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Apr 26th, 2026 | | AD Chevy Trucks  Over 6,000 pictures Brad Allen has an awesome collection of Chevrolet factory pictures that he has set up from film strips. Check them out!
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| | | | Joined: Sep 2007 Posts: 9 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Sep 2007 Posts: 9 | Getting smoke from either headlight switch or wiring under dash when putting on headlight switch. With switch off ..no smoke.. I know this is a dumb question. How do I find out if switch bad or loose /bad wires | | | | | Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 2,201 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 2,201 | need some more info Charley. what kind of truck? 6v or 12v (are you running 12v through a 6v switch?) Find the problem before you turn it into a smoker or throw a turkey on the seat first. | | | | | Joined: May 2001 Posts: 7,438 Extreme Gabster | | Extreme Gabster Joined: May 2001 Posts: 7,438 | If the wires got hot enough to smoke you should be able to see the damage. There's nothing in the switch to smoke. And the switch doesn't care what voltage. | | | | | Joined: Jul 2004 Posts: 5,708 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jul 2004 Posts: 5,708 | Isn't there a rheostat for dash light illumination in the light switch? When those get full of mouse poop, dust and other debris they act just like a toaster burning toast.
Stuart | | | | | Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 2,201 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 2,201 | hey Cletis, are you saying my original switch is heavy-duty enough to run my all new 12v system? that would be nice to have the original headlight switch in there. | | | | | Joined: Feb 2002 Posts: 12,029 Cruising in the Passing Lane | | Cruising in the Passing Lane Joined: Feb 2002 Posts: 12,029 | monster - 6V hardware and wiring are 'heavier duty' than 12V, no worry in keeping the original switch
Bill | | | | | Joined: Feb 2000 Posts: 5,215 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Feb 2000 Posts: 5,215 | Isn't this right, 6 volt carries twice the amperage as 12 volt to do the same amount of work? or something close to that?
Thats why you need large battery cable with 6V and why all the other wires will work with 12 volts.
Joe | | | | | Joined: Mar 2009 Posts: 208 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Mar 2009 Posts: 208 | Isn't this right, 6 volt carries twice the amperage as 12 volt to do the same amount of work? or something close to that? That's right. Only 6 volts but tons more amps. You can still burn stuff up with 12 volts though. I threw a 12 volt battery in my tractor & burned out 2 coils before I knew what went wrong. Plus the starter nearly tore itself apart. The switch should be fine, but other stuff can't take it. | | | | | Joined: Sep 2007 Posts: 9 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Sep 2007 Posts: 9 | Found problem tail light wire causing short.
old wire worn and touching frame. Did replace switch, it was old and rusted. Will need to replace wiring in the future, but for now, everything is 'good' | | | | | Joined: Sep 2007 Posts: 9 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Sep 2007 Posts: 9 | 12v..I like the turkey idea...Fixed problem..loose wire touching body of truck..worned ... | | | | | Joined: Sep 2007 Posts: 9 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Sep 2007 Posts: 9 | THANKS...FIXED PROBLEM..LOOSE / WORN WIRE ON TAIL LIGHTS...
REPLACED SWITCH (TEMPORARILY) WITH NEW PULL-PUSH IN-LINE 15 AMP FUSE SWITCH ($3.99)..REPLACING ALL WIRES ONE AT AT TIME. WHEN FUSE BLEW..THIS IDENTIFIED WHICH WIRE..(TAIL LIGHT) | | |
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