I searched and couldn't find any problem like mine. My high beam indicator light on the dash is always dimly lit with the lights on. It gets brighter when the high beams are switched on, but it is still lit when switched to low beam just a lil dimmer. My headlights are also very very dim and I have to drive with high beams all the time so I can see. Any suggestions? I am buying new lights tomorrow to see if that will fix the dim issue.

edit sorry its a 90 firebird formula

 

Could be bad wiring, a fuse that's ready to go? I have toggle switches for my radiator fan and horn, so when my radiator fan wouldn't turn on one day, I was completely clueless on what the problem could be. My buddy put in a new fuse, problem solved.

I'm really dumb when it comes to electrical issues, so I hope the new headlights solve that problem for you. Good luck.

 

wow i missed this post i got the exact problem you have on my firebird let me know if u figure out the problem

 

Still nothing...anyone??

 

it is the actual headlight switch that is worn out

 

sounds like a bad ground, hope yo get it fixed, good luck.

 

so its the headlight/dimmer switch that is worn out or possiblely a bad ground on that switch?

even tho everything works (except i have to push hard on the off position for my lights to go dwn) it could still be that switch?

 

The switch functions properly but just the H/B switch stays dimly lit. It could be the ground for something.. Where would the ground be located for the headlights? Does each headlight have its own ground?

 

the thing is i replaced that switch for one and it didnt fix it
but the grounds are for your turnsignals and headlights if a ground were bad it would kill both headlight and turnsignals not just mess up the headlights my next theroy is somewere in the steering colloum because idk were to look next everywere has been covered???

( follow the wireing from the light the grounds easy to spot)

if im wrong plz point me in the right direction help deeply needed lol

 

I just replaced my lights and my connectors that go to the lights because they looked horrible. Still does the same thing, and they are still dim.

 

 

i belive i did this right
1 put a cable onto negitive battery post.(black)
2 put same connector to left side headlight ground wire (the wires connected to front clip) (black)
3 put connector onto nut of ac compressor brace that connects to block(could not fit both connector on a sidepost battery)(red)
4 put same connector to right side headlight ground wire (red)

tell me if i did this wrong but after doing this nothing changed

 

 

I had the exact same problem with my Camaro earlier this spring. After spending several weeks trying to figure it out and checking wiring diagrams, I found it to be a problem with the foglight wiring. My Camaro did not come with factory foglights, but the wiring is still there in the harness. The way it is wired up the relay for the foglights grounds through the high beam filaments in the headlights. Its a completely stupid way to do it in my opinion. I pulled the fuse for the foglights and my problem went away. I don't know why the fuse was there, but pulling it hasn't affected anything else.

The other thing you can check for the dimness of the beams is the grounds for the headlights. There should be a small black wire grounded to the radiator support behind each headlight. If one of those is disconnected, the affected headlight will try to ground through either the other headlight, or (as in my case last summer) through the windshield wiper motor. That one took me quite a while to figure out too.

 

ok i went back and ran new grounds from the battery to those ground wires screwed into the front clip. and no improvements to prove to myself my wiring worked i unscrewed the factory screws from the front clip and used only the wiring from the battery and the result was the same as the factory ground locations

i dont know if it matters but if i ungrounded one side the other side grew brighter also as i ungrounded my driverside light the headlight moduler mounted on the firewall clicked as it lost and regained ground

ill check the volts going to the lowbeam and ill post it to see if the lights are getting enough juice

 

ok i did some volt tests and on the green wire the low-beam was 7.5 volts and the high-beam was at 11.5 volts

the tan wire was a conssistant 11.5 on low and high beam

now i believe the volts are suppose to be 12.5 to 13 so that means i got a power wire shorting out somewere

the ? is were, any suggestions were to start looking and how

 

You should not have any voltage on the tan wire when the high beams are on. The tan wire runs the low beams only.

Conversely, you should not have any voltage on the green wire when the low beams are on. The green wire is for the high beams only.

11.5 volts is fine if the engine is off. You would only get 12-13 volts if the engine is running.

Check your dimmer switch at the base of the steering column. Its on the left-hand side and has a metal rod running up along the length of the column to the turn signal switch. It sounds like its shorted between the high and low beam wires allowing both to get voltage when it should be switching between them.

 

ok ill check that out and post if i find anything

also should i just check wires or should i check the dimmer switch and high to low beam switch on the steering collum

 

I think 92RS nailed it, sounds like the only reasonable thing it could be. I did everything you did on your car to mine including replacing the worn plugs with new ones. I guess I will live with the lights the way they seeing as how I am not messing with the steering column.. HAHA anyone ever mount fog lights on there bird?

 

 

ok well i went back to my steering column and did some test light testing

i went to i believe is the dimmer switch that has a metel rod going up the steering column thats is mounted on the driver side of the steering column and there are two green a tan and a yellow

both green were on with low beams on and they grew brighter with high beams
and the tan was bright with low beams but dimmer with high beams

so doues this tell me that the dimmer is bad??? or the bright switch???

 

 

Seems like my dimmer switch is bad according to your testing and this wiring diagram.

 

As I told you before it is the switch dont go used get new or aftermaket they are around 30 buck other wise you replacing junk with junk this rule applies with electrical and my beleif only

 

o im sry i thought you ment the headlight switch on the dash (which i replaced) not the switch on the steering column and how do you replace it???
also whats the official name of this switch so the guy at the part store dont look at me funny lol

 

Firebirdtobe.. Where is the dimmer switch box located? Is it right below the dash in front of the steering column?

 

According to Autozone's website it is a Dimmer Switch. Part # UDS 424, its $10.99 is a normal stock item(not special order).

It is held on the column by 2 small hex-head screws(might be torx, I can't remember for sure) on the top side of the column. You'll have to lower the steering column to remove it. Before replacing it you can try adjusting it. There is about an 1/8"-1/4" of adjustment built into the bracket. If the switch is out of alignment it can allow voltage to both low and high beams.

 

on the driver side of the steering column there will be a metel rod coming down from the steering wheel to a white switch that has a black plug with a yellow a tan and two green wires coming from that plug

ok you take the two bolts that mount to the firewall out and loosen the bottom bolt to allow the steering column to lower now i saw a pic on advance autoparts website and there are two screws and i see theres room for adjustment

1 which way would i adjust it up toward the wheel or down toward the firewall mount???
2 if it dont work how do you remove the metel rod?

 

o Ok.. I actually put a little rubber spacer in there on my RS in my sig. so my high beams would engage.

 

With your problem, you will most likely need to replace the switch. That being said, I would start with moving it towards the firewall. The other way to do it would be loosen the adjustment screws and while holding the switch in your left hand, squeeze the switch so it clicks, then use your right hand to pull up on the turn signal lever like you are turning the high beams on. This will put the metal rod to its lowest point. Slide the switch up so the rod is in the little cup and is bottomed out in there. Let go of the turn signal lever and tighten the adjustment screws. Then release the switch and that should get it adjusted right.

To remove the metal rod, you have to remove the dimmer switch, the steering wheel, turn signal cam and lever, and the left side cover of the steering column

 

Don't forget about the 4 bolts that hold the steering column to the underside of the dash.

 

well ill give that a shot and see what i can do sounds pretty complicated
ill post if i get it