Headlight Help, temp stranded!

[jwernquist]

Just purchased a 88 Carrera more details later, however I am stuck at night here without headlights, have searched however haven't found this info. Heres the deal.

Stopped working :
Low Beams
High Beams

Running lights work fine and the high beam flash works however no lights unless I hold the stalk to keep the flash brights on.

I checked the plugs that attach to the bulbs and both had the right contact burned.
Replaced the sockets and still no change. Both the switch and the stalk switch appear to be working fine and all bulbs are ok. Any suggestions? Fuses are good as well ..

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated as this is rather urgent.

Jon W.

[jwernquist]

Could the switch fail to the point where it doesn't activate the low beams and the high beams but it turns on the parking lights etc. Then the flasher is only activated by the turn signal stalk correct?

[john walker's workshop]

get a jumper wire and jump battery power to one of the headlight fuses.

[jwernquist]

Exactly what I was looking for Thanks John!! Appreciate it as always.
Should I jump both left and right high beams , do I need to worry about frying anything else out?

Thanks

Jon W.

[jwernquist]

Well After much checking and playing with the voltmeter I am pretty confident that its' the switch, in my bag of parts I do have a headlight switch from a 77. Looking at the catalog here at pelican it's the same part correct?

Should a 77 headlight switch work in an 88???

Thanks,

Jon W.

[john walker's workshop]

same switch. the fuses are in pairs and joined to each other. two for low, two for high. just need to clip onto one of them.

[jwernquist]

Well it's definaly the switch no continuity between contacts when the headlight swtich is operated, however the damn knob will not come off the 88 same old screw type I would imagine except this sucker is might fused on there. Any more pressure and it will all break.

Thanks for the tips

Jon W.

[jwernquist]

John

On the 88 light switch I have a spot labeled 58 that is between the 30 and the 56 however on the 77 Light switch there isn't a clip or a pin for that double wire combo "Grey I think" If I put the 77 switch in I will be leaving a double wire connector unconnected? Any thoughts?

Jon W.

[john walker's workshop]

i was thinking dimmer/turnsignal switch, sorry. there were 2 or 3 variants on the headlight switch thru the years. the knob has a nut under the plastic insert. then you stick a small punch thru the hole in the shaft as you remove the knob so the switch doesn't get stressed.

[Tibu]

Jon, did replacing the switch fix the problem? I am having a similar issue, and I just got done jumping the headlamps with battery power. They both work, so I am guessing I will have to replace the headlight switch. I was wondering if it has anything to do with the Stem Stack.

[Dueller]

Before you replce the switch, look at this link on an easy NO COST repair of the switch.

turn signal switch quick fix pictures