No Headlights

[mpace6a]

So for a while, my headlights would randomy shut themselves off. Simple turn the switch off and on and they would come back on. Then they shut off, wouldnt come back on with the switch, but did come on by themselves. Now, they won't come on at all. Still have markers, and turn signals, but no headlights. Any ideas on why? I don't believe the switch is bad since the markers still come on. No dash lights, theyve never worked, despite swapping switches and doing cruisers cluster ground upgrade. Any ideas?

[Pete M]

you could easily have a problem with the switch.  corrosion inside could be responsible for both the dash and the headlights. 

 

do the brights work?

[mpace6a]

No, no brights either. I originally thought it was the bright switch shorting out due to my column being extremely loose, tightened it up but no dice.

I'll invest In a new switch...maybe cruisers headlight harness too, while I'm at it

[HOrnbrod]

Check the headlamp switch connector for burned contacts - very common. Bad contacts cause voltage drop and heat, the circuit breaker trips, when cooled workee again.

[Minuit]

The stock headlight wiring is a serious fire hazard so you'd do well to upgrade the harness when you replace the switch :thumbsup:

 

[mpace6a]

Thanks for the info guys! Was planning on doing this yesterday, but it started snowing like crazy when I got off work! Supposed to get warm again, hopefully I can fix it and get my mj back on the road!

[mpace6a]

Switch has a burnt contact, melted the plug to. Do I have any options on the plug besides cutting one from a jy xj and wiring it in?

[HOrnbrod]

Do a search for AIRTEX Part # 1P1190. That's the headlight switch connector you need, but verify it first. RockAuto carries them among others.

[mpace6a]

Awesome thanks hornbrod!

[mpace6a]

Got my plug today. Do I need to cut the old one off and solder the new one under the dash, or is there another plug that I can undo to pull the switch harness out? Or at least give me some more room to work with?

[gogmorgo]

Things are a bit easier to get at if you pull the instrument cluster, but not by much. I'm looking at replacing the same connector, but haven't yet had time. My connector and switch actually caught fire, and the insulation on the wires is melted all the way back to the main dash loom, so I'm going to have to pull the dash off to replace them. I've got some insulated spade terminals crimped on for the time being, and while it was definitely awkward, I managed to do it through the instrument cluster's hole.

[mpace6a]

Well its finally above freezing here so I pulled the guage cluster off, pulled out the headlamp switch, and the old plug is 7 terminals, where the new one is 9, and on the old switch there is one terminal with no wire. I know 86 mjs are funky to begin with, and harnesses usually have extra wires and connectors, but could this also be why I have no interior lights whatsoever?

Old plug

New plug

 

I know I can mae it work, thats not hard. I'm mainly just curious about the unused terminal and the difference in plugs.

[gogmorgo]

Yeah, I was wondering that as well. Haven't gotten around to putting mine in yet though.

[mpace6a]

Hmm. Well I'm just going to remove the extra terminal on the side so that it will fit properly on the switch and wire it in like the old one. Hopefully my lack of interior lights was due to internal corrosion on the old switch.