'82 elco - Flickering Headlights

[all4gss]

The random flickering of lights might be cool for christmas lights but not when you're driving down the highway!!!

The only lights that flicker are the headlights. The interior lights/radio/etc. are not impacted by this short.

The headlights are fine until I flick on the hi-beams. Then all four flicker randomly off and on. It happens when the car is running and when it is not running. When it's not running it sounds like I hear a relay or something making a 'ping' or 'click' under the dash somewhere.

anyone have experience with the same issue? How did you resolve it?

I don't want to just throw a bunch of replacement parts at it.

Thanks in advance,

Keith

 

[pontiacgp]

you can either change the light switch, it has a thermal relay which is tripping with the high beams or use a relay for the high beams. I had that problem when I used a conversion beam with halogen bulbs and put relays in the wires for the headlites

 

[80ELCAMINOFLAKE]

Mine are doing the same thing, i have changed all light terminals....i need to see if theres a short somewhere...

 

[v2vera]

Do you have a system or anything drawing high amps? Could it be alt is been overloaded? just a guess

 

[80ELCAMINOFLAKE]

Do you have a system or anything drawing high amps? Could it be alt is been overloaded? just a guess

That could be it....maybe i need to up my AMP...take it to alt shop and have them increase my ampage...???

 

[all4gss]

pontiacgp,

where did you mount the relay for the headlights? Did you need more than one relay?

 

[pontiacgp]

I just wired the relay into the wires for the headlights at the top of the wheelwell and secured it to the wheelwell. I installed two relays, one for the high beams and one for the low

 

[all4gss]

Resolved by replacing the switch last night. It was $15 and easy to change. It had been changed once before. If this one shorts out ill go the relay route. Thanks All!

 

[80ELCAMINOFLAKE]

Resolved by replacing the switch last night. It was $15 and easy to change. It had been changed once before. If this one shorts out ill go the relay route. Thanks All!

Pic of the switch??? Im still having the problem...is it the switch that turns on the headlights??

 

[all4gss]

My 82 has a knob on the dash that you pull out to turn on the parking lights and the headlights. To replace you remove the knob to access the retaining nut. I used a pair of opened needle nose pliers and carefully turned counter clockwise to unscrew the retainer. The stem of the switch knob passes through the middle if the retainer.
Removing the knob takes a little patience. There is a button on the bottom of the switch that has a small spring under it. Pushing that button in will release the knob so you can pull it out but it has to be in the right spot. I just kept light pressure on the button and slid the knob in and out until it released. You don't have to pull hard on the knob once the button releases.
I will work on some pictures if you need them. Once you buy the replacement switch and look it over my description will make more since.

Hope that helps