Help! High beams always on!

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Jesse R Pearson

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Columbus, OH
First Name
Jesse
Truck Year
1987
Truck Model
V10
Engine Size
350
Hi all. I have an '87 V10 and all four of my lights are on when I turn the lights on. Actually all six if you count the yellow ones behind the grill. There is a switch on the floor, but nothing happens when I push it. If I pull back on the turn signal stalk and hold it, the high beams go out, but as soon as I release it, they come back on. How come? Also, why do I have two high beam switches (on the floor and in the column)? Thanks!
 

Dmack

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Should have either floor or column switch, not both. Sounds like a creative wire hack owned it before.
 

Matt69olds

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One or the other switch should have a tan, light green, and another color (might be yellow, light blue, depends on the year). The yellow/light blue/whatever is the headlight feed to the dimmer switch. The dimmer switch diverts power to with the low beams, or the high beams.

Pick whatever switch you want to use, then watch this video
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gotyourgoat

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The floorboard switch shouldn't be on an 87. Is it actually wired to something? I've seen those floor switches used for a homemade security measure before. Usually they make a problem where there wasn't one.

Could be the additional wiring does work and the switch failed. If the stalk makes the lights change at all then to me it sounds like a previous owner missed his old headlight switch on the floor and wired one in sequence with the original and now the switch has failed.
 

Jesse R Pearson

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Columbus, OH
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Jesse
Truck Year
1987
Truck Model
V10
Engine Size
350
The floorboard switch shouldn't be on an 87. Is it actually wired to something? I've seen those floor switches used for a homemade security measure before. Usually they make a problem where there wasn't one.

Could be the additional wiring does work and the switch failed. If the stalk makes the lights change at all then to me it sounds like a previous owner missed his old headlight switch on the floor and wired one in sequence with the original and now the switch has failed.

That's what I think too. I ordered a new column switch yesterday so we'll see.
 

Knuck55

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Chesapeake Va
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Dave
Truck Year
1988
Truck Model
Suburban V10
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350
Your column switch is adjustable. Sounds like it is out of adjustment. Just something to check.
 

Jesse R Pearson

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Location
Columbus, OH
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Jesse
Truck Year
1987
Truck Model
V10
Engine Size
350
I replaced the dimmer switch today and they work now. However, when I turn the brights on, should the low beams stay on?
 

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