No Headlights!

[BigDaddy1]

Hi. Just bought a 1984 Chevrolet Blue Bird a couple weeks ago and the headlights will not come on. When I pull the switch part way the park lights come on but when I pull the rest of the way the headlights don't come on. I have checked fuses and they seem to be OK.

Any advice will be greatly appreciated!!

[Tango]

Sounds like just a funky switch to me (?).

[BigDaddy1]

Thanks, i was thinking the same thing becuase when i pull the switch all the way there is no power at the head lights. All other lights are working, we are new at this so any information is greatly appreciated.

[Johnny Mullet]

Sometimes on a dark night you can go out an fiddle with the headlight switch in the full on position and if you see the headlights flicker or try to come on, then you nailed the diagnosis.

[PNW_Steve]

I had my headlights go dark on a mountain road late one night. Sudden darkness on a windy mountain road....

To resolve the issue I had to replace the headlight dimmer switch and my boxer shorts......

[BlackJohn]

Originally Posted by BigDaddy1

Hi. Just bought a 1984 Chevrolet Blue Bird a couple weeks ago and the headlights will not come on. When I pull the switch part way the park lights come on but when I pull the rest of the way the headlights don't come on. I have checked fuses and they seem to be OK.

Any advice will be greatly appreciated!!

So, is bus gas or diesel? Front engine? Do you have a multimeter or test light?
Just because they work off the same switch is deceiving. The headlights have a separate power source than the parks, inst panel etc.

Thus separate fuses but the headlights have a built in circuit breaker in that part of the switch. I have that wire on my sticks and staples coming off the pos starter terminal all the way up to the headlight switch. It's an 85 GMC gasser so is probably similar to your setup.
Check wiring at headlight sockets and the associated ground wires. Likely rusted up bad.


Good luck and welcome too by the way,


John

[BigDaddy1]

Thanks for all the input guys. I will be getting the new switch and dimmer switch tomorrow and try that. Will update as soon as I am able. Hopefully this will fix the issue.

[Mekanic]

Originally Posted by PNW_Steve

I had my headlights go dark on a mountain road late one night. Sudden darkness on a windy mountain road....

To resolve the issue I had to replace the headlight dimmer switch and my boxer shorts......

That happened on my ford a few years ago.
I was on I-40 at 9pm in NM. and went to turn high beams at 65MPH and the lights went out. QUITE SCARY Hit switch again and low beam came back on.
Parked in the next town for night I could buy new switch.

[PNW_Steve]

Originally Posted by Mekanic

That happened on my ford a few years ago.
I was on I-40 at 9pm in NM. and went to turn high beams at 65MPH and the lights went out. QUITE SCARY Hit switch again and low beam came back on.
Parked in the next town for night I could buy new switch.

When I lost mine, we did the last 13 miles with my wife shining a flashlight out of the window......

[Sleddgracer]

many years ago I was driving fast ( too fast ) and an approaching car wouldn't dim his(?) headlights - at that time the dimmer switches were on the floor - I stepped on the dimmer switch, but it stuck, so I stomped on it hard trying to get it to click - I didn't realise that the floor had rusted around the dimmer switch in my old car - my heavy footed stomp pushed the dimmer switch right through the floor and my lights went out - I went from glaring bright headlights shining in my eyes, to total darkness in an instant and I could see nothing on the unlit highway - by the time I was able to stop, I wound up on a one lane driveway headed to a local farm - the road I was traveling on had a sharp right angled turn that came up when I was blinded -if the driveway hadn't been there in 1957, it's unlikely I'd still be here in 2019 - lol

[Mekanic]

I loved the fact that my switch was floor mounted.

[Sleddgracer]

Originally Posted by Mekanic

I loved the fact that my switch was floor mounted.

I still think the floor mounted dimmer switch was the better way to go

[MarkyDee]

My bus not only has the hi-beam switch on the floor, it also has the left and right blinker switches on the floor.


At first that was a real head-scratcher. After having driven it a few times, I really like it.

[PNW_Steve]

I agree....

I much prefer the floor mounted dimmer and turn signal switches. Been a few weeks since I drove something with foot operated turn signals.. IIRC: it was a 1966 GMC...

[EastCoastCB]

My Thomas has a floor mounted tilt steering button. Its an overly complicated air adjusted steering tilt feature. Hold down the button with your foot and put the wheel where you like it.

[ermracing]

Not bus related, but our ex-1969 Opel GT had foot operated windshield washer/wiper pedal. Then of course, our 1924 Studebaker has a floor mounted push button starter switch.

[Sleddgracer]

I think it was Packard in the late 40's that you pressed the gas pedal to the floor to activate the starter

[cadillackid]

the floor mounted signals were interesting.. first time I learned of those was a few weeks ago driving a Fishbowl... you hold your foot down on the blonker as long as you need it then release your foot and the blinker stops.... good thing that bus is automatic..
-Christopher

[MarkyDee]

Originally Posted by cadillackid

the floor mounted signals were interesting.. first time I learned of those was a few weeks ago driving a Fishbowl... you hold your foot down on the blonker as long as you need it then release your foot and the blinker stops.... good thing that bus is automatic..
-Christopher

Yes, I am glad that mine is automatic, too. Since I drive a standard every day to/from work, having my left foot do something isn't too hard a stretch. Having it do what my left hand was doing was hard. That's why I called it a head-scratcher - I had to scratch my head with my left hand to get my left foot to work....


Glad there wasn't any other seats in the bus at the time I was learning that, otherwise my passengers would have enjoyed the show....

[Sleddgracer]

Originally Posted by MarkyDee

Yes, I am glad that mine is automatic, too. Since I drive a standard every day to/from work, having my left foot do something isn't too hard a stretch. Having it do what my left hand was doing was hard. That's why I called it a head-scratcher - I had to scratch my head with my left hand to get my left foot to work....


Glad there wasn't any other seats in the bus at the time I was learning that, otherwise my passengers would have enjoyed the show....

when I'm not learning something on this site, at least I'm entertained