Re: '53 Clipper headlight problem

Posted by HH56 On 2014/7/18 21:34:48

It sounds as if the self resetting circuit breaker is cycling and causing the on off. The breaker is located at the end of the headlight switch. The cycling could be due to a short in the wiring or the breaker itself losing capacity. The circuit breaker protects the headlights, park lights, tail lights, license light, and dash lights.

I would check the wiring to the headlights -- particularly where the rubber cable enters the small hole in fenders and then check the trunk for something that has shorted one of the tail lamp wires. A couple of the usual places in the trunk are near the lights themselves where something might have crushed the wire as it enters the socket, and in the trough at the extreme rear just below the lid where the loom crosses to the right side. There is also a grommet in the trough bottom where wiring exits to the license lamp that could be missing. The dash lights have a habit of the wire insulation shrinking, cracking or breaking off letting the bare wire touch the shell hole where it enters for the bulb contact. If it only happens in the headlight position, then parking lights should be off in that position and not the cause.

Brake lights and turn signals come off a different breaker.