Dimmer Switch Freak Out
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Senior User
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 388
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From: Florida
Dimmer Switch Freak Out
I was driving my old 55 home from work tonight, Im about to pull into my driveway and my lights shut off, my radio turns on and off about 5 times, and my battery meter needle starts goin nuts flying back n forth. It doesn't stop, I turn off the truck once I get parked at the house, pull the key out and the battery meter is still goin nuts. I turn the light switch off and it stops, put it back on, starts up again. I notice the brights are on. I hit the dimmer switch and my lights come back on, battery stops freakin out. I hit the dimmer again and it starts up again.. I was thinking maybe I was accidentally resting my foot on the dimmer and somethin went wrong with it. Any ideas? Anyone else have this happen before?
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Joined: Jan 2001
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From: Virginia
Sounds like you may have a short in the high beam wiring. The high beam wiring starts at the dimmer switch, and then goes on out to each headlight.
I think what is happening is when you hit the high beams, the wire that is touching ground somewhere is drawing too much current, so it's pulling down the voltage in the elec system. The headlight switch feeds the dimmer switch, and has a circuit breaker inside it. The circuit breaker must be breaking the circuit, and the voltage in the system swings back up. When the circuit breaker cools off, it re-activates the circuit, and the cycle starts all over again.
I think what is happening is when you hit the high beams, the wire that is touching ground somewhere is drawing too much current, so it's pulling down the voltage in the elec system. The headlight switch feeds the dimmer switch, and has a circuit breaker inside it. The circuit breaker must be breaking the circuit, and the voltage in the system swings back up. When the circuit breaker cools off, it re-activates the circuit, and the cycle starts all over again.
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Senior User
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 388
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From: Florida
It has never happened before, even with the brights on. Are you saying that it takes a while to be on before it starts doing it? And it'll start over and if I try it in the morning it won't happen?
If not, I don't get why it would get a short out of nowhere, just drivin down the road..
If not, I don't get why it would get a short out of nowhere, just drivin down the road..
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Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 5,231
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From: Near Fresno, California
Originally Posted by jeff5683
It has never happened before, . . . I don't get why it would get a short out of nowhere, just drivin down the road..
Trace the wires, replace as needed.
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