Headlight switch

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Oct 9, 2007 | 11:25 AM

bertha66

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Joined: Oct 2004

Posts: 8,062

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From: Central Oregon

Headlight switch

I posted awhile back about my dash, tail lights and trailer lights going on and off on my 80 Bronco. The first time they did this I replaced the Head light switch and everything was good for about a year, then it all started again. I replaced the switch again and everything is good again, the questian is, how do I stop this from happening again? Is there something that I need to put in the trailer wiring to stop pulling so much power though the head light switch and burnning out the relay that is in the switch?
Thanks for any insight on this problem, Allen

Oct 9, 2007 | 03:16 PM

blue beast

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Joined: Nov 2004

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From: sunny fla sometimes windy

There is no relay in the switch just a flimsy contact!! Take the wire for those lights out of the connector and wire in a real relay into it, The switch will last forever if you do this. Make sure you put a fuse at the battery(20 amp) for the wire that feeds the relay, and then put one right at the relay( a 10 amp fuse) for the wire that runs to the tailights!! Make sure you put the fuse under the dash where you can get to it, next to the relay. You could probably pull power from the fuse panel or something but I like to run a nice size wire straight from the battery for things like this. I actually have a 10 awg wire from the battery that runs my switches for my back up, fog and under hood light, my radio always on, and a aux power outlet. one wire and have it for future upgrades. You may be able to salvage the switch if it isn't to far gone since it only pulls a little bit of current to operate the relay. be sure to get a relay with a 30 amp rating.

Oct 9, 2007 | 03:21 PM