headlights warning alarm when lights left on

[86 silverado short]

Ok, I`m trying to find out if a 1986 silverado came from the factory with a buzz alarm to let you know that you left the headlights on once you have turned off the ignition. If not is there a after market device which can be installed to do this.Thanks for any help.

[fixit-p]

Not sure if it's standard equipment or not but it's an easy mod. All you need is a cheapo piezio buzzer and wire the positve side (polarity sensitive) to the yellow wire off of the headlight or dimmer switch and the ground side goes to an ignition source. with the headlights and ignition both on there is power to both sides of the buzzer and no buzz, turn off the ignition and the buzzer flows to ground through various ground paths and with the headlights off and ignition on the internal diode in the buzzer prevents feedback to the headlight circuit.

[michael bustamante]

I picked up a headlight warning buzzer from autozone a number of years back, it saved me more than once from being stranded

[Longhorn Man]

I install them on all my trucks... all it takes is once to make you feel and look stupid.
I think they are still avalible at napa under P/N 782-1637
Real easy to hook up, at the fusr boc, you hook one wire to the dash light fuse, and another wire to the radio, or power window, or turn signal fuse... basicly, any fuse that turns off with the ignition.
The way it works, the dash lights are your 12 volt power supply, and the ground wire of the buzzer goes to a circuit that is powered with the key on. When you turn the key off, the power is removed from that circuit, and it basicly turrns into a ground, which completes the circuit, causing the most annoying buzzing noise you've heard in years, and it forces you to make sure the lights are off BEFORE you kill the engine next time. (at least that's how it works on me)

[86 silverado short]

Thanks for the help. This sounds like an easy fix. Again thanks.

[dwcsr]

Just an update for the new part number at NAPA (Balkamp) BK 7821637 $6.99. GM # 999373 is getting pricy at $24 on ebay.

[Longhorn Man]

good info... thanks
Goin on the electrical FAQ now too.

[67HEAVEN]

Originally Posted by Longhorn Man

Real easy to hook up, at the fusr boc, you hook one wire to the dash light fuse, and another wire to the radio, or power window, or turn signal fuse... basicly, any fuse that turns off with the ignition.
The way it works, the dash lights are your 12 volt power supply, and the ground wire of the buzzer goes to a circuit that is powered with the key on. When you turn the key off, the power is removed from that circuit, and it basicly turrns into a ground, which completes the circuit, causing the most annoying buzzing noise you've heard in years

First, thanks for the part number. It still works here in Canada, but the price is double up here.

I'm confused on the hookups, though. Wouldn't hooking one connector to the dash light fuse give you a constant reading? In other words, doesn't the dash light fuse always have power, whether or not the dash lights/taillights/etc. are actually turned on? Doesn't the connection actually have to go to somewhere that only gets power "IF" the light switch has been left on?

Where would this be without digging into the wiring harnesses or trying to tap into the connections at the light switch?

[fixit-p]

^^really would depend on what vehicle you are working on but in a 67-72 as well as others the dash light fuse is fed by the headlight switch so when the headlights are off the dash light fuse is cold.

[67HEAVEN]

Originally Posted by fixit-p

^^really would depend on what vehicle you are working on but in a 67-72 as well as others the dash light fuse is fed by the headlight switch so when the headlights are off the dash light fuse is cold.

A-ha. Thanks for that clarification.

[RichardJ]

Here is one you can build yourself if you cared to.


http://www.sentex.ca/~mec1995/circ/headalrm.html

If you want to have more fun, here an automatic high beam dimmer.

http://www.aaroncake.net/circuits/hdlights.asp