Topic: 72 headlights go off

[adventurem]

My 1972 headlights sometimes just go off while I'm driving at night: Very bad! When I go to work on them they are fine: fuses, bulbs, etc. all seem good.

I believe thelights are powered by a "fusable link" or resistance wire, but I cannot find any such reference in the wiring diagrams I have. If so: How do I check to see if it's OK?

Anyone have any ideas?

[Soaring]

Welcome to the site.  It could be any number of things, but a worn switch or a loose ground wire will cause the problem. 

[teven_69_2]

I just got done taking a road trip and had this same type of problem, I found out that I had a faulty Voltage Regulator, but this would most likely affect your battery as well, not getting the correct charge, etc. Thats just my experience with electrical/lights problem.

[rmodel65]

more than likely its the headlight switch, they have an internal breaker and if it gets hot will kick off and the lights go off till it cools

idk if this link will work but autozone list the switch at 12-16$ depending on the build date


http://www.autozone.com/autozone/catalog/parts/partsShelf.jsp?displayName=Headlight+Switch&itemId=prod61266&isSearchByPartNumber=false&sortType=null&totalPages=[I@16493bd&currentPage=1&vehicleNValue=&navValue=15700123&parentId=cat30065&fromString=search&fromWhere=null&filterByKeyWord=headlightswitch&categoryNValue=15799999&categoryDisplayName=Electrical+%26+Lighting&_requestid=986363

[Tim175]

i also have a 72 and i have had similar problems i think that it might be the switch on the dash i will be replacing it soon and hopefully that will fix the problem

[jethat]

When I had this probelm in my 71 it was the switch. Got a new one at NAPA..

[69fast]

yea put a switch in i