headlights not working on VH Commodore

[Douf]

Hi all..
Not really familiar with Holden's but I've recently inherited my grandfathers 1982 VH Commodore and I've been having troubles with the headlights not working.

I can get the parker lights to work, the high beams also work but I cannot get either of the low beam lights working. I have checked the bulbs when high beam is on and only the inner filament lights up, I was reading elsewhere that both the inner and outter filaments should light on high beam and only the outer filament when on low beam, is this correct?
I have also checked the fuse box below the steering column, all fuses appear fine. Removed lighting switch and checked/cleaned wired connections.
Are there other points in the circuit that I am overlooking, something in the engine bay perhaps?
I have not yet tried using the multimeter to find the fault.. figured I'd see if there's a common problem that I don't know about first.

Any thoughts would be much appreciated.

Thanks,

Doug

[shsvstewart_8]

doug, the early coms had a lot of trouble with dip switch in the column, i suggest that you replace that, also with the wiring connectors, between the headlights and the engine compartment harness, have any other drama dont hesitate to PM me

Regaurds Simon

[soulyouth]

Check the big plug in the steering coloum I had this prob on my old VH too, had to drive home with parkers when someone was in front and the rest with the high beams.
Yeh its a big ass plug in the coloum, unplug it clean it of dirt and plug back in should be sweet, you could even turn the headlight switch to on and rattle the plug and see if the lights come on, just to be sure thats the prob
hope this helps out

[Douf]

ooh a big plug.. I'll have a look for that when I get a chance.
heh, speaking of driving with someone in front of you with no headlights... had to drive the car back from newcastle to sydney with no headlights :P
my girlfriend was in her car in front of me the whole way back... mmmfun.

Thanks,

Doug

[Douf]

Well I've checked out the plugs surrounding steering column and also traced a few more connectors along the line of the lighting loom but still no light :/

Doug

[mark 70]

I have had the same problem with the dip switch on the stearing. I put a relay in the circuit to switch high and low beam. When I first tested it the voltage at the lights there was only 12.4V. Voltage at the battery was 13.8V. Now I have 13.7V at the lights so they are a lot more brighter.

[jimrichards1964]

yes the indicator stalk is often the culprit, but should it prove a good unit, then as the nice man at the pits told me ( yes there was a nice guy at the pits) VC to VK for some reason corrode at the harness plug to the headlights, even though mine didnt work at the pits, something always happens there, he said unplug them and grease them before reinstalling. CRC will clean the joints but then dry out again with the problem arising again, with the tail light problem, every time i have had the problem I found it to be the light earth lead that is held to body by the screw that retains the tail light to the body. Solder the terminal to prevent it rusting later and tighten as much as possible without breaking the lens/light holder. Despite what the specs say, you can safely install 90/130 watt globes in the head lights as the standard ones should be sticker jobs. The guts of the high beam switch are heavier than most average relays. If your lights dont come on but will light when high beam is held on then the stalk is really had it through wear not load. I ran 100/140 atters in my Camry as I did a lot of country driving, in both cars I must add, you MUST adjust the lights downward to roughly 2 inches below headlight centre at about 15 feet, that way you dont get people flashing you! If brakes flash when you put indicators on, then you have that earth fault at the tail lights with the fine earth wire ( black) usually screwed to centre taillight screw. This is because the indicators are searching for earth through the brake lights. I have come across these problems during licensing cars from scratch or getting the dreaded canaries off. Indicator stalk wiring only does headlights and washer. The indicators are wired to the switch in the column with the smallest plug. And the basic, first to check is the fuse, sometimes bending the contacts closer will provide better contact, nothing worse than lights flashing with cops coming toward you! Best wishes all, put the pits out of bussiness guys!
Jimmy P Tappet

[Douf]

Problem fixed, it was the indicator stalk afterall.
Thanks for all your input guys.

Doug

[EVL253]

despite what was previously said do not use any bigger than 60/55 in there as the headlight switch will melt out.and dont say it wont cause ive seen it happen to mates and also my own VB,

wire in a dual headlight relay which will give them full battery grunt and look how much brighter they will be

[Tasmaniak]

if you want to rewire them instead of going to the battery as a power source, come off the back of the alternator as it is 14.4 Volts and gives them just a little bit more poke

[gs750]

if you want to rewire them instead of going to the battery as a power source, come off the back of the alternator as it is 14.4 Volts and gives them just a little bit more poke

How well do the globes hold up to the added voltage? I was previously told that the increase in "light" isnt worth the extra globe consumption.

Apparently they will only last about 2-3 months????

[Tasmaniak]

nah mate, my wifes been running the same globes for 4years now .