Headlight Switch
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Elder User
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 518
Likes: 0
From: Huntsville, TX
Headlight Switch
Howdy,
So I had a problem with my headlights. They kept flashing on and off. I realized it was my switch. When I touched the switch they would come on. When i let go they would flash. I figured that there was a short or something in my switch. So I replaced my switch. Now my clearance lights do not turn on. The new switch was from O'Reilly's. It was a BWD Automotive Part number S453. What should I look for as a cause?
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So I had a problem with my headlights. They kept flashing on and off. I realized it was my switch. When I touched the switch they would come on. When i let go they would flash. I figured that there was a short or something in my switch. So I replaced my switch. Now my clearance lights do not turn on. The new switch was from O'Reilly's. It was a BWD Automotive Part number S453. What should I look for as a cause?
<table class="base-table"><tbody><tr style="padding: 3px;" height="0"></tr><tr style="padding: 3px;" height="0"><td width="260">
</td> <td width="5">
</td> <td width="140">
</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top"> <table class="base-table" style="font-size: 11px; width: 100%;"> <tbody><tr height="1"> <td width="50%">
</td> <td width="50%">
</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" style="font-size: 14px;"> </td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table>
i ain't rite
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 65,554
Likes: 5,590
From: Marlboro Mental Hospital.
^^^^^ what Dave said.
any parts man with any intelligence at all would have told you to get the wiring pigtail for the switch also, cause you will need it when replacing the switch.
any parts man with any intelligence at all would have told you to get the wiring pigtail for the switch also, cause you will need it when replacing the switch.
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 21,285
Likes: 16
From: Nutter Fort, WV
Headlight Relay System .: Articles
If you do this mod, the headlights are brighter and last longer.
Since this mod also removes the headlight amp load from the headlight switch and cab wiring, your new switch will last forever.
I did this mod several years ago, and upgraded to APC composite headlights with Silver Star bulbs.
Best mod I ever did as far as night driving.
If you do this mod, the headlights are brighter and last longer.
Since this mod also removes the headlight amp load from the headlight switch and cab wiring, your new switch will last forever.
I did this mod several years ago, and upgraded to APC composite headlights with Silver Star bulbs.
Best mod I ever did as far as night driving.
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 21,285
Likes: 16
From: Nutter Fort, WV
The relays draw power straight from either the batteries or alternator output.
Then through a fuse to the relay.
The only power used from the original wiring is enough to trigger the relays.
So since it takes next to nothing to trigger the relay, for all practical purposes the headlights are removed from the original wiring.
I am also going to install a relay that will soon turn on all the marker lights as well.
Right now my bed markers, tail lights, trailer markers and trailer tail lights are on the relay which removes that load from the switch.
I just haven't got around to moving the cab lights, front side markers and front park lights to the relay yet.
Then through a fuse to the relay.
The only power used from the original wiring is enough to trigger the relays.
So since it takes next to nothing to trigger the relay, for all practical purposes the headlights are removed from the original wiring.
I am also going to install a relay that will soon turn on all the marker lights as well.
Right now my bed markers, tail lights, trailer markers and trailer tail lights are on the relay which removes that load from the switch.
I just haven't got around to moving the cab lights, front side markers and front park lights to the relay yet.
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Elder User
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 728
Likes: 0
if you use the relay system do not use a fuse as indictaed by the diagram
install a circuit breaker
its a safety issue when a fuse fails you lose the headlights completely
with a circuit breaker it can reset
install a circuit breaker
its a safety issue when a fuse fails you lose the headlights completely
with a circuit breaker it can reset
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Senior User
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 320
Likes: 0
From: Troy MT
Headlight Relay System .: Articles
If you do this mod, the headlights are brighter and last longer.
Since this mod also removes the headlight amp load from the headlight switch and cab wiring, your new switch will last forever.
I did this mod several years ago, and upgraded to APC composite headlights with Silver Star bulbs.
Best mod I ever did as far as night driving.
If you do this mod, the headlights are brighter and last longer.
Since this mod also removes the headlight amp load from the headlight switch and cab wiring, your new switch will last forever.
I did this mod several years ago, and upgraded to APC composite headlights with Silver Star bulbs.
Best mod I ever did as far as night driving.
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 21,285
Likes: 16
From: Nutter Fort, WV
You can see the APC Diamond headlight in this picture.
You can use any of the halogen bulbs in the light, I like the Silverstars best after trying several different ones.
What I like most is the sharp cutoff of the light beam when they are on low beam.
With the height of my truck headlights I hate the fact that sealed beam headlights have almost no beam control on low beam.
Since I have west coast mirrors on my truck, nothing offends me more than people who drive up behind me with their high beam lights on.
Well there is one thing, those HID lights.
They seem to shine right in my mirrors and are bright enough that I can't see anything even if they are 1/4 mile behind me.
Being able to see where you are going is great.
But if you are blinding everyone in front of you, that is not so good.
Good light control is more important than just bright light in my book.
You can use any of the halogen bulbs in the light, I like the Silverstars best after trying several different ones.
What I like most is the sharp cutoff of the light beam when they are on low beam.
With the height of my truck headlights I hate the fact that sealed beam headlights have almost no beam control on low beam.
Since I have west coast mirrors on my truck, nothing offends me more than people who drive up behind me with their high beam lights on.
Well there is one thing, those HID lights.
They seem to shine right in my mirrors and are bright enough that I can't see anything even if they are 1/4 mile behind me.
Being able to see where you are going is great.
But if you are blinding everyone in front of you, that is not so good.
Good light control is more important than just bright light in my book.
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 21,285
Likes: 16
From: Nutter Fort, WV
I installed a two inch lift to make room for the turbo downpipe.
I had to rework the parking brake cable from the pedal to the bracket under the floor.
There was room, but the cable was stretched tighter than I liked.
I also had to modfy the radiator shroud for fan clearance.
I had to modify the transfer case shift linkage to get into 2 wheel high range and 4x4 low range.
When I tried to remove the radiator shell bolts, the stock rubber mounts self destructed.
Everything else went rather smooth.
Since I have a dump bed, I only installed the cab lift.
With an automatic you will also have to modify the tranny shift linkage.
I had to rework the parking brake cable from the pedal to the bracket under the floor.
There was room, but the cable was stretched tighter than I liked.
I also had to modfy the radiator shroud for fan clearance.
I had to modify the transfer case shift linkage to get into 2 wheel high range and 4x4 low range.
When I tried to remove the radiator shell bolts, the stock rubber mounts self destructed.
Everything else went rather smooth.
Since I have a dump bed, I only installed the cab lift.
With an automatic you will also have to modify the tranny shift linkage.
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 21,285
Likes: 16
From: Nutter Fort, WV
3" would require more mods, I am glad I only went 2" with mine.
You don't need a lift.
I did mine in the driveway with my son helping, it takes two people.
Remove the radiator shroud bolts.
Remove all the cab bolts on one side, three of them.
Loosen but do not remove the other side bolts.
Now jack up the side you removed the bolt on, install the lift and bolts finger tight.
Now remove the other side bolts, jack up the cab, install the lift and bolts finger tight.
Remove the jack, tighten all the bolts.
As you raise the cab, watch all the wires and brake lines.
Only removing the bolts on one side at a time will keep the cab on the frame and close to where it is supposed to be.
Now check everthing for proper operation and clearance.
Two places I have heard of problems with a three inch lift are the steering column slider is not long enough to go that high and the gravel pan front lip will be into the top of the bumper.
Both of them were non issues with a 2" lift.
You don't need a lift.
I did mine in the driveway with my son helping, it takes two people.
Remove the radiator shroud bolts.
Remove all the cab bolts on one side, three of them.
Loosen but do not remove the other side bolts.
Now jack up the side you removed the bolt on, install the lift and bolts finger tight.
Now remove the other side bolts, jack up the cab, install the lift and bolts finger tight.
Remove the jack, tighten all the bolts.
As you raise the cab, watch all the wires and brake lines.
Only removing the bolts on one side at a time will keep the cab on the frame and close to where it is supposed to be.
Now check everthing for proper operation and clearance.
Two places I have heard of problems with a three inch lift are the steering column slider is not long enough to go that high and the gravel pan front lip will be into the top of the bumper.
Both of them were non issues with a 2" lift.
