Headlights Stay On

Here's a new one!

Have a 66 Skylark. Replaced both low beam headlights with new Wagner halogen sealed beam units.

Now whenever the key is turned on the headlights come on. I thought it might be the switch, but with the switch removed and the key turned on, the headlights still come on.

Where do I start--grounds?? or what.

Thanks for any input.

 

Somehow you are getting 12 volts to the lights from the key being turned on?

 

Yep, that's what I figured, or else my old car decided to update itself to the newer daytime running lights like new cars have.

I'm wondering if I burned up the circuit breaker for the headlights?

 

Still have the old lights?
Quick hook up old ones, if possible and take it from there?

I may not be understanding the complete problem, though because of the symptoms.

Thanks V8Buick,
Amen.

Scott

 

Yep, that's the game plan for tonight.

 

Well, last night I put in the old headlights--lights still stay on with the ignition key turned on.

I went over the wiring diagram and one by one disconnected anything that remotely looked like the headlight power source could pass through it. Nothing worked.

Is is possible that a damaged ground could allow back flow of power from somewhere to the headlights?

This is really driving me up a wall!

 

mkae sure your grounds are good. sounds like u have a shorted a hot lead or crossed wires, to the headlight circuit. high & low beams?
does the starter circuit also supply power to you high beams like the later a-bodies?

 

What's really confusing is that all this started with just changing out the headlights, that's a really simple job, just pug and go!

I'm going to see if the wiring goes through the starter just to eliminate that problem as well as chase grounds tonight.

Thanks for the input

 

Any luck?

 

Nope, two of our engineering types here at work sugggested I should look for a burned relay. The only relay showing in the wiring diagram is in the headlight switch.

I disconnected the switch which should have made the lights go out, but they still stayed on.

I am seriously thinking about ignoring the problem until something burns up and then I'll know where the problem is.

I hate electrical problems, they have no rational way of finding where the problem is, just continous trial and error.

 

Got both, gonna keep looking tonight.

 

does it happen when the key is in the run position or the accesory position? sounds like you have a short to power in the ignition switch or even the ignition circut. ill bet you knocked a wire loose or pushed one close together somewhere when you changed the lights. a problem like this should be easy to find. your still able to turn the headlights on with the ignition switch in the off position right?:beers2:

 

Yes, I can turn the lights off and on with the dash switch.

I never checked the acc side of the key switch, just the run side. I'll look at that tonight.

Thanks

 

if it only is on the run side i would say the short is probibly in the ignition circuit :beers2:

 

First off let me thank all you who contributed possible solutions to the head light problem.

Saturday I took a VOM meter and checked the headlight connectors, by luck I looked down at the parking light wiring and there was a frayed wire on one side of the parking light connector and a almost pulled out tab style connector on the other side of the same packard style connector.

Fixed frayed wire, pushed tab connector back in it's slot and made sure it won't pull out again, and headlights now work properly.

I adamantly hate electrical problems, and this hasn't dimmed that hatred one bit.

Thanks again.