Alternator vs. headlights?

Got everything running on my new alternator generator swap, and driving home the other night, the headlights(both) went out, and also my speedometer light.

I checked the wiring to my headlight switch, and also checked all of the fuses that I could locate. The 4 fuses that I found are all inline, and 1 was blown. I didi hardwire the 1 wire, hoping tha it was that simple, but it did not help.

WHat are the chances that I blew all the bulbs at once?

Did the new alternator blow the switch, and more?

Has anyone seen this before?

The wiring for the lights seems pretty simple, can I hardwire something to get me driving again?

My volt meter just broke also, so I can't give readings, but the alternator and battary were just tested and were operating correctly. I explained all of the wiring on a previous post, and everything seemed verified.

I have not hade time to go through the wiring thouroughly yet, but will do so.

Help with any ideas?

Ben

 

I can only sugest to cheq the headlight wires with a voltmeter when the engine is running, sorry not something else in comming up. My own experience is that is mostly is something completely different of what it looks like. Maybe the headlight switsch it self gave up

Greetings from cold Holland(europe)

 

Most newer vehicles have a circuit breaker wired in the headlight circuit instead of fuses. Get another voltmeter(beg, borrow, steal) and check the wiring out for shorts, etc. I would go straight for the switch first see if your getting power there first. Let us know what you find.

 

You will probably find the circuit breaker on the back of the light switch:

http://www.earlycj5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=40064&highlight=headlight+switch+diagram

It's possible for the circuit breaker to just fail, but you should assume there is a short somewhere and the circuit breaker is just doing what it's supposed to do -- preventing your JEEP from burning to the ground.

As an experiment, you can try bridging the circuit breaker, but don't try running this way. If the lights work when you bridge the circuit breaker, it probably needs to be replaced.

 

Also check the dimmer switch. Might have aloose wite on it.
Andrew

 

You will have a battery hot wire going to the circuit breaker which is mounted onto the light switch. when you pull on the switch it sends power down to the dimmer switch. That switches from hi to low. A cheap test light will help you trace the power.

 

Allright I found it...It was the switch to the headlights. I had looked at it, and was totally puzzled, but couldn't see that one of the terminals had actually broken off of the back of the switch. I was having a pretty stupid moment. Wired the two wires together, and the lights came on. I can't really tell if the switch is just faulty, or if it got hot and broke. I hope that I am not overcharging the whole system. I am trying to solder my voltage meter now, to try and check to see what is happening.


I love my jeep...I love my jeep...
I love my jeep...I love my jeep...
I love my jeep...I love my jeep...
I love my jeep...I love my jeep...
I love my jeep...I love my jeep...

 

I did the same up grade but I put a relay from Dick Ceepeck as I used H-4 headlights Now the switch just activates the relay for full voltage to the lights.AS I was told the wiring was to small to handle the extra amps.