Chrysler Repair: 92 LeBaron: Headlight wont turn off


Question
QUESTION: I have a 1992 Chrysler LaBaron Convertible...Headlights won't turn off..I have to disconnect the battery or remove the fuse under the hood during the day and replace when I drive at night.I have located the relay switches under the dash on driver side and switched the headlight one with the one next to it and they still wont turn off...Have you any other suggestions?....I am thinking it might be the on-off headlight switch itself?...am hoping not as that might be difficult to replace..Am thinking of maybe installing a toggle 'kill' switch somewhere on dash...Any help would be appreciated...

ANSWER: Hi John,
First let us verify which exact relays you have switched. The actual bulb filament relays are in the top row, the second and third of the four sockets in that row. The front relay is for the parking lamps and the rear socket should be empty. The next to top row also has relays in the middle two positions but those are for opening and closing the concealed headlamp door by means of the door motor. I assume that it is low beams that are always 'on', is that correct?
It is possible though that one of those two relays is stuck closed, so that when you switch them you are actually activating the other bulbs. Have you verified that is not the case?
Are the headlamps are activated by grounding of the headlamp relay activation coil via a grounding switch located in the left switch pod. If that switch were stuck in the closed position then that should turn on the headlamps all the time, but you should still be able to choose between the high and the low beams. Is that the case?
Also, do you just remove one fuse to defeat the lights or two. There are two fuses for each bulb, thus a total of four fuses (17,18,19,20). Which have you removed?
If the headlamp switch section of the switch pod is indeed faulty, then either replacing the switch or possibly rewiring it so that the headlamp relays are activated when in the park position of the switch (but not the headlamps position) could be arranged (but you would lose the park lamp only function). Or of course you could replace the headlamp switch. To do either of those 'repairs' you do have to remove the switch pod, which I can send you the pages from the manual for via postal mail.
If the relays turn out to be not the problem, then you will have to remove the pod.
Please read the PS below and respond to it.
Thanks,
Roland

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QUESTION: Wow, Quick response...OK....let me try to answer your questions....First off,yes it is the low beam running lights that stay on...The relays I switched were on the top row...when I pulled the first the parking lights stopped working...when I pulled the second the headlights went off..not sure what the third did...I switched all the relays round robin and the headlights came back on when I plugged in the second...The am still able to switch from low and high beams....The fuse I pull to turn off the low beams is a 40 amp labeled 'head lamp syst' on the fuse case top (its located next to a 60 amp fuse labeled 'alt.pwr.1'....does this help us get any closer?

ANSWER: Hi John,
The 40 amp fuse you removed supplies the 4 smaller fuses I described that are under the dash.
The third relay from the front is for the high beams. So if you are sure that you didn't accidentally put the low beam relay back in the low beam relay socket (the second socket) then the headlamp switch in the switch pod is stuck "on" (shorted to ground). You could try jiggling it off and on and if that doesn't do the trick, then get a replacement headlamp switch from a dealer and replace it. If you want the pages that describe how to remove the switch pod and switches let me know your postal mailing address and I'll send you a photo copy.
Thanks for the rating and nomination, which by the 'rules' of the website you can do again for each of my answers (up to 5 times).
Roland


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QUESTION: OK...guess I need to check out the switch...would appreciate copy of remove pages...My mail address is P.O. Box 1335 Sunset Beach, CA 90742

Answer
Hi John,
I will go get copies, ideally tomorrow morning and get them in the mail to you before the rain begins here in No. California. Thanks for the rating. By the way, you can also give me another 'nomination' for volunteer of the month is you choose to do so.
Thanks,
Roland