Headlights not working

[kelbizzle]

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!

[silicon212]

Originally Posted by kelbizzle

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.

[kelbizzle]

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.

[kelbizzle]

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.

[silicon212]

Originally Posted by kelbizzle

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.

[kelbizzle]

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?

[silicon212]

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.

[kelbizzle]

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

[silicon212]

Originally Posted by kelbizzle

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.

[kelbizzle]

Oh that dimmer switch... 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.