Halogen headlight issue
 

I'm not the greatest guy at wiring and I can eventually figure things out, but I'm having an issue with my headlights that has me at my wits end. My 69 Firebird had halogen headlights on it when I got it. Things were really messed up with wires crossed and one signal coming on when you turn the other one on and visa versa. I was able to get that straightened out with the wiring diagram but the problem I can't seem to fix is the parking lights. They turn off when I turn on the headlights, and the signals don't work when the headlights are on. The rear signals work fine. I've traced every wire and I can't find anything that might be crossed. Has anyone put it halogens and had this same problem?

I believe the parking lights are supposed to turn off when the headlights are on. I'm no 69 Firebird expert, but most cars of that and earlier times turned off the parking lights when the headlights came on.

I recently installed halogen headlights on my 67 GTO with similar problems.
I made solid grounds for the both parking lights. I used new copper wires to the radiator frame. I sanded off the paint from the radiator frame to ensure a good ground. I also found that I had a faulty high beam switch the mounts to the floor which I replaced. No problems since.

I’ll have to check the ground. Thanks for the tip.


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Not sure about that but it’s possible. However, my turn signals don’t work when the headlights are on either.


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I just now remembered, I also replaced the headlight switch; don't know if this was the culprit. We hate throwing money at problems but when a part is 50 plus years old, I tend to replace them.

I thought about that too. I'll check the cheap and easy way first...lol

And I just remembered that the high beam indicator light on the dash is lit when the low beams are on and off when the high beams are on. I've been meaning to check into that but forgot about it.

Hum?
 

I can only think of a couple things that could cause this without getting a wiring diagram out and doing some studying. And halogen bulbs wouldn't have anything to do with it. They bolt in and work the same as sealed beam bulbs.

First would be a bad ground problem for front lighting. That would be headlights and park/turn bulbs.

Second and highly suspect, is wires in wrong location on the outside low/high beam bulbs. Terminals are the same for halogen and sealed beam. Wires on the wrong terminals would cause feed back problems that would explain the high beam indicator being on on both low and high. Both elements in the bulb would be lighting up at the same time instead of one at a time.

Could try un-plugging the outside low/high beam bulbs just to see if turn, park and high beam indicator work like they should.

Definately got to check grounds for every light and that the core support is grounded good.

Will need updates on this one
Clay

Thanks for the input Clay. When I hook the battery back up I'll try your suggestions.

One correction on your reply, the high beam indicator is on when the low beams are on, and OFF when the high beams are on.

I noticed that after going back and reading through things again.

The indicator light wire is inside the car. Either at the dimmer switch or bulkhead connector. If the dimmer switch pigtail has been changed, swapped, monkeyed with in general...the low and high wires could be in the wrong location there. Making low beams high and high beams low. "About" the same as wires in the wrong place at the head light bulbs.

Your left/right turn being swapped makes me think some others are mixed up.

Should be easy enough..just gonna take some studying/testing

Clay