Headlights Flickering!
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 197
Likes: 1
From: Chicagoland Metro area
Headlights Flickering!
Anybody had issues with your headlights flickering on and off? How did you fix it? Not sure if I have a ground problem, or if it is something in the switch.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 20,678
Likes: 82
From: NorCal
Installed a headlight relay harness so that the headlight (hi and low) current is sourced directly from the battery. The "on" signal from the switch merely triggers a relay.
The cause is the built-in bi-metallic circuit breaker in your headlight switch is old and has become sensitive to heat (current). A relay system "offloads" that current to the relays.
In addition to eliminating the on/off cycling, the lights are also brighter since they are now sourcing clean voltage from the battery instead of the old wiring, switch, and connectors.
Do it...
Get harness from LMC Truck or make your own... links in the Tech Info Compilation sticky.
.
The cause is the built-in bi-metallic circuit breaker in your headlight switch is old and has become sensitive to heat (current). A relay system "offloads" that current to the relays.
In addition to eliminating the on/off cycling, the lights are also brighter since they are now sourcing clean voltage from the battery instead of the old wiring, switch, and connectors.
Do it...
Get harness from LMC Truck or make your own... links in the Tech Info Compilation sticky.
.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 8,678
Likes: 191
From: On the Edge of the Desert
The harness from LMC is absolute crap. (Just my opinion) I bought one first and it was a very poor fit and wired very oddly.
I ended up getting a refund and putting together my own.
I ended up getting a refund and putting together my own.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 8,678
Likes: 191
From: On the Edge of the Desert
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thank you sir. I missed it and thank you again
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From: **** hole San Jose ca.
Many times it from weak contact high & low beam floor switch.
If the truck was driven on rainy days or snow on the ground an night driving the H&L switch gets soaked that starts corrosion on the switch/plug..
Test at night if they flicker try the H/L bean switch if it stop problem.
Orich
If the truck was driven on rainy days or snow on the ground an night driving the H&L switch gets soaked that starts corrosion on the switch/plug..
Test at night if they flicker try the H/L bean switch if it stop problem.
Orich
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 197
Likes: 1
From: Chicagoland Metro area
I read through the sticky article in the Tech section on how to make a harness. Not being the best in electrical/wiring, I was a bit confused on how to proceed. I get the whole concept of relays, and have been doing some research on youtube on using relays. However, if anybody has any pictures of how they wired this up, that would be very helpful.
Questions I have been thinking about:
Do you run a wire from the battery to the aluminum relay board to distribute power to the relays?
How many relays per light? One or two (LB/HB)
Do you run a wire across the radiator to tie in the passenger side light?
Any pictures or detailed description on how to wire this up would be appreciated.
Thanks guys!
Questions I have been thinking about:
Do you run a wire from the battery to the aluminum relay board to distribute power to the relays?
How many relays per light? One or two (LB/HB)
Do you run a wire across the radiator to tie in the passenger side light?
Any pictures or detailed description on how to wire this up would be appreciated.
Thanks guys!
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 197
Likes: 1
From: Chicagoland Metro area
Thanks Orich! I have been searching youtube and come up with some good videos, and schematics like the one you posted. I think I am going to order some relays, and other supplies and play around with it on the bench before I dig into the real thing. I love learning new things like this. Hopefully an old dog can be taught new tricks. 
