1983 Caprice wagon -- How should the headlights illuminate in low and high beams? The reason I ask is because in the low beam setting, my outer lights are bright, but then the inners are also faintly lit. When I flip on the high beams, the inners then light up brightly and the outers are faintly lit. Is that correct? Seems to me that on low beams, the inners should get no power and then on high beams, all four should light up. Is this maybe the result of a worn light switch? Or is it the dimmer switch (I assume in the steering column)? This is low beams: And this is high beams:
The high beams should be completely out when the low beams are on. The high beams and low lights should both be on when the high beams are on. That they're dim like this says to me there's either something wrong with the headlight switch or the grounding scheme at the core support for the headlights and they're backfeeding through each other.
The switch is attached to the column, next to the ignition electrical switch, on the left side. Yes, you will have to lower the column to access it, but once down, it's easy to get to and can be swapped in a few minutes. Go ahead and check/clean those grounds also. I'd do both, just to make sure.
Just a quick update. My wagon is in the shop for some much needed repairs (can't even get it registered in PA) and headlights is on that list. The shop said the wiring was completely bastardized -- someone previously had tried some MacGyver-style repairs. They've got it working properly finally. Glad I didn't try tackling this one myself. I hate electrical troubleshooting.
Good to hear that you see your limitations, and sought professional help with it. And it's good to hear that everything is finally working. You'll get it through inspection. When I was a baby, Dad was stationed at SPCC Mechanicsburg. We had our '66 Bug, and a '56 Ford Country Sedan. If it had passed inspection in late '67, we would've had it with us when Dad went to Vietnam in early '68. But it failed because the inspector stated it had too many rust holes in the rockers and floorpan. So, before we moved, he gave the wagon to a neighbor's teen son, for use in his agri-mech studies. Oh, well.
