70 Challenger, headlights cycling off and on
#2261882
03/01/17 10:18 PM
03/01/17 10:18 PM
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Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,272 Northern Calyfornua
Sxrxrnr
OP
pro stock
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OP
pro stock
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,272
Northern Calyfornua
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Driving at night last week on freeway with headlights on bright(still dim enough that on coming traffic cares not a wit). Had gone some 20 miles or so, all was well when without notice headlights went dark.
Turned switch to off and back to on. Lights illuminated ok, but within 30 seconds dark again.
Repeated this cycle 3 or 4 times, then believing that perhaps curcuit breaker was overheating, hit dimmer switch and made it on home with no further problem.
Did long drive put enough stress/load on old circuitry that it overheated causing circuit breaker to do what it is supposed to do, or is circuit breaker merely old and itself exhausted? Or perhaps a bad ground, connection, switch causing this problem.
Switching to dim on the lights successfully gives me a clue that circuit is taxed and/or overloaded.
Appropriately within this page of threads is a thread discussing 'relays' to support lighting system. Is it time that I consider this, before I either burn the car down or have the lights go dark on some twisty mountain road. Will be contacting crackedback for relay options
Are there recommendations for dual headlight system for increased illumination and still retain the stock seal beam appearance. Prefer not to replace with the modern halogen or some such look.
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Re: 70 Challenger, headlights cycling off and on
[Re: Sxrxrnr]
#2261885
03/01/17 10:21 PM
03/01/17 10:21 PM
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 36,041 Lincoln Nebraska
RapidRobert
Circle Track
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Circle Track
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 36,041
Lincoln Nebraska
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or is circuit breaker merely old and itself exhausted? that'd be my guess. I would replace the HL switch.
live every 24 hour block of time like it's your last day on earth
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Re: 70 Challenger, headlights cycling off and on
[Re: Sxrxrnr]
#2262122
03/02/17 12:00 PM
03/02/17 12:00 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 12,171 Benton, IL.
DaveRS23
Special needs idiot
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Special needs idiot
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 12,171
Benton, IL.
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I have installed relays on my headlights for many years now. There are several advantages to relays for our Mopars. Everyone should seriously consider doing it. The only possible disadvantage is that you have to cut into the headlight harness.
Master, again and still
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Re: 70 Challenger, headlights cycling off and on
[Re: moparx]
#2262142
03/02/17 12:57 PM
03/02/17 12:57 PM
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 36,041 Lincoln Nebraska
RapidRobert
Circle Track
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Circle Track
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 36,041
Lincoln Nebraska
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Agreed, I would bypass the dimmer switch (on brights) & see if it still acts up.
live every 24 hour block of time like it's your last day on earth
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Re: 70 Challenger, headlights cycling off and on
[Re: DaveRS23]
#2262636
03/03/17 01:34 PM
03/03/17 01:34 PM
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 566 WA
tman
mopar
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mopar
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 566
WA
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I have installed relays on my headlights for many years now. There are several advantages to relays for our Mopars. Everyone should seriously consider doing it. The only possible disadvantage is that you have to cut into the headlight harness. There is a person that makes quite a nice relay wiring system for your headlights that is plug and play, no cutting into your harness. I have the kit installed in my Cuda and it makes a big difference. Here is a link: https://board.moparts.org/ubbthreads/ubbt...tml#Post2231668
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Re: 70 Challenger, headlights cycling off and on
[Re: shawge]
#2262950
03/03/17 11:23 PM
03/03/17 11:23 PM
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 36,041 Lincoln Nebraska
RapidRobert
Circle Track
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Circle Track
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 36,041
Lincoln Nebraska
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I would (1) bypass the dimmer on brights & see if that is it (2) if not then replace the HL switch (3) then decide if you want to upgrade the headlights and or relay them (fix the issue at hand first). #1 clean all terminals/connections including ground paths.
live every 24 hour block of time like it's your last day on earth
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Re: 70 Challenger, headlights cycling off and on
[Re: JohnH]
#2263126
03/04/17 09:25 AM
03/04/17 09:25 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,575 The Netherlands
BigBlockMopar
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,575
The Netherlands
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My Charger does that at time,, I'm thinking Halogen bulbs causing trouble.. A friend of mine had that trouble put regular bulbs in the high beam,,, fixed the problem,, The Hella's don't cause the trouble, they make the already existing problem noticable, because they want a bit more electrical power. Headlights behind a relay have a number of positives; - No more flickering - Brighter headlights - No more high electrical load going through the old/worn headlight switch - No more high electrical load going through the bulkhead connector. - No more high electrical load going through the fusebox. Every 45 year old connector developes resistance over time because of copper/brass getting dark and polluted. High current and resistance = heat. Enough heat will melt the plastic around the connector itself and a dashfire is soon to happen. Just renewing a headlight switch for instance only pushes a potential fire problem to the next point of high resistance.
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