headlight headaches heading for me

[bradrhale]

on the pete, both low beams work. in working condition, all 4 headlights work when one turns on the high beams. however, when i hit the dimmer switch, cloumn mounted, both lights on one side come up and the low beam on the other side goes out. low beams work, high beams, only 2 on same side work. the one high beam bulb that never comes on, is new and does have power and ground. i am leaning towards a dimmer switch at this point as i have checked on the relays to make sure that they are functioning. this truck has a left side headlight relay and a right side headlight relay. what do yall think??

[stumpuller454]

i`m confused! lol

[leolkfrm]

multi funtion switch in the column

[bradrhale]

thanks leo. the switch has the dimmer for the high beams, turn signals and hazards.
is the thread hurting your head yet??

[leolkfrm]

Nope haven't had a headach since i've been taking advil for leg surgery last week!

[batty1214]

I'd have to say it is in your switch......

[crabtruck]

Originally Posted by bradrhale

... both low beams work.
in working condition, all 4 headlights work when one turns on the high beams.
however, when i hit the dimmer switch, cloumn mounted,
both lights on one side come up and the low beam on the other side goes out.
low beams work,
high beams, only 2 on same side work.
the one high beam bulb that never comes on, is new and does have power and ground.
i am leaning towards a dimmer switch at this point as i have checked on the relays to make sure that they are functioning.
this truck has a left side headlight relay and a right side headlight relay....

No wonder your head hurts, that's technically impossible !!
Is this 3 elements / 2 lamps per side or really 2 elements / 2 lamps per side ?
Do you have the right lamps ?
Have you checked that both relays are getting identical signalling from dimmer switch ?
Have you checked that the relay for bad side has googd ground ?
I know it's wires, but if you don't have the diagram some pictures might help.

[bradrhale]

lord no i dont have pics. like skywalker, i use the force. one lamp is a 3 prong and the other is a 2 prong. the high beam is the 2 prong, obviously. i do have the right lamps. most all the relays for the truck are all identical so it makes it fairly easy to replace them with ones that i know for a fact are working. there is no relay for the dimmer switch per say. each relay has 6 prongs. i assume that 2 of these are the control, 2 for the headlights and 2 for the highbeams since you have to have the headlight switch on before you can turn the highbeams on.

[crabtruck]

ok, so I do some guessing then...
Six tap relays usually have a pair of them that are electrically the same place,
just more convienient to install. Think they're labeled so,ething like "87" and "87A".
So I faked up a drawing for the lights, but there are several possible choices
to complete it. I don't know if the dimmer switch is not doing the whole job.
I suspect the light switch feeds the dimmer and the relays as well.
Some checks at the relay socket would give the answers, wanna play ?

[bradrhale]

the hot or lt sw would be the headlight switch. it is mounted on the dash. you cannot turn on the high beams unless that switch is on. you have 3 arrows listed on each relay. 2 arrows would be the low beams and 1 would be the high beams since the low beams stay on when the highs are on. push the dimmer switch to turn the highs off and the lows stay on.
i am not sure that your L and R above the relays would be completely correct though as both headlights operate off the same switch instead of 2 different switches. or am i a bit off track from you??