Headlights not working

Okay before anyone flames me I know the issue is all my fault.

Yesterday I had to jump start the car. It had been sitting for a long time. I didn't connect the negative clamp onto a body ground instead connected to the battery(my head wasn't clear, and I was soo angry at the whole situation anyway) Regardless of my stupid mistake the car started fine and the lights worked.
After a 25 minute ride home and a trip to the gas station the lights are still working. However after leaving the gas station I get 2 miles down the road. And I hear an electrical shock kind of sound near the Headlight switch. I saw tiny sparks like static around the switch also. At the same time the instrument panel lights went out at the same time. So now I have no headlights, and when I turn the switch on I still hear that electrical kinda noise right near the switch but get no headlights. Even when the cars turned off. Could anyone give me any troubleshooting suggestions that I could at least try during the daytime to find the problem. I have tried removing all of the fuses from the driver side panel but the noise doesn't stop. I can't find the fuses underneath the hood :-( and I even have the repair manual.


Thanks in advance!

Okay before anyone flames me I know the issue is all my fault.

Yesterday I had to jump start the car. It had been sitting for a long time. I didn't connect the negative clamp onto a body ground instead connected to the battery(my head wasn't clear, and I was soo angry at the whole situation anyway) Regardless of my stupid mistake the car started fine and the lights worked.
After a 25 minute ride home and a trip to the gas station the lights are still working. However after leaving the gas station I get 2 miles down the road. And I hear an electrical shock kind of sound near the Headlight switch. I saw tiny sparks like static around the switch also. At the same time the instrument panel lights went out at the same time. So now I have no headlights, and when I turn the switch on I still hear that electrical kinda noise right near the switch but get no headlights. Even when the cars turned off. Could anyone give me any troubleshooting suggestions that I could at least try during the daytime to find the problem. I have tried removing all of the fuses from the driver side panel but the noise doesn't stop. I can't find the fuses underneath the hood :-( and I even have the repair manual.


Thanks in advance!

Time for a new switch. Don't worry about it - in the last 5 years, I've replaced 3 on my '88 (one was OEM, two were junk Autozone ones to begin with - avoid Wells products under all temptations).

Inasmuch as the negative straight to battery deal - the reason that's done is to prevent a spark near a ventilating battery that might cause an explosion. Electrically, the ground doesn't care where it is as long as it has a solid connection somewhere to the ground post on the battery.

Thanks I'm Going to go get one now and get this taken care of. I'll be back if it does work :-D thanks again.

Alright so before I leave to goto the part store. I'm just thinking hey I wonder if it works. So I flick the switch...of course...I don't hear the electrical sound anymore and the lights work. I still got the switch though it's coming in tomorrow. I hate weird problems like these.

Alright so before I leave to goto the part store. I'm just thinking hey I wonder if it works. So I flick the switch...of course...I don't hear the electrical sound anymore and the lights work. I still got the switch though it's coming in tomorrow. I hate weird problems like these.

If you're having arcing and such, there's a problem! The original one on mine just failed - one night I went to turn the lights on and nothing. The second one (the first Wells one) burned with arcing and smoke. It wasn't instant - it arced and smoked intermittently for three nights before smoking out.

Get it fixed though, I had a fire extinguisher in the car and you might not.

I am getting an arc and such when I turn on the headlights only. The parking lamps work fine. Lol I didn't know how to explain it. Could it be the wiring to the switch or something? This is gonna be expensive isn't it?

To clarify something (I missed earlier) - the problem is not likely the headlight switch, but rather the dimmer switch on the steering column above the ignition switch.

I don't have a dimmer switch. I'm sorry I should have said earlier. I have the 91 caprice.

I don't have a dimmer switch. I'm sorry I should have said earlier. I have the 91 caprice.

You have a dimmer switch. It's the same one that is used on my car.

The dimmer switch controls the high and low beam - it's not the same as what dims your dash lights. When the dimmer switch fails, the result is no headlights. It is operated by pulling the turn signal/wiper handle toward you.

Oh that dimmer switch...:banghead: Man I feel like an @ss I walked out to my car twice to look for it . so I need to replace the dimmer switch? I should be able to do that. I was thinking the instrument panel dimmer switch.