Headlight Help Needed - Only high beams work

[JohnnyBighead]

I am sure this has been discussed on here, but I couldn't find anything.

My 1973 40 is on the road and running great, but I am having a little headlight problem.

The high beams work great, but when I switch to regular beam I get nothing. As in, the headlights shut off completely. Something is happening when I activate the switch, but the regular beams are not working.

What should I look at first?

Thanks for the help!

 

[Living in the Past]

Since neither light works I would look at the switch first.

 

[ferg]

On my '66 there were terminal boards(wire distribution) on each fender under the headlights. They get corroded and conduct poorly. If yours has these check and see if they need some cleaning and upkeep. Is there a separate fuse for your low beams?

 

[JohnnyBighead]

I will check out. Not sure right now.

 

[Ming89FJ62]

Since neither light works I would look at the switch first.

bet the switch is the problem

 

[Living in the Past]

Is there a separate fuse for your low beams?

No separate fuse. Power goes to the high/low beam switch when the head light switch is pulled out all the way. The high/low beam is just a two way switch feeding either high or low beams. Starting with the 73 model it was no longer a separate switch you stepped on with your foot but part of the turn signal switch on the steering column.

 

[Coolerman]

Don't rule out two head lights with blown low beams. The floor mount switches are know to go bad after years of use, but it's rare for the column mounted switches to become defective.
Start by testing the bulbs. Just jumper a hot wire from the battery +, to the Red/Green wire on the back of the head light socket. If it lights, low beam is good.

Then move to the connector plugs under the dash connecting to the column. Unplug them, plug them back in, and try it again.

Last would be to start taking the column apart to test the switch.

 

[JohnnyBighead]

Don't rule out two head lights with blown low beams. The floor mount switches are know to go bad after years of use, but it's rare for the column mounted switches to become defective.
Start by testing the bulbs. Just jumper a hot wire from the battery +, to the Red/Green wire on the back of the head light socket. If it lights, low beam is good.

Then move to the connector plugs under the dash connecting to the column. Unplug them, plug them back in, and try it again.

Last would be to start taking the column apart to test the switch.

Perfect. I will try this out.

 

[Cruiser Parking Only]

That same thing happened on my 1972. It was the switch. Clean the terminals and replace the switch. You should be good.