Dimmer switch problem?
 

You know, when you're riding around after dark and you hit the dimmer
switch to make the high beams come on, and lights just go out... even
if only for a second or so... it can shake your nerves up a bit.
So what would make an '85 CJ-7 act this way? Dirty/bad/corroded dimmer
switch? Does anyone have experience with this? Is a switch cleaning a
good starting point or would you recommend replacing it? Could it be
something else?
Thanks.
Mark.

Re: Dimmer switch problem?
 

I had this same thing happen in a motorhome with a Ford Chassis.
There is a thermal switch within the switch that prevents overload on
the wiring, I would replace the switch, much easier than trying to
repair
it.

Kevin in Iowa
99XJ

TrailMarker wrote:
> You know, when you're riding around after dark and you hit the dimmer
> switch to make the high beams come on, and lights just go out... even
> if only for a second or so... it can shake your nerves up a bit.
> So what would make an '85 CJ-7 act this way? Dirty/bad/corroded dimmer
> switch? Does anyone have experience with this? Is a switch cleaning a
> good starting point or would you recommend replacing it? Could it be
> something else?
> Thanks.
> Mark.

Re: Dimmer switch problem?
 

I had this same thing happen in a motorhome with a Ford Chassis.
There is a thermal switch within the switch that prevents overload on
the wiring, I would replace the switch, much easier than trying to
repair
it.

Kevin in Iowa
99XJ

TrailMarker wrote:
> You know, when you're riding around after dark and you hit the dimmer
> switch to make the high beams come on, and lights just go out... even
> if only for a second or so... it can shake your nerves up a bit.
> So what would make an '85 CJ-7 act this way? Dirty/bad/corroded dimmer
> switch? Does anyone have experience with this? Is a switch cleaning a
> good starting point or would you recommend replacing it? Could it be
> something else?
> Thanks.
> Mark.

Re: Dimmer switch problem?
 

I had this same thing happen in a motorhome with a Ford Chassis.
There is a thermal switch within the switch that prevents overload on
the wiring, I would replace the switch, much easier than trying to
repair
it.

Kevin in Iowa
99XJ

TrailMarker wrote:
> You know, when you're riding around after dark and you hit the dimmer
> switch to make the high beams come on, and lights just go out... even
> if only for a second or so... it can shake your nerves up a bit.
> So what would make an '85 CJ-7 act this way? Dirty/bad/corroded dimmer
> switch? Does anyone have experience with this? Is a switch cleaning a
> good starting point or would you recommend replacing it? Could it be
> something else?
> Thanks.
> Mark.

Re: Dimmer switch problem?
 

The aftermarket dimmer switches are total garbage. The pricks don't
last me 2 years. I have gone through 3 since 2000 and the last one up
and quit on me last summer at 1:00 AM or so on the start of a 3000 mile
trip with a cop inspecting my lights while it happened! The one before
that quit when doing a light check just before another 2 week camping
trip.

I now have mine just cut right out and the wires spliced for low beams
with a button for my driving lights I use as high beams.

I am not sure I want to replace it with another junk part, I might just
go with a switched relay and a push button on the dash.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=2115147590
(More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)


TrailMarker wrote:
>
> You know, when you're riding around after dark and you hit the dimmer
> switch to make the high beams come on, and lights just go out... even
> if only for a second or so... it can shake your nerves up a bit.
> So what would make an '85 CJ-7 act this way? Dirty/bad/corroded dimmer
> switch? Does anyone have experience with this? Is a switch cleaning a
> good starting point or would you recommend replacing it? Could it be
> something else?
> Thanks.
> Mark.

Re: Dimmer switch problem?
 

The aftermarket dimmer switches are total garbage. The pricks don't
last me 2 years. I have gone through 3 since 2000 and the last one up
and quit on me last summer at 1:00 AM or so on the start of a 3000 mile
trip with a cop inspecting my lights while it happened! The one before
that quit when doing a light check just before another 2 week camping
trip.

I now have mine just cut right out and the wires spliced for low beams
with a button for my driving lights I use as high beams.

I am not sure I want to replace it with another junk part, I might just
go with a switched relay and a push button on the dash.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=2115147590
(More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)


TrailMarker wrote:
>
> You know, when you're riding around after dark and you hit the dimmer
> switch to make the high beams come on, and lights just go out... even
> if only for a second or so... it can shake your nerves up a bit.
> So what would make an '85 CJ-7 act this way? Dirty/bad/corroded dimmer
> switch? Does anyone have experience with this? Is a switch cleaning a
> good starting point or would you recommend replacing it? Could it be
> something else?
> Thanks.
> Mark.

Re: Dimmer switch problem?
 

The aftermarket dimmer switches are total garbage. The pricks don't
last me 2 years. I have gone through 3 since 2000 and the last one up
and quit on me last summer at 1:00 AM or so on the start of a 3000 mile
trip with a cop inspecting my lights while it happened! The one before
that quit when doing a light check just before another 2 week camping
trip.

I now have mine just cut right out and the wires spliced for low beams
with a button for my driving lights I use as high beams.

I am not sure I want to replace it with another junk part, I might just
go with a switched relay and a push button on the dash.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=2115147590
(More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)


TrailMarker wrote:
>
> You know, when you're riding around after dark and you hit the dimmer
> switch to make the high beams come on, and lights just go out... even
> if only for a second or so... it can shake your nerves up a bit.
> So what would make an '85 CJ-7 act this way? Dirty/bad/corroded dimmer
> switch? Does anyone have experience with this? Is a switch cleaning a
> good starting point or would you recommend replacing it? Could it be
> something else?
> Thanks.
> Mark.

Re: Dimmer switch problem?
 

The thermal breaker is in the headlight switch, not in the dimmer on the
CJ's.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=2115147590
(More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)


Kevin in Iowa wrote:
>
> I had this same thing happen in a motorhome with a Ford Chassis.
> There is a thermal switch within the switch that prevents overload on
> the wiring, I would replace the switch, much easier than trying to
> repair
> it.
>
> Kevin in Iowa
> 99XJ
>
> TrailMarker wrote:
> > You know, when you're riding around after dark and you hit the dimmer
> > switch to make the high beams come on, and lights just go out... even
> > if only for a second or so... it can shake your nerves up a bit.
> > So what would make an '85 CJ-7 act this way? Dirty/bad/corroded dimmer
> > switch? Does anyone have experience with this? Is a switch cleaning a
> > good starting point or would you recommend replacing it? Could it be
> > something else?
> > Thanks.
> > Mark.

Re: Dimmer switch problem?
 

The thermal breaker is in the headlight switch, not in the dimmer on the
CJ's.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=2115147590
(More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)


Kevin in Iowa wrote:
>
> I had this same thing happen in a motorhome with a Ford Chassis.
> There is a thermal switch within the switch that prevents overload on
> the wiring, I would replace the switch, much easier than trying to
> repair
> it.
>
> Kevin in Iowa
> 99XJ
>
> TrailMarker wrote:
> > You know, when you're riding around after dark and you hit the dimmer
> > switch to make the high beams come on, and lights just go out... even
> > if only for a second or so... it can shake your nerves up a bit.
> > So what would make an '85 CJ-7 act this way? Dirty/bad/corroded dimmer
> > switch? Does anyone have experience with this? Is a switch cleaning a
> > good starting point or would you recommend replacing it? Could it be
> > something else?
> > Thanks.
> > Mark.

Re: Dimmer switch problem?
 

The thermal breaker is in the headlight switch, not in the dimmer on the
CJ's.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=2115147590
(More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)


Kevin in Iowa wrote:
>
> I had this same thing happen in a motorhome with a Ford Chassis.
> There is a thermal switch within the switch that prevents overload on
> the wiring, I would replace the switch, much easier than trying to
> repair
> it.
>
> Kevin in Iowa
> 99XJ
>
> TrailMarker wrote:
> > You know, when you're riding around after dark and you hit the dimmer
> > switch to make the high beams come on, and lights just go out... even
> > if only for a second or so... it can shake your nerves up a bit.
> > So what would make an '85 CJ-7 act this way? Dirty/bad/corroded dimmer
> > switch? Does anyone have experience with this? Is a switch cleaning a
> > good starting point or would you recommend replacing it? Could it be
> > something else?
> > Thanks.
> > Mark.