Headlight switch

duncan
duncan Expert Adviser
edited July 2012 in HUDSON
I hooked up the power wire from solonoid to voltage regulator.to power the whole car 54 Hornet.
When I turned on the headlight switch the only bulb that I had installed came on high beam light
but i heard a clicking noise and the high beam light went from bright to dim then waited a few seconds and back bright again. It has original wireing in the car. I replaced all I could that looked bad. Could the headlight switch be bad by it self or do I have a major short. Any sugestions. I wanted to put new harness but 1200.00 is to much for me. Yea then no worry to burn car up. Can you help. Hudsonly Ray

Comments

  • Geoff
    Geoff Senior Contributor
    You have a major short in the headlight circuit, and the circuit is switching in and out. check for frayed insulation where the wires are in close contact with the frame somewhere.
  • Geoff
    Geoff Senior Contributor
    Sorry, that should have read "circuit breaker switching in and out" This is located on the brace in front and under the dash.
  • nick s
    nick s Senior Contributor
    This is located on the brace in front and under the dash.
    I think Geoff is descibing the main circuit breaker that powers most things other than the lights. The lights have their own, located on the switch itself. This would get its power from the battery side of the main circuit breaker not the load side. when looking for the short, dont forget about the grille center.
    note wether the problem is in both parking light and headlight, if not it would be an issue in the headlights, if only in parking lights it would be the front parking lights or the light at the ignition, if both it could be any of the other lights.
  • bob ward
    bob ward Senior Contributor
    Its also a good idea to run your headlights via a relay, which greatly reduces the amount of current flowing through your 60 year old headlight switch. There was actually a service note to this effect issued by Hudson way back in the early 70's.
  • duncan
    duncan Expert Adviser
    Thankyou for everybodys help. The worst part is I have no headlights or taillights hooked up. the only bulb is the highbeam bulb and ignition switch courtisy bulb. I just turn on the headlight switch and the breaker starts to snap. When it is snapping i remove groung xtrap and replace and a lot of spark. Ray
  • duncan
    duncan Expert Adviser
    When I pulled the main wireing harness that goes thriugh the firewall outa little it stopped clicking when pushed back in it started to c lick again. ONE step closer to the ghost electricion. Anybody that has a spare new harness at a reasonable price I would be interested. 54 Hornet Hollywood with P/B.
  • duncan
    duncan Expert Adviser
    I found the problem. The small wireing harness that goes to the saftey, backup light switch a wire that goes from switch to 3 wires that are hooked together for backup lites came unplugged .It was touching power brake booster now and then. Thanks for all the help. Ray
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