91 Silvy Only has high beams

[big block 88]

I have been working on my 91 Silvy and just recently the lights have had an issue. I only have high beams now when I click over to low beams no head lights are on. Is this related to the dimmer switch as I have been told??? My cluster lights have been acting odd also somtimes not coming on right away but then finally flickering on and staying on.

Any help would be great, thanks fellas

Blake

 

[ak diesel driver]

headlight switch?

 

[Dieseldad97]

Could it be your multi-function switch Blake? Not sure what a '91 has, but my '97 has had trouble like this. Why not search it out and see if this makes sense.

 

[big block 88]

Multi function switch I would assume is the turn signal/wipers/flashers? I was told the dimmer switch is the culprit but I don't know wht they mean by dimmer switch. The dimmer for the panel lights doesn;t make sence to me... I was thinkin the turn signal lever also, but what about the headlight relay??? I am enemies with electrical crap so just tryin to get a good starting point.

 

[Dieseldad97]

Blake, what I've dealt with is my lights flickering and sometimes staying off when I bring my tilt wheel up or down. I found that the wires on the multi-function switch were broken and wouldn't always connect. There are a bunch of wires to this thing, lights being one of them. Like I said in my previous post, I'm not sure if your '91 has the same deal.

 

[88gmctruck]

Your 91 has a very simple headlight circuit.

Power runs from the battery to the dash switch, then to the low/hi dimmer, then to the lights. There are no relays, all the current runs through the switch and dimmer.

If your highs are working, that tells me the dash switch is working, so that means the low/high dimmer is bad. It is not contained at the multifunction switch itself. There is a rod connected to it that runs down the column, on the side of the column towards the firewall there is the low/high dimmer switch connected to the rod. That should be your problem.

 

[big block 88]

I think you may be correct I will be replaceing it as soon as I get my rear end finished and bleed the brakes

 

[iamdave0887]

If your headlight circuit is the same as the one in my 85 blazer then the dimmer switch is fried.

Mine cooked and was stuck on high beam only. It wouldn't click over to lows. The new switches are very cheap looking compared to the old ones. Do yourself a favor and wire in relays for the high beams. Since there are no relays there's ~15 amps running through that dimmer switch through wires that are way too small. I put relays on my high beams and they are easily twice as bright as they were before.