testing the headlight switch

[mwood1985]

how would I go about testing the headlight switch? toss a new one in? my problem is no rear running lights or courtesy lights. if I unplug the headlight switch and use a jumper wire from 12 volt hot to any of the terminals and send power to whatever circuit I get lights but plug the plug back into the switch and nothing again.

 

[wage92]

not sure how the switch works, is it the knob style where you pull it out and can turn it?

Doesnt matter, if you find out what terminals are power and ground and all that, you can use a multimeter to check for continuity. Or you could have the truck on and turn the switch on and check for a voltage drop, a switch should not drop much voltage, unless it has a dimmer built in.

Hopefully that helped you some, from the way you are explaining it it seems like the switch is the problem.

 

[Fordum]

If you are actually bypassing the switch and the lights work, then its almost certainly a bad switch.
About the only thing other than the switch would be a bad connector where it plugs in.
As long as some of the lights work. If none of them worked unless you supplied 12 volts, it might be the 12 volt source to the switch.

But it only has one, so if some work then its getting 12 volts.

 

[mwood1985]

its the pull out knob style with the twist rheostat. I had to run a new 12 volt power wire. based off the schematics it came straight off the battery junction. I have power going in. the headlights work when you pull it out. like I said I can get the individual circuits to work when jumped from the power to their respective wire. it might be simple stuff but im terrible at wiring and electrics so bear with me. gotta get those running lights working so I can drive at night lol