1949 Custom 8 headlight

Posted by prentice672 On 2018/12/2 17:11:15

The headlights on my Custom 8 will sometimes turn off spontaneously. I've brought this up on this forum previously and others have suggested I look for shorts, which I've done and I can't seem to find any evidence of that. Besides turning off spontaneously, there are times I can't get them to turn on at all and I have to cycle the switch many times to get the lights on. I noticed that in some Tech Bulletins (see 47T-36 for example) they talk about an accessory circuit breaker and a separate headlight breaker. And indeed it looks like there is some kind of breaker or relay type thingy near the headlight switch although this is not indicated on any of the circuit diagrams from the 48-49 years. The accessory breaker is shown on the 22nd Series diagrams and I see that just above the clock. I notice that this breaker is missing on the 23rd series. Tech Bulletin 47T-36 says the headlight switch should go through the accessory breaker and not the switch breaker and it looks like that's how it is on my car as I do see a wire that goes to the accessory breaker and comes from the general direction of the headlight switch but I can't be certain. Anyway, does anybody have any insight into this? Thanks.

Ron