1983 Eldo high beams won't shut off!

baldizzone · #1 (**permalink**) 06-23-05, 12:16 AM

1983 Eldorado Biarritz with twilight sentinel and auto dimming. When headlights are on, they are always on high beam. I have shut off auto dimming and sentinel controls. Steering column pull switch seems to have some click. I'm also guessing not the column switch because turning auto dimming on and off should toggle high beams and does not. Was hoping someone solved similar problem and could advise where to start. Thanks.

peteski · #2 (**permalink**) 06-23-05, 01:34 AM

I don't have auto-dimming in mine, but I suspect that there is a hi-beam relay and some electronics that control it. I would suspect them.

Peteski

LittleNo · #3 (**permalink**) 06-26-05, 06:59 AM

i think this year the beam select is done by a simple switch, not by a relay - if so, you have the beam select switch at your steering column with 3 wires:

yellow: input from light switch (and twiligt sentinel)
lt green: highbeam out
tan: lowbeam out

if you have this "simple" switch, i guess, this switch is your problem - they often die on older vehicles (thats why on later cars the beam select is done by a relay)

ol'albert · #4 (**permalink**) 07-02-05, 11:38 PM

Mine came on when I was travelling and I had to unplug them at the headlights in order to park it overnight at the hotel. There is a relay, and some electronices with it, and it does burn out. Dealer replaced it.

83CADMAN · #5 (**permalink**) 06-01-09, 09:24 PM

My 83 Eldo is equiped with the twilight sentinal and the auto-dimmer options. The problem is that the system is stuck on high beam and will not dim. I have turned off the sentinal and tried manually. Is there a relay to check and where is it located? ...Anyone?

carnut · #6 (**permalink**) 06-03-09, 09:14 PM

The dimmer switch is located on the left side of the steering column and is adjustable. A rod passes down externally of the column and enters this switch. Loosen the small screws on the dimmer switch and move it up, I would think. Without benefit of the service manual at home, I believe there is a centering hole on this switch that you put a small drill bit into to center this switch in relation to the rod. The auto dimming switch is turned on AFTER you have put the high beams on. Then the photo cell in the grille sees the on coming lights and dims the lights. Once the car or lights pass, it switches back to high beam. I never really cared for this option personnally, and would rarely use it. Was meant for the days when less cars were on the road

Chris Luongo · #7 (**permalink**) 06-10-09, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carnut

The dimmer switch is located on the left side of the steering column and is adjustable. A rod passes down externally of the column and enters this switch.

I've owned GM cars with this style of steering column almost all my life, and about half of them seem to have had the high beam switch misadjusted.

Try moving the tilt steering wheel all the way down to its lowest position, and see if the high beams will click on and off correctly. If not, try other positions of the steering wheel.

In about half of those cars I've had, I had to tilt the wheel all the way down in order to turn the high beams on or off.

If you find that's the case with your car, you can just tilt the wheel for the time being, but then someday or another you're going to want to get under the dash and adjust that switch. It's a little tight to get at, but once you're there, adjustment is easy.

83CADMAN · #8 (**permalink**) 06-18-09, 05:08 PM

My research turned up that on 1983 eldorado's equiped with the guide-o-matic auto dimming option used a dimmer relay located near the fuse block.
The elect schematic's I located (see attachment) shows this relay just ahead of the headlights. The relay is approx 1" by 2" pluged into a 5 wire harness terminal. The relay consist of two functions, one is a small solinoid activated by the colum lever or photo-eye. The second is the switch controling the power to the headlights. (note: the highbeam is the normal contact). The solonoid windings get hot and tend to fail activating the switch to low beams.
The fact that this relay gets hot and locks the highbeam setting when it fails speaks for its shelf, ie; melted plastic / wires ect. / fire!! if not replaced and use of the headlights is continued.
I located thru my local GM Parts supplier a replacement at GM Vintage Parts. The orig part number on the relay matches the current order number (Guide#5969007 12v) and cost me about $60.00.