No headlights

Lee ODell

I was checking to see if the voltage would droped when I turned on the head lights. A few minutes later after turning off the switch I turned on the light switch again and the headlights didn't come on this time, but the tail lights were working. It just didn't make any since for both headlighs to burn out at the same time. After looking over the wireing diagram I figured it had to be the dimmer switch. Aparantly I had rested my foot on the dimmer switch and it was stuck between hi and low beam and not making contact with either circuit. When I stepped on the dimmer switch the hi and low beams worked ok. I had noticed in the past while driving at night that when I would switch between hi and low beam there would be a moment when there would be no headlights as the switch switched between the two circuits. I know now not to rest my foot on the switch. It had me puzzled there for awhile until I figured it out. Just a little frustration to make life interesting.

Lee O'Dell

Marconi

Replace the switch Lee, it's getting ready to take a dump anyway.

Lee ODell

Replacing the switch is already on my todo list. I should have mentioned that. Thanks anyway Marconi. That is a good suggestion for anyone with the same problem.

Lee O'Dell

Hudson Grandpa

Quick story:

51 Hornet Cpe driving from Texas to wisconsin in 1955 with wife & baby in the back seat doing 65 MPH going through Iowa. Corn as far you can see, only this time time was around 2 AM, pitch black.
Doing about 65 mph, hit the dimmer switch, then nothing but blackness.
First problem was to keep the car as straight as possible, and them slow it down as soon as possible, whilst shaking inmy boots. After getting it stopped and trying to figure out something, I hit the dimmer switch again about 3-4 times, and finally lights came back on.
Got dimmers switch replaced...

Dave

[Deleted User]

I tend to drive my Hudsons day and night. Have learned to carry a small jumper wire in the glove box. If you loose your headlights and the parking lights will still work . Go to the drivers side of the radiator and find the terminal strip for the lights. Either jump from parking lights over to low beams. Or even just go to battery. It will get you home,
Roger

Lee ODell

Tallent R wrote:

I tend to drive my Hudsons day and night. Have learned to carry a small jumper wire in the glove box. If you loose your headlights and the parking lights will still work . Go to the drivers side of the radiator and find the terminal strip for the lights. Either jump from parking lights over to low beams. Or even just go to battery. It will get you home,
Roger

Good tip Roger. You deserve some Karma for that.
Lee O'Dell

Browniepetersen

Driving back to northern Utah from Laughlin one year I lost all my lights in Las Vegas. We drove on to St. George in the dark, I was between two Hudsons. Drove home the next day and started ripping the electrical system apart. I found that in the 52"s there was a relay under the dash above the spedo. All worked after replacing the relay. One fightening ride however....

RonS

BP, are you refering to the AUX circuit breaker(30amp)? There is one,as you know, behind the headlight switch also(25amp).

Jon B

I've noticed this same phenomenon (lights go out temporarily when you hit the dimmer) but my dimmer is a rather recent NOS replacement. Chances are I'd have the same problem with another NOS dimmer that's been sitting (and corroding) on the shelf for 50 years. Has anyone every taken one of these things apart and overhauled them? (I'd think a bit of oil in the moving parts and sanding of the contacts, would help.)