Slant Six Forum
https://slantsix.org/forum/

Headlights came on by themselves 76 Plymouth Volare
https://slantsix.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=63413		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  urbanyi1 [ Wed Mar 20, 2019 10:41 am ]
Post subject:  Headlights came on by themselves 76 Plymouth Volare
The other morning I looked outside and the headlights only were on. I went out and pulled the headlight switch and then pushed in back in and they went out. Later that day I went out to check them and pulled the switch and all the lights came on except the headlights. I hit the dimmer switch and the high beams came on, but no low beams. I replaced the headlight switch, but no change. I checked the bulbs and they are good. About 5 or 6 years ago I rewired the headlights and put in line fuses and relays and haven't had any problems until now. I had the battery checked and it is at 12.6 volts, but the generator checks bad. Any suggestions
Author:  Charrlie_S [ Wed Mar 20, 2019 1:36 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Headlights came on by themselves 76 Plymouth Volare
Without knowing how it is wired up, it sounds like it might be a bad relay.
Author:  urbanyi1 [ Wed Mar 20, 2019 10:54 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Headlights came on by themselves 76 Plymouth Volare
I replaced the relays and the headlights still do not work. I have rewired the headlights so that each side has an inline fuse and 30 amp relay. I have not had any issue with the headlights since I rewired them 6 years ago. The low beam headlights just all of a sudden came on and I went out and pulled the headlight switch and then pushed it off and they went off. It was a couple days later that I went out and pulled the headlight switch and all the lights came on except for the headlights. I hit the dimmer and the high beams came on but no low beams. I have replaced the headlight switch and the relays, but still no headlights
Author:  drgonzo [ Thu Mar 21, 2019 6:08 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Headlights came on by themselves 76 Plymouth Volare
Perhaps the dimmer switch is the problem since the high beams work but not the low beams.
Author:  THOR [ Thu Mar 21, 2019 10:04 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Headlights came on by themselves 76 Plymouth Volare
Quote:
Perhaps the dimmer switch is the problem since the high beams work but not the low beams.
Yup. I'd bet that's the issue!

~THOR~
Author:  Charrlie_S [ Thu Mar 21, 2019 12:08 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Headlights came on by themselves 76 Plymouth Volare
Quote:
Quote:
Perhaps the dimmer switch is the problem since the high beams work but not the low beams.
Yup. I'd bet that's the issue!

~THOR~
If there is more then one problem. How would a bad dimmer sw turn on the head lights with the headlight sw in the off position?
Author:  THOR [ Thu Mar 21, 2019 3:43 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Headlights came on by themselves 76 Plymouth Volare
I should have clarified:

If the lights work only on high beam, it's typically the dimmer switch that has failed. It would not cause the headlights to be on. In my mind, the only thing that would cause the headlights to remain on when the switch is in the off position would be a sticking relay, or a failed headlight switch; though in this case I would be leaning toward failure of the relay.

~THOR~
Author:  Charrlie_S [ Thu Mar 21, 2019 6:10 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Headlights came on by themselves 76 Plymouth Volare
Quote:
I should have clarified:

If the lights work only on high beam, it's typically the dimmer switch that has failed. It would not cause the headlights to be on. In my mind, the only thing that would cause the headlights to remain on when the switch is in the off position would be a sticking relay, or a failed headlight switch; though in this case I would be leaning toward failure of the relay.

~THOR~

My thoughts, exactly
Author:  urbanyi1 [ Thu Mar 21, 2019 6:25 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Headlights came on by themselves 76 Plymouth Volare
Thanks for the help guys I will double check everything. I replaced the switch, and the dimmer switch and both the relays i installed in line. But I still have no headlights. Is there a relay in the fuse panel? By the way a bad generator/alternator would have nothing to do with the low beam headlights coming on by themselves right?
Author:  THOR [ Fri Mar 22, 2019 9:48 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Headlights came on by themselves 76 Plymouth Volare
Quote:
Thanks for the help guys I will double check everything.
Sure thing! :D
Quote:
I replaced the switch, and the dimmer switch and both the relays i installed in line. But I still have no headlights. Is there a relay in the fuse panel?
No sir, there is not; however, there is a headlamp fuse, though I believe both high and low beam operate off of the same fuse. If you now have no headlights, I would verify the fuse is good, and that the headlamp switch is sending trigger power to the dimmer which will then send trigger power to the relays.
Quote:
By the way a bad generator/alternator would have nothing to do with the low beam headlights coming on by themselves right?
I would be very impressed if a bad alternator could be proven the cause of headlights coming on of their own accord. :shock:

~THOR~
Author:  Charrlie_S [ Fri Mar 22, 2019 4:58 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Headlights came on by themselves 76 Plymouth Volare
Actually, the headlight switch has a built in circuit breaker. It is self resetting. It cannot be serviced and If bad must replace the switch.
Author:  urbanyi1 [ Mon Mar 25, 2019 4:18 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Headlights came on by themselves 76 Plymouth Volare
Thanks for all the help guys. It turns out the dimmer switch I put in that I bought from Napa auto parts was bad. I took it back and got another and now they work. Thanks again for all the advice.
Author:  Louise76 [ Mon Mar 25, 2019 8:48 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Headlights came on by themselves 76 Plymouth Volare
Thanks for letting us know what the successful diagnosis was! This is the way we all learn on this forum. :D
Page 1 of 1 All times are UTC-08:00
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Limited
https://www.phpbb.com/