FYI, the electrical system is being bench tested and is currently on a ping pong table...

I am in need of some illumination. I have a 1983 harness with a 1980 headlight combination switch. (thanks to foxed.ca) everything seems to work. if my lights are set to off and I use the headlight motor switch the headlight motor engages and rotates the unit to raise the headlights. turn the headlight motor switch off and the rotate again, everything seems as it should be. The excitement comes when I turn the headlights on. Please remember I do not have any headlights in the circuit. Parking and tail lights come on. no motor to raise the headlights. Headlight motor switch is in the common "down" or not "up " position. As I was saying the motor does not engage. Unless I place the headlight motor switch to up, the the lil bastard continually runs the headlight motor. I have been pouring over the schematic and I don't see what would cause this. I doubt it is a really failure on the motorized units as what are the chances of both failing, but also working fine without the headlight being turned on for service mode.

Thank you.

 

I'm having a hard time understanding your problem's description. In normal operation, lifting the lever on the column mounted combination switch one position, will turn your parking / running lights on. Lifting it one more position engages the headlight motors and illuminates the headlights. Pushing the combo level down one position turns the headlights off and lowers them. Pushing the lever down the second position turns off the running lights. Turning the headlight switch on the center dash to on, will raise the headlight buckets w/o illuminating the lamps. Turning it off, lowers them.

At least that's the way it is for an SA. Not sure if an FB combination switch is different or what the affects are of using an SA switch w/ an FB harness.

 

+1 maybe headlight motor(s) not operational with combo switch in headlights on position?

 

to my eye, the wiring is identical, the switches are identical. the only differences I have found are the harness plugs.




1980 on left 1983 on right

 

maybe an issue w/ the combo switch itself?

 

that has been kicking around in my mind

 

Had that happen on my 80LS, and while it's pretty hilarious the first time, as the flips go out of time and it starts winking like Andrew Dice Clay at a singles bar - eventually it gets old and you replace the Fusible Link at the DS Strut tower.

 

New fuseable links. are already installed.

 

Got it figured out. And really, this scares me. I am putting an 83 harness in an 80 chassis. I am using the 83 cluster but keeping the SA radio surround. Headlight switch and so on.. After carefully studying the two schematics everything made sense. red goes to red, red/ yellow goes to red/yellow... some how I managed to get all three red wires messed up. A quick repin and everything is on point.

 

excellent!

 

In the trade,.we call that “self inflicted”

Nobody that posts here can say they’ve never done something like that,myself included and in 45+years I did this more than once. I’ll keep the actual number to myself. Why would you know the number you say?...
Simple,so I never did that same thing again.
There are times I ain’t the brightest bulb ;on the tree and I’m allowed to say that cuz I reserve the right!!!

OP,sometimes when you’re tired and should have taken a break,or just plain gone to bed...this is when i’m most ripe for something like that to happen.

Fortunate,you were doing this on a table and not in the car,you would have figured it out but not as fast.

You get an A for perseverance!!