1972 Eldo Headlight Problems

[Brian Daum, 18809]

Hi,
I am sure this is the first in a series of questions concerning my newly arrived 1972 Eldo Conv. These are great cars, but can be somewhat of a challenge to get all the gizmos working. I have ordered a shop manual, but haven`t received it yet.

Anyway I am having problems getting my headlights to work, both high and lowbeam. There were some really bad connetions at the sealed beam sockets so I cleaned them up and installed new ones, but still the headlights don`t work.

I do suspect the headlight switch to be the problem, but I am also suspicious of the headlight relay, and can anyone tell me were to find it.

Any other hints would also be greatly appreciated!!!!

Regards

Brian

[Tim Pawl CLC#4383]

Your headlight problems can be caused by one of several items. First ,check action of the floor mounted dimmer switch. If this switch is toast, headlamps will be inop or always brights depending on how it failed. Second, the headlamp switch in dash has a bi-metal "circuit breaker" within the switch. If this has fried, then no headlamps and switch must be replaced.   This circuit breaker is designed to prevent overload of headlamp circuit (headlamps are wired hot with no fuses or relays) when the bi-metal cools headlamps come back on. This bi-metal can and often does cook /deform unde high heat and when it cools does not make contact, hence lights always off.  If you have running lights but no headlamps this probably is the culprit.  You may want to also look at what type of headlights you have, on two cars where headlamp switch bi-metal was toasted, I observed that "Halogen" headlamps where installed, I dont know, but I suspect that they may have higher current draw than the originals and could have been responsible for higher loads causing switch to overheat.  Incidently, both cases where this switch was overheated was with the TwilightSentennial/Auto dimmer switch.  Is that what you have?

[Brian Daum, 18809]

Hi Tim,
Thank you on your input. No, my car does not have the TwilightSentinel, but like you mention I have suspected the light switch to be the problem. I didn`t think of the dimmer switch, I`ll have to check that one out. Anyway I really don`t think that the wiring causes the problem, it must be a switch somewhere...

Regards

Brian

[Tim Pawl CLC#4383]

Brian, did you ever solve your headlamp problem?   If you did please tell us what you found.   Thanks Tim Pawl

[Brian Daum, 18809]

Hi Tim,
Yes, I finally got them fixed, after changed the headlight switch and all of the sealed beams, they still did not work, so of course the last thing to check was the dimmer switch. After taking it apart and cleaning the inside with liberal amounts of CRC....wham!! Suddenly the headlights work!!

But strange thing is that one of the high beams are brighter than the other, and they are all new??!!

Thank you any way for all of your helpful hints!!!!


Regards

Brian

[JIM CLC # 15000]

03-03-05
Brian, check for a "dirty and/or rusty" connector(s) on the dim light.
Good Luck, Jim