Cutlass.Don

I drove my 68 Cutlass last night, headlights were on and all was right in the world. I parked it in my garage overnight and this morning I started it up and was going to drive it, however the headlights wouldn't come on.
I pulled the light switch in and out, it seems to work; parking lights on but no headlights. With the light switch on I pushed the high beam button, all 4 lights came on high, but only the parking lights on low beam position.
I suspected that maybe both low beams burned out, as both bulbs are old and were not previously used in years. I replace one bulb with new, but still same result.
I thought that there was a headlight relay, but could not find any in the wiring schematic, plus my wiring diagram is a copy and not everything is clear. I hope to get a chance to work on it again tomorrow, I intend to do some checking on the dimmer switch, but does anyone out there had a similar experience? Any suggestions?
Thanks in advance, you guys (and gals) have been a wealth of information.
Don

jaunty75

I think this is your problem. The wiring to the headlights goes from the dash switch through the hibeam switch on the floor to the headlights. Given that pressing that switch causes the headlights to come on at all makes it sound like you have problem with that switch. I bet that popping in a new one fixes it.

lshlsh2

X2 on dimmer switch

On mine it wouldn't work the low beams. I would turn them off press the dimmer a couple to 3 times and they would work. A quick easy fix.
Larry

Cutlass.Don

Great thanks. I'll try that and post the result, I hope to get to it tomorrow.

joe_padavano

As noted, it's the dimmer switch. There is no headlight relay on this car.

Cutlass.Don

It was the dimmer switch. I pulled it out and found no continuity to the low beam position. I put a jumper wire from the Blue (power) to Brown (low) wires and my headlights are on. This will work until I get a new dimmer switch.
Thanks to all.
Don

Lady72nRob71

It will work, but do not switch to high beams while the jumper wire is on there. If you do, all 6 filaments (4 high, 2 low) will be lit and the circuit breaker in the headlight switch will trip and reset, resulting in flashing headlights and a circuit overload in between trips.

Your local parts supplier may have the dimmer switch, if not try Rockauto.

Cutlass.Don

Thanks for the tip. I won't use the high beams until I replace the dimmer switch.