Help Please! Chasing My Tail!(Electrical)

[Abrokjp]

In no way am I an expert on electrical. I just need suggestions on where to go next to try and fix my problem. My headlights quit working. I thought it may be the switch and replaced it. That worked.....for about two days. Now they are out again, however my parking lights work.

Any suggestions on where to look to solve the problem?

Thanks,
Matt

 

[73CJ]

Are you running 100watt bulbs? That will smoke dimmer switch. I learned the hard way. It could also melt your head light switch. Learned that too the hard way.

It could be other things to lake a bad ground. Use a voltmeter and follow the power.

 

[IOPort51]

exactly, start at the dimmer switch, check for volt to ground from light switch and if it isn't there check power to switch at plug with the ignition switch on. At one point I had to replace the plug because it toasted.
The power in will be from one of the 10 ga. wires on the plug, the other 10 ga. wire will go to the dimmer switch.

Are you running 100watt bulbs? That will smoke dimmer switch. I learned the hard way. It could also melt your head light switch. Learned that too the hard way.

It could be other things to lake a bad ground. Use a voltmeter and follow the power.

 

[CoreyYoungCj577]

I would check to see if you have any bare wire hitting metal causing it to short out, my buddys 98 dodge 1500 burnt 10+ fuses everytime he drove it because of this.

 

[phinleft]

Mine did the same thing when I first got it. It was the dimmer switch.

 

[dslywalker]

If your not blowing a fuse I;d go for the grounds or the harness connector that plugs into the switches.

 

[fire3096]

WOW! Just got my CJ running after the frame off and MY headlights are not working either, Parking lights but no headlights. The only thing that is trowing me off is when I pull the headlight switch my volt meter drops off the scale. It may be a dead short in the headlight switch? I am not sure and I hate chasing down electrical problems.....Has anyone ever had there volt meter drop like that? Help, Help, Help?

 

[IOPort51]

When I was working on my 77 lights I found that the ground for the headlights is the front turn signal lights so check the light to grill connection and the turn signal light screws.

 

[fire3096]

I will check that out, I really need headlights. if you come up with anything else let me know.

 

[fire3096]

View attachment 3378

here is a picture of my baby.

 

[fire3096]

Thank Goodness, I got it fixed. It was the dimmer switch in the floor. I replaced that and got headlights back. But while i was there i looked at my headlight switch and found that the PO had cut the factory plug and "rewired" the switch and had the headlights on the dimmer side.....WOW! lucky it did not burn something up. O' Well I have headlights, now just need to find why the volt meter drops to nothing when I turn the dimmer switch. But I have to look on the "Bright" side I have lights!!! Thanks to all for the help and responses that fixed this problem!!