Re: headlights go off spontaneously

Posted by HH56 On 2017/11/23 23:27:46

If it still has the original harness that old rubber and fabric covered wire is famous for the rubber drying and cracking. Flexing can cause a chunk to break off which is obvious if the wire is exposed. Unfortunately it can even happen and be hidden under the woven outer braid. If the harness is moved and bent hard enough, with no where to go the rubber can break into tiny pieces inside the loom and short to an adjacent wire if that wire is also damaged,

If it only happens when the headlights are on you can rule out parking light wires since those are not on with headlights. The trunk around the tail lights and sockets is a good place to look and another place is on instrument light sockets. The old insulation in addition to drying and flaking off can shrink back at the ends. If there is enough vibration it could allow the conductor to short where the wire enters the center hole in the socket shell.