Topic: Whadidi Do?!?!
in Forum: C3 Electrical

Alright. Restored the headlight hardware, all new hoses, headlights go up and down like silk. While I was at it, I cleaned up some crappy crimp work from the prior owner. Problem is, now I've got no lights!!
The owners manual mentions that the headlight switch itself has a breaker in it in order to prevent electrical fires and that the switch could shut down the headlights totally.
Question is, would the switch blow like a fuse and have to be replaced? Or is it more than likely something else. There are no switched wires and the headlights were working before I started this endeavor.
Any help is greatly appreciated for this dilemma....
Paul
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Do any of the lights work? tail/front parks?
It is possible that the fuse-link for the headlights has burned. This would be the link by the stater with the red w/white stripe wire. Check that there is 12v+ on both sides of the fuse-link. If there is 12v+ on the starter side, but not on the other side of the link, the link is no good.
What wires did you have to repair?
Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56
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Right behind the headlight sockets. Possibly I may have mistaken an old fusible link for a crimp....
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Did them 1 at a time and they were working previously. The parking lights work, also. The PW work so I think that rules our the curcuit breaker that controls the headlights and windows...
Would a lot of other things or the whole system shut down if there is a blown fusible link by the battery? Is this only for the headlights?Sounds like that protects a lot of the wiring. I'll check as Joel recommended tonight.
Thanks
Paul
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The 2 fusible links are basically: (1)for the lights, ALL of them, and (2)everything else. If only the headlights are out it probably isn't the link at the starter. Look around for some plastic "connector" looking things. For instance along the wire to the underhood light. That's also a link. There are a couple more of them under the hood but unlikely one of those would blow. Are you sure the headlight grounds are good. There are other grounds for the rest of the lights so they wouldn't be affected. Good luck! Mike

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Could be a grounding problem, like Mike says. You might try running a jumper from a good ground to the black wire at the lights directly, to check for a ground problem. If they light up then...
The ground for the front lights is up front somewhere, but I'm not sure exactly where. Should be on the frame there.
Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56
My Link
(click for Texas-sized view!) NCRS
"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

Thanks gents - going to the garage now to work on this.
Paul
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Veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom
101st Airborne(AirAssault!)
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LukesVette Homepage
Veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom
101st Airborne(AirAssault!)
God Bless America
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Still no lights But here's the update. All grounds cleaned and in tact. No wires crossed. Fusible links good by starter. Took headlight switch out of the dash.
No juice at the heavy red guage wire - which if i understand correctly, should be eventually fed by the fused wires coming off of the starter (meaning battery). So, if this is correct, that wire has to be bad somewhere between the switch and the bulkhead?
Any thoughts/recommendations on how to proceed without taking the wire loom apart under the dash? Not the job I most look forward to....?
Appreciated as usual.
Paul
LukesVette Homepage
Veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom
101st Airborne(AirAssault!)
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