More electrical woes

[stude62]

OK, we're back to the headlights again on the 1963 Lark.

Mechanic installed the solid state resistor and the new under dash dash board reostat. The headlights worked fine. Took the car out last night and then the ALT Meeting would slam over to D and the lights would go out and then the needle would reset and the lights would go out again.

Would the headlight dimmer and/or anything else the problem?

[nvonada]

That sounds like a short to me. That should have been the fuse that made everything go dark. If not you need to find what fried and replace it AND add a fuse. Where in Columbus are you? I am up in Delaware, OH so we might be neighbors.

[41 Frank]

Yes you likely have a short somewhere and the headlight circuit breaker will get hot and kill the power so the wiring don't burn up, it is designed to work that way. It could be the dimmer switch but also could be a wire rubbed through and the wire is shorting to ground. This will also happen if the breaker is bad or is overloaded as in if you are using bulbs other than original type, like halogens for instance.

[FlatheadGeo]

Yup, sounds like a short.

[stude62]

WIll pass this onto Jeff!

[stude62]

We're in Columbus proper, within walking distance of OSU in Baja Clintonville.

[studebakerkid]

lighting problem

I have had this same problem and in my case it was the blasted floor mounted dimmer switch shorting out to ground internally. Dang scarry pulling a trailer loaded with a couple tons when the lights go out at night on a curve.