colorado D denfireguy top fuel
denfireguy top fuel D Joined: Jun 2008 Posts: 1,822 Colorado	Dimmer switch. Cheap, easy to change. Clean the socket contacts that it plugs into and put dielectric grease in there to protect it from corrosion. It sits in a bad place for moisture. Craig 2014 Ram 1500 Laramie, 73 Cuda Previous mopars: 62 Valiant, 65 Fury III, 68 Fury III, 72 Satellite, 74 Satellite, 89 Acclaim, 98 Caravan, 2003 Durango Only previous Non-Mopar: Schwinn Tornado

Re: highbeam problem [Re: denfireguy] #697366 05/14/10 03:05 PM 05/14/10 03:05 PM
Joined: Sep 2004 Posts: 1,226 Cookeville Chilort Will Work For Mopars
Chilort Will Work For Mopars Joined: Sep 2004 Posts: 1,226 Cookeville

Re: highbeam problem [Re: Chilort] #697367 05/14/10 06:11 PM 05/14/10 06:11 PM
Joined: May 2005 Posts: 4,727 Florida BDW master
BDW master Joined: May 2005 Posts: 4,727 Florida	Can you buy new dimmer switches?

Re: highbeam problem [Re: BDW] #697368 05/14/10 06:34 PM 05/14/10 06:34 PM
Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 7,759 So Cal HealthServices Why would you even post that?
HealthServices Why would you even post that? Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 7,759 So Cal	Yep... 5982811-dimmerswitch.JPG (48 downloads) Allen Here's a novel idea, let's not throw a bunch of parts at the car hoping it will fix the problem and instead spend a little time diagnosing it first. Life was a little easier when I was just a wrench.

Re: highbeam problem [Re: HealthServices] #697369 05/14/10 06:57 PM 05/14/10 06:57 PM
Joined: May 2005 Posts: 4,727 Florida BDW master
BDW master Joined: May 2005 Posts: 4,727 Florida	Thx, didn't know that. Kind of surprised mine is flakey, I have my headlights on relays, so there's not really any current going through the switch or dimmer.

Re: highbeam problem [Re: BDW] #697370 05/14/10 07:07 PM 05/14/10 07:07 PM
Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 7,759 So Cal HealthServices Why would you even post that?
HealthServices Why would you even post that? Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 7,759 So Cal	Because the switch is under the carpet and moisture can get to it. Allen Here's a novel idea, let's not throw a bunch of parts at the car hoping it will fix the problem and instead spend a little time diagnosing it first. Life was a little easier when I was just a wrench.

Re: highbeam problem [Re: HealthServices] #697371 05/14/10 10:14 PM 05/14/10 10:14 PM
Joined: Sep 2004 Posts: 1,226 Cookeville Chilort Will Work For Mopars
Chilort Will Work For Mopars Joined: Sep 2004 Posts: 1,226 Cookeville	Mopar used the same dimmer switch for several decades. My '68 and '83 trucks use the same thing.

Re: highbeam problem [Re: Chilort] #697372 05/15/10 01:33 AM 05/15/10 01:33 AM
Joined: Oct 2003 Posts: 2,537 PORT ALBERNI , BC., CANADA superwrench master
superwrench master Joined: Oct 2003 Posts: 2,537 PORT ALBERNI , BC., CANADA	Quote: Mopar used the same dimmer switch for several decades. My '68 and '83 trucks use the same thing. 1881938 Mopar number. Still available.

Re: highbeam problem [Re: superwrench] #697373 05/16/10 11:11 AM 05/16/10 11:11 AM
Joined: May 2005 Posts: 4,727 Florida BDW master
BDW master Joined: May 2005 Posts: 4,727 Florida	Picked up a dimmer switch at AutoZone, $7. Replacement is a little taller compared to the original, but it fixed my problem. Thx!

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