Headlights don't go off...

[valentine02]

Hey everyone,

I just opened a user account and I'm kind of new at this, so go easy on me....I just bought a '71 2002 (my first 02 - paid $900) and it certainly needs a lot of TLC. One of the first things I noticed right away was that the headlights will not turn off. The parking and tail lights go off, but the headlights stay on.....any suggestions? I'd like to drive the car at night some day!!

My buddy turned me on to this site and it seems like a really cool community with a wealth of knowledge and experience. Any help you guys can give me would be most appreciated.

Thanks

Austin in Santa Barbara

[BillWilliams]

As far as the headlights staying on, I would suspect the switch.

That circuit works by the switch connecting the "hot" through the headlight to a ground. So, take the gauge cluster out of the dash and with a DVM, see if the switch is "making and breaking".

If you need help in doing that or if you get the results of that test, post back and we will scratch our heads again together.

[valentine02]

Thanks for the tip. I'll let you know what I find.

Austin

Santa Barbara, CA

[Mike Self]

neither the high nor low beams are fused. This pretty well narrows the culprit down to either the headlight switch next to the instrument cluster, or the high/low beam dimmer switch on the steering column's left side.

The main headlight switch may be broken internally, allowing current flow regardless of switch position,

Or the dimmer switch may be broken internally. It has a hot lead that allows you to flash the high beams whether the headlights or on or not. If that switch is defective, you could be getting a current backflow into the headlight switch, allowing it to have +12v all the time.

If your '71 has a VIN beginning with 257xxxx and has twelve fuses, fuses 3 & 4 are for ;your lowbeams the high beams are unfused.

All the above presupposes a PO hasn't jiggered your wiring...

good luck

mike

PS--welcome to 02 ownership.

[valentine02]

Thanks for the good info Mike. Much appreciated.

Austin

Santa Barbara, CA

[valentine02]

Update: I've run into some additional electrical "issues" before I had a chance to check the switch (some scortched/melted wires under the hood, had to replace a dead battery, etc.) so i'll post the switch test results when I get it done.....thx again

[valentine02]

Update: I know it's been a while....what can I say, I've got a day job and I'll just come right out and say it: I don't really know what I'm doing.

So I checked the headlight switch with the DVM as you suggested. I was basically looking for 12v when the switch is in the OFF position, right? I have the wiring diagram for 02s, but like I mentioned previously.....hard for me to tell exactly what I'm doing.

Let me cut to the chase. After carefully labeling and removing ALL connections to the headlight switch, the headlights stay on. Does this mean the switch has nothing to do with the problem? Perhaps the PO did some funky wiring and (for whatever reason) the headlights are getting 12v ALL THE TIME when the plugs are connected to the back of the lamps?

I'm a little lost on this one now and sure could use a little more help. Thanks for being patient with me, I realize I probably come off as a little incompetent.

By the way, I did notice a little scortching on the paper surrounding the spades on the back of the switch. It does look like the switch itself may indeed have some sort of issue.

thanks in advance

[InkaSteve]

Austin, E-mail me through the FAQ. I could come by and look at it if you want. Of course, I'm no "expert" but I have lived with these cars for years, and might spot something.