New to the board with a question.

Hey guys thanks for all the info! I was thinking it was the dimmer switch but it sound like from what you all are saying its the headlight switch it self. I have another used one I can try. In the mean time I will try to hunt down a new one. Thanks for the kind comments on the car as well. I have been working on her, she didnt look like that when I got it! Hmmm never thought of it looking Hurst like...Hurst Galaxie Hmmm.

Napa has the switch new. An el cheapo for $15.00 or a better quality Echlin switch for $31.00. I went with the better one in hopes of not having to screw around wiring in relays. So far so good. The only problem I had was when I opened up the box and took out the new switch it had this cute little sticker saying: "Made in Taiwan". I wonder where the cheap one was made,,,Iraq?

Originally Posted by skootztowing

Hey guys thanks for all the info! I was thinking it was the dimmer switch but it sound like from what you all are saying its the headlight switch it self. I have another used one I can try. In the mean time I will try to hunt down a new one. Thanks for the kind comments on the car as well. I have been working on her, she didnt look like that when I got it! Hmmm never thought of it looking Hurst like...Hurst Galaxie Hmmm.

You have got to get relays! 2 things, 20 minute job under the hood...if that. Plus, after the relay install, your lights will be brighter, period.

I had the same thing happen to my 65...halogen bulbs...got hot and flashed. Relays in ... no more problems. You can get them from Mark Reynolds at the Galaxie Club. Well worth it...especially this time of year when the sun is down a 5p...

Forget the switch...it is a temp fix and will go bad because of the current being drawn... and you never know when that will happen, usually at a very bad moment in time.

The thing is I dont have halogen lights in it! Still has old ones in it.

Originally Posted by skootztowing

The thing is I dont have halogen lights in it! Still has old ones in it.

Could it be that the switch is shot????

That is what I am changing first and go from there. I wish I could replicate the problem in my garage but lights never seem to go off untill I am driving. I just had them on for 20 mins or so and felt the switch and it is definatly warm.

Halogens are hard on the switch no doubt. All I'm saying is a new switch will run a long time without problems. My 73 Ranchero did not come with halogens. I got the car in 1989 put in halogens in about 1994. In 1995 the switch went out, probably due to old age and the added load of the halogens. I put in a new switch in 1995 and it's been fine ever since. That's 12 years and about 75,000 miles later. As I stated I put in a new switch in my 66 a month ago (halogen equipped) and all is well. If I start having problems I also will add the relay, but I don't think it will happen. Even if you do the relays the switch should be changed anyway. I would not mess with the used one you have because a new one is cheap and readily available. BTW. Changing the switch is about a 3 minute job.