H4 headlight installation problem

[SidSincere]

1983 Cherokee, AMC258

I installed H4 headlights (original factory harness) tonight and when I tested them, both brights and dims worked... on the first test only. When I went back out to show them off to my wife the headlights did not work, but the running lights did. I took the headlights back off and found there is no voltage getting to them now. Although it was dark and I just had a cheap flashlight, I could not find a fuse in the fuseblock marked as headlights. Is there a fuse for the headlights somewhere else? What else may have failed?

[letank]

No fuses. The headlight switch has a thermal "fuse"... which after years does not reset...
If you still have an ammeter time to do the ammeter bypass.

Other will chime in.

[carnuck]

Probably smoked the high beam switch or headlight switch. If you want brighter lights, the aftermarket wiring kit is even better.

[jaber]

X3, check the dimmer switch on the floor, then the dash switch. It could also be the ground on the facia.

[FSJ Guy]

MY money is on the dimmer switch or the headlight switch itself.

X2 on doing a relay modification.

[tgreese]

An aux relay is the way to go with these. The relay will protect the switches from excess load, and make your lights brighter.

[serehill]

Yeah the lights have individual grounds. that's not it. As the guys say either the dimmer or the headlight switch. They were the straw that broke the camels back. Turn the switch on & off a couple of time then hit the dimmer a couple of times. if nothing then you mave have a fise problem but most likely the switches.


Other thought you pinched the wires when putting the lights in. The thermal overload is a metal thingy plugged into the fuse box. When they go bad sometimes they are replaced by fuses since they fit right in. If you blew a fuse you might want to check everything before you just replace the fuse.

[Gumby]

I did this upgrade and they were heating up too much for me, so I got the harness upgrade. I also put in Sylvania upgraded bulbs and it is all good. I hope you find your issue soon.

[SidSincere]

I ordered a new H4 wiring harness, and hopefully will install on Saturday. I have a working spare dimmer switch from a previous project which I'll swap in. I still can't find the fuse. I got a pic of most of the fuse block and honestly don't believe it is in the block. I found all sorts of different small plastic electrical dookickeys dangling in that area as well, but none of them look like a fuse to me.

EDIT: I now have power back to the headlights. it must have been a thermal overload... or some other reset. I won't do that again! Thanks, y'all!

[letank]

I ordered a new H4 wiring harness, and hopefully will install on Saturday. I have a working spare dimmer switch from a previous project which I'll swap in. I still can't find the fuse. I got a pic of most of the fuse block and honestly don't believe it is in the block. I found all sorts of different small plastic electrical dookickeys dangling in that area as well, but none of them look like a fuse to me.

EDIT: I now have power back to the headlights. it must have been a thermal overload... or some other reset. I won't do that again! Thanks, y'all!

Good... there is no visible fuse it is built in the dash control switch off/park/headlight courtesy light :