I’ve been having issues with my high beam selector off and on the low beam works fine, but the high beam is intermittent when it will work or not. When it does not work, it kills the low beam as well so essentially when I’m trying to use my high beam. I lose all headlights completely. I replaced the being selector and that seemed to fix it, but I’m having the same problem again and so my question to the group is, does the beam selector need to be tightly screwed to clear metal floorboard for a strong body ground on the beam selector itself? I don’t think it does because I remember temporarily dangling it from my dashboard while I was still working on my carpeting so I’m thinking I may just have another bad beam selector. If that’s the case, could an open ground or improper vault, cause the beam selector to fail quickly and prematurely. I was also trying to figure out how to jump the wires in the harness behind the beam selector so that I could turn my headlamps on with a toggle switch that I wasn’t sure if that was possible because I couldn’t figure out the functionality of the beam selector if it is simply just to eliminate power to the high beam only, but the low beam runs constantly through it or separated from it or if the beam selector actually controls the low and high headlamps. One last question for the group, if I update my headlights to LED do I still use the same style high beam selector or does that get updated as well?
65 Galaxie 302
You replaced the floor mounted dimmer switch?
Where did you source it? The fault(s) could also be in the HDL SW and/or wiring harness(es)/bulb socket(s).
PREVIOUS THREAD - GOOD INFORMATION -
Where did you source it? The fault(s) could also be in the HDL SW and/or wiring harness(es)/bulb socket(s).
PREVIOUS THREAD - GOOD INFORMATION -
I don't think your problem is the floor switch.
Are you running stock headlights? If you have installed more powerful headlights that draw more current than stock it is possible that you are overloading the thermal circuit breaker integral with your headlight switch. What will happen is your lights may function fine on low beam, but when you turn on the high beams, the circuit overheats and trips the breaker. After a bit, the breaker cools and the lights come on again. The cycle will repeat unless you reduce the load by using low beams only.
If you are seeing this issue with stock headlights it is possible that the thermal circuit breaker has gone bad and you will have the same problem.
If you want to run brighter headlamps which draw more current the solution is to install headlight relays so you can take the load off of the stock switch.
Are you running stock headlights? If you have installed more powerful headlights that draw more current than stock it is possible that you are overloading the thermal circuit breaker integral with your headlight switch. What will happen is your lights may function fine on low beam, but when you turn on the high beams, the circuit overheats and trips the breaker. After a bit, the breaker cools and the lights come on again. The cycle will repeat unless you reduce the load by using low beams only.
If you are seeing this issue with stock headlights it is possible that the thermal circuit breaker has gone bad and you will have the same problem.
If you want to run brighter headlamps which draw more current the solution is to install headlight relays so you can take the load off of the stock switch.
This is a TSB issued for proper dimmer switch installation
TSB tidbit for flickering headlights.
Article 605 - Improper Installation of Dimmer Switch
TSB #30 – January 28, 1966
(All - 1966 Ford)
A flickering or inoperative headlamp condition can exist if the dimmer switch is installed upside down. Over a period of time, the pressure of the driver’s foot on the carpet over the harness or multiple connector can result in an intermittent or open circuit to the headlamps by pulling the connector off or away from the dimmer switch contacts.
To prevent this condition pull back the upper corner of the carpet and reinstall the dimmer switch so that the multiple connector is located on the top side, secured to the switch by the retainer plate. Refer to Fig. 35. Insure that the harness is properly routed through the existing clip, shown in Fig. 1, and along the cowl to place it out of reach of the driver’s foot.
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TSB tidbit for flickering headlights.
Article 605 - Improper Installation of Dimmer Switch
TSB #30 – January 28, 1966
(All - 1966 Ford)
A flickering or inoperative headlamp condition can exist if the dimmer switch is installed upside down. Over a period of time, the pressure of the driver’s foot on the carpet over the harness or multiple connector can result in an intermittent or open circuit to the headlamps by pulling the connector off or away from the dimmer switch contacts.
To prevent this condition pull back the upper corner of the carpet and reinstall the dimmer switch so that the multiple connector is located on the top side, secured to the switch by the retainer plate. Refer to Fig. 35. Insure that the harness is properly routed through the existing clip, shown in Fig. 1, and along the cowl to place it out of reach of the driver’s foot.
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