Chrysler Repair: 1991 Dodge Dynasty headlights, dodge dynasty, neon glow

Question
Hi, Roland –

About a year ago (1/13/2006)  you answered a question about a 1991 Dodge Dynasty where the headlights would only work if the driver manually held the low/high stalk switch, and then only on high beam. He had already replaced the stalk but still had the problem, so you proposed it could be either in the headlight circuit breaker, or it needed a new headlight switch on the dash.  Did the querent ever respond back and advise which fix worked?  I’ve just had the exact same problem develop in my own newly-acquired 1991 Dodge Dynasty.  Since I have little money and even less knowledge about fixing cars (or getting them fixed), I’m trying to narrow the issue down as much as possible so I don’t get taken for a ride in my own vehicle  L    By the way, I’ve been reading thru the site here, and I really appreciate that your answers are so detailed and polite that even those of us that aren’t mechanics could feel like we could do it!

~Lynne N.


Answer
Hi Lynne,
No, I don't recall getting a response from Bill nor do I see a follow-up qiestion from him. And even so, his fix may not be the same as yours.
But having re-read the q&a and looked again at the circuit I feel that it either has to be at the multi-function stalk switch or in the dash mounted headlamp switch that you have your problem. I suspect it would be easier to test for whether 12V is getting to the stalk switch than to remove the headlamp switch from which the 12V comes. But on the other hand, it is more likely that the headlamp switch is the cause of your problem because it does have that circuit breaker which may need to be reset or replaced in order to generate that 12V to the stalk. In either case you would need some instruction as to how to get to the contacts for either switch to test for voltage with a simple neon glow lamp or a voltmeter. I can xerox and US mail the pages to you so you can see how to do it or a helper could do it themself.
I think this is a pretty ideal do-it-yourself job. Let me know if you want these pages.
Roland
PS I'm impressed that you found the earlier question as its subject was merely described as "headlights".