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Old 09-26-2011, 05:45 PM   #1
jasonroman
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what would cause headlights not work...high beams work.

hello.
quick question.
wondering what might cause headlights not to work. highbeams work. but headlights dont.
not my truck but truck im going to look at.
thanks for any ideas.
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Old 09-26-2011, 05:53 PM   #2
J Knight
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Re: what would cause headlights not work...high beams work.

Dimmer switch would be the first thing to check out.
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Old 09-27-2011, 12:48 PM   #3
von guido
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Re: what would cause headlights not work...high beams work.

low beam filament burned out
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Old 09-27-2011, 03:10 PM   #4
81ratrodc10
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Re: what would cause headlights not work...high beams work.

I know on my 81 c10 when my floor dimmer switch went thats what happened to me
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Old 09-27-2011, 03:10 PM   #5
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Re: what would cause headlights not work...high beams work.

+1 on low beam filament burnt out. Had the same problem with my truck, replaced headlights and the problem was solved.

Good luck
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Old 09-27-2011, 04:24 PM   #6
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Re: what would cause headlights not work...high beams work.

I don't know how these trucks are wired, but on some vehicles the low beams go through a relay and the high beams do not. If the low beams bulbs are known to be good I would investigate or change the relay.
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Old 09-28-2011, 07:09 AM   #7
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Re: what would cause headlights not work...high beams work.

x2 on dimmer switch
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Old 09-28-2011, 08:51 AM   #8
old Rusty C10
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Re: what would cause headlights not work...high beams work.

i would take out one of the headlights then check the circut with a tester and see if there is power.. if there is no power to the low beams then id go to the dimmer switch
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Old 09-28-2011, 09:01 AM   #9
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Re: what would cause headlights not work...high beams work.

check the plug on the back of the light some times they just need to be wiggles or cleaned to make a better connection. (dosnt cost anyhting and it's free) worth a shot.
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Old 09-28-2011, 12:12 PM   #10
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Re: what would cause headlights not work...high beams work.

Dimmer switch cured my issue.
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Old 09-28-2011, 07:08 PM   #11
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Re: what would cause headlights not work...high beams work.

Dimmer switch. I have always kept a spare in the glove box for any GM vehicle with the floor mounted swtich. Seems like a once in a lifetime thing, but it has happened to me at least 3 times.....one rather traumatic.
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The directions are nothing but another man's opinion.
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Bad planning on your part does not necessarily constitute an instant emergency on my part....

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Old 09-28-2011, 11:25 PM   #12
HanSoloWS6
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Re: what would cause headlights not work...high beams work.

+whatever on the dimmer, lol

Every old GM I've had in my family seems to have gone through this issue.
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Old 09-29-2011, 09:07 PM   #13
'76 Big Block
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Re: what would cause headlights not work...high beams work.

+1 on low beam element
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Old 09-30-2011, 06:04 AM   #14
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Re: what would cause headlights not work...high beams work.

Quote:
Originally Posted by '76 Big Block View Post
+1 on low beam element
On both bulbs at the same time?
Not impossible, not likely either
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Longhorn Man View Post
As for reading directions...
The directions are nothing but another man's opinion.
Learn from the mistakes of others, you won't live long enough to make them all yourself...

Bad planning on your part does not necessarily constitute an instant emergency on my part....

The great thing about being a pessimist is that you are either pleasantly surprised or right.
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Old 09-30-2011, 07:38 AM   #15
'76 Big Block
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Re: what would cause headlights not work...high beams work.

Of course you're right---but since he said he was going to LOOK at it, it's possible that low beams failed 1 at a time, and now both are out---surely you've driven down the road and observed folks driving with 1 headlight....
That's what I was thinking as a possibility... hard to tell without actually talking to someone and not getting all the facts, what's been checked, etc.
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Old 02-18-2015, 01:10 PM   #16
Ronald29609
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Re: what would cause headlights not work...high beams work.

I just went through this. The headlight switch, dimmer switch and turn signal switch were all replaced and still no headlights. It turned out to be the RED wire that goes to the headlight switch. When the connector was attached the wire would push out a littleand not make contact. The tab was bent up with a small screw driver and the wire was reinserted into the connector. All of the lights work fine now. Hope this helps.
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Old 02-18-2015, 02:49 PM   #17
Bigstevex4
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Re: what would cause headlights not work...high beams work.

My bosses wifes car high beames went out they fooled thing weeks it wa 1 high beam burnt out no on noticed till the other burnt out.
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