60 Coupe de Ville headlights

[I.V. Tom]

While driving, the headlights, taillights, and dash lights suddenly went out.  The body fuse is good.  The rear side courrtesy lights that operate by turning the light switch both work.  Any ideas other than defective headlight switch?  Is there another source of power to the headlight switch other than the power to turn on the courtesy lights?  I am putting off taking the dash apart looking for other solutions.  Thanks again for all help.
Tom

[The one that shall not be named]

If it helps I have changed the switch without removing the dash per the manual.  Kind of a pain and you have to do it blind but easier than removing the dash.

Stampie

[The one that shall not be named]

I told Tom how I did it in an email but here it is to help others that may need it.

With the drivers and passenger doors open I laid down in the floorboard with my feet out the passenger door.  That put my head right under the steering wheel.  I then snaked my left hand up under the dash and can push the spring button which is on the left side when looking as if sitting in the drivers seat.


Stampie

[Jan, CLC #17589]

Hi,
Do you have the original headlights, or have you "new" halogenlights? If you have halogen lights you have to put a relay in to avoid overheating of the fuse in the light switch.
I had the same problem on my 66 Eldorado.
Or it could be the switch as you suggested.
regards
Jan

[I.V. Tom]

Jan, stock headlights.  

[The Tassie Devil(le)]

G'day Tom,

The "Safety Circuit" for the Headlights is via an Internal Circuit Breaker within the Headlight Switch, and the Tail Lights and Dash Lights have their own fuses.

If the Headlights over-power the Circuit Breaker, the headlights will flash off and on, which is a safety measure so that one isn't thrust into total darkness when they fail due to shorting out.   Meaning that as the wiring gets hot, the Circuit Breaker heats up, opens the contacts, then close the contacts till they heat up again, and so on till you turn the switch off.   Unlike a Fuse where one is plunged into total darkness when it blows.

So, if they are all out, I would be looking for a lack of power to those areas, like a master wire, or even the wire coming off the Starter Motor to the Dashboard.

In your case, the problem has nothing to do with the Carburettor, in case John Washburn is seeing this.

Bruce.

[I.V. Tom]

Hi Bruce, I have encountered this wiring problem before, as related to the generator light, but if the headlight switch will turn on the inside dome lights, wouldn't this indicate it is getting power?

[I.V. Tom]

I tried to get my hand on the light switch, as suggested by Stampie, I did find the wires, and coupler, a little tugging on it, and I had lights.  Apparently corroded connectors.  Thanks to all.   Tom

[35-709]

Good that I.V. Tom found his problem.  Sometimes when the headlights fail it is due to a bad dimmer switch.\