1983 - no headlights

[wengr]

After a 2+ year storage, my 83 has no headlights. The high beams light up, but I don't think they are at full brightness. The regular low beams do not light at all.
All running lights work correctly at proper brightness.
The switch stalk seems to function correctly, and the green and blue dash indicator lights do come on as expected.
Any ideas?

[RRoller123]

Check the grounds on the ground pods at inside of each front fender. Frequently grounds are the problem. Grab a schematic and those particular wires are pretty easy to trace out.

[wengr]

Still no luck here. Power is not being supplied to the low beams. I have ruled out the grounds. I have also ruled out the fuses. The situation (high beams work - low do not) is the same for both sides so I did not expect it to be that, but instead, something that is shared by both sides. Like the switch, or a relay. I have the BA schematic for 82 which may or may not be the same as my 83, and I am surprised to find that there is no headlamp relays shown. Can this be correct? If so does that mean that 12v actually goes thru the switch on the column?

[wengr]

This car has long defunct AC with the underdash unit still in place. I would not be surprised if there were some relays mounted up behind it.

[GeorgeT]

Still no luck here. Power is not being supplied to the low beams. I have ruled out the grounds. I have also ruled out the fuses. The situation (high beams work - low do not) is the same for both sides so I did not expect it to be that, but instead, something that is shared by both sides. Like the switch, or a relay. I have the BA schematic for 82 which may or may not be the same as my 83, and I am surprised to find that there is no headlamp relays shown. Can this be correct? If so does that mean that 12v actually goes thru the switch on the column?

Correct, there were no headlight relays in the '82 models though many folk have added them. A lot of current passes through the ignition switch then the light switch on the dash then through the column switch before reaching the headlights themselves. Adding relays resolves this and makes for brighter lights and greatly extends the life of the other components. Based on your observations, I would suspect the column switch.

[wengr]

Success. Turns out that the 83 has a headlight relay under the passenger side dash.Actually a relay for low beams, and a separate relay for high beams. I was able to determine which one it was as it was clicking when the switch was engaged. This was good as it seemed to rule out a bad switch. The relay was engaging but not passing power. I sanded the contacts lightly, and the headlights are back. I have never seen any of these relays as they were up behind an underdash AC unit. While I was in there I was also able to unplug that annoying warning chime, and solve a problem that I have been having with the car not shutting off. Thanks to all.