Head Lights

[BadJoey]

I'm getting all my lights working for the first time since I owned the car . The car did not come with a wire harness so I'm using one out of a 70 cuda . I have a 70 Challenger . The Cuda had 2 head lights and the Challenger has 4 . I can cut and piece together the harness easy enough . But I need to know which 2 head lights are on for low beam ? Inside or outside ?

[Katfish]

My low beams are on the outside

[TRIPLE-GREEN]

   Mine does not get any more stock and Mine is the same.

[BadJoey]

Nothing easy .Buy the way thanks guys . So here is the problem now . I have 3 head light wires in the Cuda harness .
1) is High beam .
2) is low beam .
3) is a ground .
If I'm not mistaken low beam is the 2 outside lights and high beam is all 4 lights .By using a jumper wire from left light to right light on high beam so both lights come on (each side) this creates a place for a back feed on low beam . So high or low all 4 lights are on . It seems on the cuda when high beam is on it lights a different fuliment not both fuliments . Any ideas ? Am I missing something easy ? I'm using the Challenger dimmer switch .I hope I explained this right I know whats happening but it's hard to explain . thanks .

[Aussie Challenger]

  Install relays,     don't wire all the headlights through the switches. Check out Goodys web site or check on this thread as it has been well documented, your lights will be brighter and the original headlight switch won't have a hemorage.     Plenty of pic's as well especially if you want to hide the relays.   

[Chryco Psycho]

there are 2 different filiments in the outside low beam lights so yes all 4 are on with high beam but the low beam is shielded while the high beam is not
 BTW Violet is low beam & red is high beam , black is ground

[BadJoey]

Came up with a easy fix while laying in bed last night . Without looking I'm guessing there is 3 wires going into the dimmer switch . Power,High beam, Low beam . All I have to do is run a wire from the power wire to the low beam wire before they enter the dimmer . This should turn on the low beams every time the light switch is turned on . Then when I click high beam the other 2 lights will come on giving me 4 because the lows will still be on . So all I'll be doing is turning the highs off and on . I usually only work on the car week ends so I'll let yous know Saturday . Thanks guys .

[Chryco Psycho]

all you need to do is is extend the red wire at the headlight to the inner set of lights , that way when you are on low beam the outer lights only come on , when you hit high beam all 4 lights come on as normal

[BadJoey]

all you need to do is is extend the red wire at the headlight to the inner set of lights , that way when you are on low beam the outer lights only come on , when you hit high beam all 4 lights come on as normal

I'm afraid you're losing me Chryco . I do not think their is 2 filiments in the outside lights . All 4 lights appear the same each only has 2 brass post . One is a hot wire and 1 is a ground . But I was thinking today , I wonder if my dimmer is bad .The 2 wires for the low beams are hot when they are on . When I put the high beams on ,the low beam wires go dead and the high beam wires get hot . I wonder if they shouldn't all be hot on high . I know they should, I wonder if that takes place in the dimmer ? I have a spear dimmer someplace .I'll try that first Saturday .

[422STROKER]

You need to get the right bulbs.  I have a 2 post terminal and a 3 post terminal for the lamps.

Tom

[Aussie Challenger]

   

 Sounds like you have 4 high beam lights.

[BadJoey]

I will look for some 3 post bulbs . I hope it is that easy .I know the bigger bulbs come with 3 post . I guess if everything was easy everyone would have one of these cars . I love this site you guys are a lot of help . THANKS   

[422STROKER]

Sylvania #'s 5001 High Beam  5006 Low Beam

Tom

[73EStroker]

Also go with the previously suggested relay setup. Advantages are full battery voltage to the headlights as the old wire is so small it creates voltage drop (I do electrical engineering for a living. Believe me VoltDrop exists) because of the distance it travels through the stock wiring, not to mention the dirty contacts in the switch. Also relays virtually eliminates the chances of switch burnout as they eliminate the full load amps of the lights going through the firewall, through the switch and dimmer switch. 

[422STROKER]

Also go with the previously suggested relay setup. Advantages are full battery voltage to the headlights as the old wire is so small it creates voltage drop (I do electrical engineering for a living. Believe me VoltDrop exists) because of the distance it travels through the stock wiring, not to mention the dirty contacts in the switch. Also relays virtually eliminates the chances of switch burnout as they eliminate the full load amps of the lights going through the firewall, through the switch and dimmer switch. 

 

And that will make it easier to complete your modifications anyways.

Tom


By tdavist, shot with DSC-P72 at 2008-03-22