My 88 recently started doing this headlight on/off blinking thing. For no apparent reason, the headlights will turn off for a second or 2. This happens driving down a smooth road or just sitting still. The dash lights stay on when the headlights go off. Pretty freaky do be driving and then it is suddenly dark. Any suggestions other than driving during daylight only?

 

When mine did something like this, it turned out to be a bad headlight switch. The headlights are wired independently of the other lights (dash, park, tail, etc), so I'm not surprised that the headlights would be the only lights to go out. Be sure to inspect the headlight circuit (get a wiring diagram so you know which wires to follow) and make sure everything is intact. Make sure the headlights are properly grounded.

 

I agree with russ88b2, it is most likely the switch. It happened in my truck about 6 months ago, and i ended up getting a ticket, because they went off infront of a cop. Switch was like 9 bucks, and the only thing that had happened was the wire corroded, and only had like a few pieces of copper strands connecting it to the switch. I striped the end off and put a new connecter on, the new switch and BAM i had lights!

 

happened to my 88 b2 as well.
it was the switch.
must be common problem.

 

How did you get to the switch? I took the dash apart after buying a new switch and didn't see an obvious way to get to the headlight switch without some major disassembly. I had also purchased a turn signal switch due to my right turn signal not working. The left signal works fine and so do the four way flashers, but only the rear light comes on when I try to use the right turn signal. I took off the turn signal module and found that the top wiring harness connector had melted a little. I don't know when this happened. I wonder if that has something to do with my headlights because when I switch between high and low beams they will flicker. I was going to put the new turn signal switch in, but could not get the arm out of the old one to put into the new switch, so I put it all back together for the time being.

 

Have you tried vise grips or a small pipewrench to get the blinker arm out? Do you know that you don't have to completely dismantle the steering colum to get the blinker module out?

 

ok my 88 is doing it now. its not my headlight swith cause i replaced that after my high beam switch blew. For some reason if i have my high beams on for a long time they get stuck on and have fried one high beam switch allready. after i turn car off for a while i can can turn them off but its very annoying when u off road and come back on the road and high beams stuck on.

as for that switch its really hard to change u gotta loosen the speedomitor wire and pull the meters out and reach in there and get it. at leased that what i had to do

maybe ill just mess with the connections for the lights ill update you when i do

 

The lights have not flickered since I removed the turn signal switch and messed with that assembly. Must have had a loose/corroded connection there.

 

Just to update you i pulled out the high beam switch and cleaned terminals and blinking stoped.