brake warning light on, no low beam headlights ??

[YY1]

Was going to drive the Satellite to work today, but when I started it, the brake warning light came on.

Brakes seem to work fine and the brake lights and tail lights work.

...but when I turned on the headlights...nothing, and the other lights flashed a little.

I kicked the dimmer a few times and the brights (all four) came on, but the flashing continued until I turned the headlights off.

At work now so can't troubleshoot.

Anyone got an idea of where to start?

My first suspect is the dimmer, but I don't think that explains the brake warning light.

Could be a coincidence I guess.

 

[Photon440]

Parking brake pedal slightly depressed?

 

[YY1]

I don't think so, but I will check.

That wouldn't explain the headlights, though would it?

 

[440 4 speed]

I would check the dimmer switch to pan for a ground problem. Had that problem once. Maybe check the circuit breaker. Just suggestions.

 

[YY1]

I have a male to male spade jumper already made up to bypass the dimmer....somewhere.

I've had that problem before, too.

 

[dadsbee]

That wouldn't explain the headlights, though would it?

Not in an old car, but it did nicely put the daylight running lights out in my '90 SC.

 

[YY1]

Parking brake pedal was not depressed, but wiggling it made the light flicker.

I eventually wiggled and push/pulled enough for it to go out but after driving back to the shop, it was back on.

At least I know where the issue is- likely the switch or mount.

No time to work on the headlight issue.

 

[YY1]

Made a new spade connector jumper and jumped both after removing switch.

High beams worked, low beams didn't.

Hmmm. What are the odds that both low beam filaments burned out at the exact same time?

...and why would the other lights pulse when the light switch is pulled out and the dimmer is in the low position?

Didn't have time to remove a bulb but did find a potential replacement and verified both beams are working.

Grrr.

 

[72RoadrunnerGTX]

Sounds like a short in the forward lighting harness/low beam circuit, can be related to the brake light being on as well, the differential switch lead is nearby. If the low beam circuit is shorted it will trip the headlight switch breaker, can cause a flicker elsewhere. Removing the short, switching to high beams, will allow the breaker to reset. Put a voltmeter on the low beam side of the dimmer switch, is voltage going away when switching to low beams.

 

[YY1]

Found it.

Guess I pinched the harness under the pass side light bucket.

That does NOT sound like something I would do, but have no one to argue with bu myself.

Cleaned it up and put it back together.

Got dash back together except aftermarket tach with was giving me a fit, so had to step away.

 

[YY1]

Whoops wrong pic....

...but if anyone has one of those bezel screw receivers like the one that's missing in the lower right, I'd be interested.