dhaven64 Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 Hi all. Having electrical issues with the restoration of my 64 Riv. Hooked everything up new bulbs throughout and headlamps, checked the grounds but still no headlights (low or high) I checked the dimmer switch and cleaned the contacts and put in all new fuses. Any help? I'm really stuck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 Check for 12V going into and out of the headlamp switch to narrow things down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dhaven64 Posted December 18, 2014 Author Share Posted December 18, 2014 Thanks John I will do that. Also, I noticed a red wire with a black connector down by the firewall (near brake pedal) inside the cabin that doesn't seem to plug into anything. Any ideas what that might be for? I checked the wiring diagram and it's not shown. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 Is there 12V at that wire with ignition switch off? With it on? Heavy guage? Could it be the feed for power windows and power seat--if I recall that wire connects at a terminal behind the kick panel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dhaven64 Posted December 18, 2014 Author Share Posted December 18, 2014 Unfortunately I can't find my volt meter so I can't check it. It's definitely heavy gauge and very short in length. I don't have power seats or Windows. I've pulled the headlight switch and cleaned the contacts and will report back on my progress. Ugh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Posted December 19, 2014 Share Posted December 19, 2014 I'm guessing that wire feeds 12V to the lighting and accessory circuits. Could it plug into a connector at firewall or to the fuse block? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seafoam65 Posted December 19, 2014 Share Posted December 19, 2014 (edited) Unfortunately I can't find my volt meter so I can't check it. It's definitely heavy gauge and very short in length. I don't have power seats or Windows. I've pulled the headlight switch and cleaned the contacts and will report back on my progress. Ugh You can't diagnose a problem like this without a voltage measuring device....either a voltmeter or a test light. Go down to yourlocal auto supply and buy a test light...every tool box should have one in it. They are not expensive. Once you have one, check the light bluewire at the dimmer switch for 12 volts when the headlight switch is turned on. If it is dead, the problem is either power feed from the hornrelay post or something wrong at the headlamp switch. Check the red wire at the headlamp switch for 12 volts with the switch on and if youhave 12 volts on the red wire and the light blue wire is dead coming out of the switch, the problem is the headlamp switch or a bad connection on the headlamp switch connector. If the red wire at the switch is dead, that wire goes to the big stud on the horn relay on the left innerfender. (that red wire also branches out from the horn relay and feeds the batt post on the alternator and the ignition switch power terminal.) If the light blue wire at the dimmer switch has 12 volts with the lights turned on, check for power at the other two wires,depending on which beam is selected on the switch. If nothing is coming out going to the headlamps, you have a bad dimmer switch.If you have power to headlamp bulbs, then you must not have the ground wire for the headlamps hooked up. Edited December 19, 2014 by Seafoam65 (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dhaven64 Posted December 19, 2014 Author Share Posted December 19, 2014 Thanks so much for the detailed answer to my question. I am going to the auto parts store tomorrow and buying a volt meter. I'll keep you updated! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
60FlatTop Posted December 19, 2014 Share Posted December 19, 2014 Recently a response to one of my posts mentioned some, surely, obscure phenomenon called "clamshell envy". Maybe your car is just rejecting it's exposed headlights. Bernie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dhaven64 Posted December 19, 2014 Author Share Posted December 19, 2014 I think you hit the "Nail" on the "Head" Actually, I fixed the problem. I cleaned all the contacts and reinstalled the switch and voila, no more clamshell envy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Glass Posted May 5 Share Posted May 5 I didn’t know 64 Rivis had clam shell head lights Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Glass Posted May 5 Share Posted May 5 I didn’t know 64 Rivis had clam shell head lights I was also having low beam issue problems Mr. Dehaven 64 You are the shit bro I cleaned my connectors in the firewall area. They work perfect. Thanks for the sea of knowledge Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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