Help with 85 Elky headlights

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Brownianl

Apprentice
Oct 1, 2012
64
-1
0
East Texas
Ok.... Front and rear parklights work but none of the four headlights work. I checked the fuses, none blown, checked the sealed headlights and they are fine, changed the light switch in the dash, used a voltage tester on the wiring at the headlight connection and I have power at the lights, Still no headlights. Any ideas???
 

pontiacgp

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Mar 31, 2006
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Kitchener, Ontario
the ground for the headlights must be open

Headlights.jpg
 

Brownianl

Apprentice
Oct 1, 2012
64
-1
0
East Texas
Thanks for the schematic GP. I found where the ground wires on each side come out of the light harness and attach to the radiator support, they appeared to be solidly connected but I unscrewed them and put them back in and screwed them in tightly, still nothing. Any thoughts?
 

pontiacgp

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Mar 31, 2006
29,270
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Kitchener, Ontario
the headlites are good, there is power at the lites and the lites are grounded but they don't work? Did you test the lite socket from the back side or did you pull it off from the lite to test the power and the ground?
 

Brownianl

Apprentice
Oct 1, 2012
64
-1
0
East Texas
I pulled the connector off the light and stuck the ground clip of the tester into the side of the connector the black wire goes into and the point of the voltage tester into the green wire side and the light comes on in the tester. This has me stumped!
 

pontiacgp

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Mar 31, 2006
29,270
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113
Kitchener, Ontario
I would unplug the left to see if the right works if not then unplug the right and try the left side to see if one of the lights is shorting...if neither of the lites work then I would try different lites
 

Brownianl

Apprentice
Oct 1, 2012
64
-1
0
East Texas
Thanks for sticking with me on this one GP. Tried unplugging a side at a time and no luck there either. I also just replaced all 4 headlights today as well so I don't think it's the lights. I guess I'm headed to the Chevy "stealership" in the morning. Man, I hate that!
 

pontiacgp

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Mar 31, 2006
29,270
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Kitchener, Ontario
are you sure have 12 volts at the lites? I would replace the ground wires. A weak ground will still lite up a test lite but put a heavy load on it the ground will fail
 

Brownianl

Apprentice
Oct 1, 2012
64
-1
0
East Texas
Not sure if I've got 12 at the lights. Replace ground wires? From lights to firewall?
 

pontiacgp

blank
Mar 31, 2006
29,270
20,391
113
Kitchener, Ontario
The lites aren't grounded to the firewall. You can ground them to any metal area near the lites, that is as long as the body is properly grounded. These cars are known for their poor grounds
 
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