Headlights not working correctly

[msp2jxr]

I was very stupid and took the the headlight buckets out to have them repainted. When I put them back in the lights turn on but will not turn off. I have adjusted them many times. The white dash light will go out in both open and closed positions. I thought if the light went out that meant the switches were activated. I am not sure why I can not get the lights to go out. I am not even sure how to get at the switches. I removed the panel under the fender by the tire but did not see the switch back there either. Is there away to test which switch is not working?

[tomking]

You have to take the buckets out to get to the headlite switches. It sounds like one of the switches is bad or the lever is binding in the ON position.
You might try to remove the headlite relay and plug it in again to see if that turns them off.

[Gordy]

Were they working properly before you had them out? If so the switches are probably not the issue. The switches are behind the left headlight rotator. Do they open and close smoothly? Probably the best bet is to remove the left bucket and rotator again and start fresh. While it's apart you may as well get new switches from OGTS and be done with it.

[namba209]

Guys, only one microswitch in the left bucket powers the headlight relay, the other two, one in each bucket is for the indicator in the dash. According to my DESTEC schematic, the lights should come on, only when the headlights are not in the closed and locked position. This leaves three possibilities, considering the microswitches seldom go bad, the actuating arm on the microswitch, needs to be adjusted, or the headlight relay has welded the contasts together, or there is a short between the Black and Yellow/Black wires going to the microswitch. To check the relay, pull the Yellow/Black wire off the relay and see if the lights go out, if they do, the problem lies elsewhere. HTH.

[msp2jxr]

When I pull the yellow and black an wire off the relay the lights go out. I have adjusted buckets and they lock in place. Even jiggling them does not get them to go out. I did find the bolts to remove the plates but they are so rusted I will break the bolts to get them off. I gave up and place a switch under the dash. I do appreciate the great response on this site. I am waiting for the rear break parts to come in and I will post some pictures of my GT 72

[namba209]

Here's a link to a very good tech article on how to remove, repair and install the headlight mechanism by Wayne Torman. Read this completly before starting the process and it will help you out immensly. As for the stubborn bolts, use a penetrant such as PB Blaster, liberally for a couple of days before you tackle getting the bolts out. Adjusting the headlight buckets will not make any change in the microswitch activation. There is a lever on them that is moved by the rotating mechanism that contacts the actuating arm and either opens or closes the switch. HTH.

http://clubs.hemmings.com/clubsites/oana/tech/Headl.pdf