The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay Funny smelling high beams...

I heard this was the best place for early chevy p/u's.
I would like to re-wire but just to get me by for now any ideas to what may be causing the smell during high beam operation?
What should I look at replacing first on the headlight assembly?
I'm planning on new bulbs and my switch in the cab is sketchy (flickers the lights when giggled). These parts are not to expensive so I'm open to whatever some of you pros may think is my problem.
Thank you,
JM

e mail us some of the majic smoke and we will see if we can find the source.

If it is in the cab it is the switch. The bulbs don't need to be replaced. If it comes from under the hood it might be
1) lamp sockets
2) fuse holder arcing
3) hot wires ( hot means heat in this case)

if you know how to handle a Amp meter check the current when the high beam light are on.

I just realized I'm a "Apprentice Wrench, Fetcher"

Thanks for the help and sorry my questions are so dumb. In another 13 minutes I'll have been up 24hrs.

Anyway, I'll check the Amps at the switch and each of the lamps? (meter inline ino)
I actually haven't looked at all the wiring real well. Maybe it has something to do with the aftermarket water temp that someone installed? Who knows how well/ correctly.

Thanks again fritz
Jay

Jay, first of all, get some sleep. You don't want to be bleary-eyed when you're doing wiring.

It sounds like a new headlight switch may be a good place to start if the "stops" are so worn that it flickers. You might be able to clean up the switch, but even then I would buy a new one for backup.

If the smell only happens when you're on highbeam, it could be completely unrelated to the headlight switch. There's an indicator light somewhere behind your speedo that could be resting on something flammable. There's a switch on the floor that could be dirty or damaged or not properly grounded. There's supposed to be a dedicated ground at each headlight (do the headlights & highbeams work correctly?). There's a number of places where insulation could be rubbed off the wiring; or ground points failing to make contact as needed.

As with any "quick fix" I've ever attempted, you will discover a dozen other things that need to be done. Look it over carefully; then decide if you need to replace a switch, tape something, or strip the harness to the parklights.

Pulling on the headlight switch it has points where the lights do/ dont work.
The high beam indicator is actually the only light that works on the dash itself.
As for the headlights themselves, when you turn on the low beams, you have to kick the highs, bang on the fender and then the low beam (drivers side) will light. The high beams will always light but the low beam on the drivers side you almost always have to bang on it.
I plan on reviewing all the wiring before driving it at night, shes been parked mostly doing little fixes and whatnot since I've had her (3weeks). So we'll make sure shes safe!! and I have an exstiguisher incase!

Thanks for the ideas and expert input!
J