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Headlights will not shut off
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Author:  71 Valiant Guy [ Thu Oct 28, 2010 12:06 pm ]
Post subject:  Headlights will not shut off
I just purchased a 1971 Valiant and on the way home it got dark and I had to turn the lights on the headlights had some water in them. They worked fine until I pulled up into the driveway the water splashed burned out one of the headlights. I turned off the car and turned off and the headlight switch but the other headlight stayed on and both hi beams worked. I have changed both headlights and headlight switch but the lights still stay on with the switch off or on. Also the parking lights will not come on with the headlights on but the signals work. Please Help! Thanks :cry:
Author:  Joshie225 [ Thu Oct 28, 2010 12:39 pm ]
Post subject: 
If the headlights are on with the headlight switch electrical connector removed you have a wiring problem. I would probably not connect the battery without giving the wiring harness under the dash and in the engine compartment a very thorough visual inspection.
Author:  71 Valiant Guy [ Thu Oct 28, 2010 1:23 pm ]
Post subject: 
I checked under the hood and under the dash as far a I can see there are no burned wires. Is there some type of relay or fusable link under the dash for the headlights. Because I heard a pop sound when I pulled in the driveway I don't know if it was the headlight or something else.
Author:  Slanted Opinion [ Sat Oct 30, 2010 4:14 am ]
Post subject: 
Ditto on the battery disconnect. Old wiring harnesses seem to "spontaneously combust" at times. Having a harness ignite at 2 am while the car is in your garage is not a good thing.

At $9, this little jewel is where I would start your repair project:

http://www.napaonline.com/Search/Detail ... 0076263386

- Mac
Author:  Joshie225 [ Sat Oct 30, 2010 10:48 am ]
Post subject: 
No headlight relay(s) originally. If relays were added they will likely be under the hood. Check the wiring from/at the headlights to see if it's original. The headlight power goes through the headlight and dimmer switches. The series resistance caused by the switches and wiring drops the voltage to the headlights and therefore drops the brightness of the headlights. We've discussed this at length on this board.
Author:  71 Valiant Guy [ Sat Oct 30, 2010 11:18 am ]
Post subject: 
I disconnected the headlight switch, the dimmer switch, and pulled all the fuses and a little sliver relay box under the kick panel that had the headlight wires running to it, it had a red black and violet wires plugged to it and the lights are still on. I even tried unplugging each blub to see if there was a short between them and still the lights are on. It seems to be getting power directly from the battery but I can't see were, the car all original and the wires haven't been messed with.
Author:  Joshie225 [ Sat Oct 30, 2010 11:32 am ]
Post subject: 
If the lights are on with the headlight switch unplugged either the wiring absolutely has been messed with or there is a short between a hot wire and the headlight feed. The headlights don't have a fuse. There is a circuit breaker in the headlight switch. Keep looking.
Author:  ceej [ Sat Oct 30, 2010 2:41 pm ]
Post subject: 
Look for an aftermarket headlight relay, working your way back from the headlights. I take it you have some sort of aftermarket lights to get water inside the lens.

There are relays that use Normal Open and Normal Closed contacts for different purposes. Your headlights may be crossed on this type of relay. Normally, these are used with multiple relays to turn fog lights off when high beam is selected. Things like that.
Trace how your lights are wired and draw a diagram. That always helps with the troubleshooting. :D

CJ
Author:  Slanted Opinion [ Sat Oct 30, 2010 5:11 pm ]
Post subject: 
He must have aftermarket headlights... no way to get water inside OEM sealed beams.

I think the search for a headlight relay (which is probably stuck closed) might be the right track. Likely whoever had the vehicle before you added the aftermarket lamps, and then put in a relay to overcome the wiring losses in these old vehicles.

-Mac
Author:  71 Valiant Guy [ Sun Nov 07, 2010 6:34 pm ]
Post subject: 
I found out what happened I had to take most of the dash apart but the black wire running from the alternator to the amp meter burned up and melted into the violet wire for the headlights. It caused it to get constant power to the headlights. Also the reason the headlights had water in them was because condensation had built up in them and they are standard sealed beam headlights.

Thanks to everyone who tried to help.
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