Hello, I bought my 84 Z a couple months ago and found out that the brights dont work and my lowbeams are very dim. When i click the toggle back for the brights it clicks and everything just like it should, but the lights just turn off. Its totally dark. and does anyone have any idea about my lowbeams? they seem to work fine but they are just really dim. Is this just characteristic of the hooded lights? give me a hand here,

 

My first thought would either bad a bad Hi/Low dimmer switch or the headlight switch itself, if the bulbs themselves are actually any good.

You could try jumping a wire straight from the battery to the bulb itself, to see if the bulbs are just old & worn (any good). If they won't light good with direct battery power, then it may just be bad bulbs.

If they light good, then it definately something in the cars wiring.

 

I had similar (lights would go out when switching from hi to low beams) issues a while back, I replaced the dimmer switch (the one on the steering column) and it fixed the issues. I think the switch is about $15.



I would start there!!!!

 

Check the headlight ground by the battery

 

Thanks guys, ill try this stuff when we get our massive heat wave thats suppost to come Sunday..a whopping 14 degrees. Its -5 out now, working on a Camaro when your boogers keep freezing is not fun. I guess thats just me though...

 

check dows the raido turn off whne u click to your high beams if so who ever wired in the radio used one of the wires that are in there for the high beams i have had it done to me with my old 86 ta listen to some tunes come across a dark street turns the highs on nothing and no radio

 

Thats weird, but its not the case here. All the other electronics work when i toggle brights, besides the brights. Does anyone have any ideas on why the lowbeams are so dim?

 

Did you try jumping a wire from the battery to one of the low beams to see if they get brighter. You could also check the voltage on them with both the car off and running to see if they are getting full power. You could also check if they are focused correctly. Could be pointed toward the ground or way off to the side which could limit visibility. Or it could be you have twenty-four year old lights and are dim from old age.

 

I'm telling you, replace that dimmer switch on the steering column. It's an easy job, 15 min/@ $15, and your car needs it anyways. You never know, might even fix the low beams being dim.

 

Ok, i ordered one from rockauto. What needs to come apart to install it?

 

Just the lower dash right above you feet.

Part #86 in the diagram

 

Alright thanks alot. When it gets here ill install it and post what happens.