View Full Version : Headlight Wiring Question


87burb
07-03-2006, 03:11 AM
Alright, i just recently put my front clip back on and i'm trying to wire the headlights. The truck is a 1987 chevy suburban 350/700r4 2wd. Anyways, there are 2 prong lights for the highs and 3 prong for the lows. I plugged everything back in, eventho the connectors are all dirty...but i'm not sure how to replace them? Is there a cheap way to replace the connectors? I can figure out how to wire them, its just the adapter, could i make something to fit it?

Right now, the lights do not work properly, when brights are on only one works. when all the lights are on both headlights are barely on and very very dim, the parking lights both are bright and without the brights on, thats the only means of light from the front. Anything can help, thanks for your time guys.

cdowns
07-03-2006, 08:59 AM
well the first thing is to clean your grounds and clean the connectors either with a piece of sandpaper or at least with a good spray contact cleaner(radio shack) then see what you've got. on the bulb that doesn't light do a continuity check cause you might have a bad bulb// they won't work properly with bad connections and bad grounds
you can clean inside the plug connectors with a modified emeryboard(women use them on fingernails) ask your mom maybe shes got an extra one she can spare

87burb
07-03-2006, 02:30 PM
I was looking at it this moring and noticed one of the wires wont stay in the harness, it looks like the peice at the back is bent in too much and not clipping to hold it there. I'll have to see if i can get a pair of small pliers in there to push it in.

Would the spray contact cleaner work good? I've never used that, always used wire brushes and emeryboards. (i'm into models/rc cars/trains so the emeryboards is a common tool in the tool box, lol. I cant get an emery board in the adapter tho, or i would have tried that, same with the wire brush. I'm guessing the reason the lights wont go on is cause of the connections.

Even if the buildup is thick that spray contact cleaner will work? Thanks for your quick response.

cdowns
07-03-2006, 03:46 PM
cut the width of the emory board down so it fits into the connector slot// the spray is better than nothing but my preferred method is the sandpaper or file into the contacts to get them shiney clean
i use modelmakers filesand or ignition files to clean these type of contacts

jimfulco
07-05-2006, 02:11 AM
Put a little valve grinding compound on the contact surface, then plug it in and wiggle it around for a while. Clean out the compound with spray contact cleaner, then plug it back in.

87burb
07-19-2006, 06:14 AM
i was able to get replacement harness for them...they were 2.99 a peice at autozone. just cut one wire at a time and wired it up like they came off. Just need to find if i blew a fuse or if theres a short somewhere, due to the way they light up...the lows are fine but the brights make the passenger side dim down. i can post pictures if needed, they are in the other post i made tho in electrical under "wire problem NEED HELP" lol.