88 caprice headlight switch

[wheeloftime]

I am having a severe blonde moment here. I am trying to see if my headlight switch is bad.

The issue i am having is i have no running lights. I have brake lights, turn signal and emergancy flashers. But no running lights. I checked all the light bulbs they are good, fuses are good. front side lights (marker lights) are working.

I have read some other posts with similar problems and think the problem is in the switch.

Now the problem is i cant reach under the dash board to get to it. my haynes repair manual is real sketchy on the removal of the switch. i have loosened every dash bolt and screw on the driver side of the dash but still isnt pulling far enough out to get to it.

Is there anything else it could be? And how on earth am i supposed to get to the switch? do i need to take the entire dash board out?


thanks

[silicon212]

By "running light", could you explain? The headlights themselves?

Does your car have the Headlight Sentry (automatic headlights)?

The headlight switch is removable from behind the dash. You do not need to loosen any dash screw. The cover plate under the steering column needs to come off, as will the hose that connects that vent with the A/C system. There are two 7mm screws - one above and one below the switch itself - that need to come off. I've found that with my own car, having some sort of contortionist ability is not a bad thing - but if you have patience and the right tools, it will come out relatively easily. The Haynes manual does not detail this at all.

[speeddevil]

i totally agree with silicon, i as well was having the same problem i did indeed try to do it as silicon explains, but since i have all these wires from the alarm, cut off switch, door poppers and remote start it was easier to basically lean the whole dash over to get to the switch. but i do insists you go ahead and try the first option

[wheeloftime]

yes i have no parking light (running lights) and out of the 4 side marker lights , only the front two are working.. i think i know what brace you are talking about. is it located right above the ac hose?

[silicon212]

Before you subject yourself to the mild pain of replacing the switch, have you tried replacing the light bulbs for the front lights? Do the taillights come on?

Methinks you just have burned out bulbs.

[wheeloftime]

all of the lights in the front of the car are working. when the lights are turned on there are no tail lights and no rear side markers.

Brake lights, head lights, turn signals (front and back), and front marker lights work fine.

[speeddevil]

definately check the bulbs

[silicon212]

If the taillights and front lights do not come on, that is an indication of switch failure.

[randy78]

no headlights can also be bad dimmer switch in which is moderately common to fail


but no side lamps would most likely be a fuse, although i would think they would be on the same fuse as the front parking lamps

im not positive on that though

hmmm


good luck

[wheeloftime]

changed the headlight switch checked fuses. headlights turn signal and brake lights still work.

But the running lights (Parking lights) still arent working.

does anyone have a good set of wiring diagrams for the 88 caprice? or know where i can get one? this didnt happen till a trailer was hooked up to the car and the lights were hooked up to the car. the wires were already attatched to the harness so i dont know who hooked it up origionally. the trailer lights work but once again no running lights. brake lights and turn signal work.

[463]

in your trunk on the left side under the carpet apx 2/3 of way back there is a main wire conection tha you should check real close as the power may not be getting through that point. use a test light on the brown wire (thats the running light circuit)when the park lights are on. also it would be a good idea to look over the trailer wiring real close as you never know how good the last job was. 463

[463]

heres the photo of the 4 pole flat wire in the trunk. this wire filps out for the trailor and the trunk shuts with the connection out for the trailer. this way i have a new clean connection each time i tow.

[463]

here is a shot of the car wire connection in the trunk with the carpet puled back.

[silicon212]

That last part is the harness ground. Make certain it is attached well.

Have you checked the fuse lately? Do the dash lights come on?

[wheeloftime]

yes the dash lights are working. i appreciate the info. while my son and i were testing the light switch. Ohm meter. we started testing the wires in back. but i have a old repair manual and it well it sucks. it just a general repair manual and the details aren't good at all. You just confirmed what i figured my next step to be. an idiot light and trace it back.great info so far guys. oh and gals if that is appropriate. thanks