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1955 Autronic Eye issues

Started by Cadillac Jack 82, April 06, 2021, 01:21:28 PM

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Cadillac Jack 82


I'm having an ongoing issue where my passenger side headlight will flicker on low beam but be perfectly fine on high beam.  I believe the issue resides with the Autronic eye system.  Does anyone know what would cause this one headlight to flicker?  I recently replaced the bulb so I know its not that.
Tim

CLC Member #30850

1959 Cadillac CDV "Shelley"
1964 Cadillac SDV "Rosalie"
1966 Oldsmobile Toronado "Sienna"

Past Cars

1937 LaSalle Cpe
1940 Chevrolet Cpe
1941 Ford 11Y
1954 Buick 48D
1955 Cadillac CDV
1955 Packard Clipper
1957 Cadillac Series 62
1962 VW Bug
1962 Dodge 880
1966 Mercury Montclair
1967 Buick Wildcat Convertible
1968 Chevy Chevelle SS
1968 Plymouth Barracuda
1977 Lincoln MKV

D. Mailan

#1
Hello Tim,

The Autronic eye set up should not be having an effect on that. If it was the Guide-matic having issues, the lights would either switch between low and high beam or not come on. May I ask why you think it is the Autronic eye? This issue in my opinion seems to possibly be a connection issue. I have a '56 so what I say may be different for you but I am pretty sure that it is somewhat the same. The following is what I recomend:

1. At the corners of the radiator support, there is a screw that is attached to a black wire. That is the groud wire for your headlight. Check if that is loose.

2.On the wire loom that comes from your firewall down the driverside fenderwell and across the radiator support, their are two 4 way plastic connectors. They are for your low/high beam, park lights, and directionals. The Tan/brown wire should be the low beam. Check if any of the those connections are lose.

Like I said, this is how it is on a '56 so it may be different for you.

Good luck!

Derick 

Cadillac Jack 82


Derick I believe its my Autronic Eye amp box because when I tap it the headlight comes on and stays on low beam.
Tim

CLC Member #30850

1959 Cadillac CDV "Shelley"
1964 Cadillac SDV "Rosalie"
1966 Oldsmobile Toronado "Sienna"

Past Cars

1937 LaSalle Cpe
1940 Chevrolet Cpe
1941 Ford 11Y
1954 Buick 48D
1955 Cadillac CDV
1955 Packard Clipper
1957 Cadillac Series 62
1962 VW Bug
1962 Dodge 880
1966 Mercury Montclair
1967 Buick Wildcat Convertible
1968 Chevy Chevelle SS
1968 Plymouth Barracuda
1977 Lincoln MKV

D. Mailan

#3
Thank you,

I still do not beleive that the Amplifier box is the issue b/c it controls both headlights at the same time. The current for the low and high beams are two individual wires that supply power to the headlights. Their is no passenger side low beam and driver side low beam wire. It is one wire.  But there is a possibility that the very troublesome amp box is the culprit. Hopefully others can weigh in. Here is my 2 cents:

Try this then,

1. Disconnect the battery and remove the 4 flathead screws that hold down the amplifier box cover.

2. Inside, you can see where the wire loom from the headlight relay comes in from the bottom. Those wires get connected to a block. Many times, if the wire loom is pulled between the headlight relay and the Amp box, those wires can become disconnected. Check if any of those have come lose. Hopefully that is the issue.

3. If any of the componets inside of the box have broken or deteriorated, then the problem will take more time to tackle. Try looking through the shop manual to diagnose it too.

Good Luck!

Derick

J. Gomez

Tim,

Your issue may be related to a bad/lose connection or a faulty power relay, the power relay is active (on) for the LB to operate. The way the contacts are place are not the best position and the bottom insulator tends to loosen the rivets that holds them with age.

If you have strong UB lights that is a good sign since the power relay is deactivated (off) so there is not much pressure on the contact to switch to the UB when the relay is off.

Good luck..! 
J. Gomez
CLC #23082

Cadillac Jack 82


Power relay?  Are you referring to the amp box?
Tim

CLC Member #30850

1959 Cadillac CDV "Shelley"
1964 Cadillac SDV "Rosalie"
1966 Oldsmobile Toronado "Sienna"

Past Cars

1937 LaSalle Cpe
1940 Chevrolet Cpe
1941 Ford 11Y
1954 Buick 48D
1955 Cadillac CDV
1955 Packard Clipper
1957 Cadillac Series 62
1962 VW Bug
1962 Dodge 880
1966 Mercury Montclair
1967 Buick Wildcat Convertible
1968 Chevy Chevelle SS
1968 Plymouth Barracuda
1977 Lincoln MKV

D. Mailan

Tim,

I believe that Jose is talking about the power relay that is towards the rear of the driver side fender well. It is also called a headlight relay. I attached a picture of mine.

Derick

J. Gomez

Thanks Derick..!  ;)

Tim,

Derick's picture is the relay (aka power relay) as it provides power to the headlights. The connections are stamped on the metal cover and you can see on the picture below the two connections on top end are for the UB and LB. These are the contacts inside the box for relay and they are just held by a single rivet through the insulator this is the one that crumble with age so the contacts become lose.
J. Gomez
CLC #23082

Cadillac Jack 82


Does anyone have the part number for this in case I have to replace it?
Tim

CLC Member #30850

1959 Cadillac CDV "Shelley"
1964 Cadillac SDV "Rosalie"
1966 Oldsmobile Toronado "Sienna"

Past Cars

1937 LaSalle Cpe
1940 Chevrolet Cpe
1941 Ford 11Y
1954 Buick 48D
1955 Cadillac CDV
1955 Packard Clipper
1957 Cadillac Series 62
1962 VW Bug
1962 Dodge 880
1966 Mercury Montclair
1967 Buick Wildcat Convertible
1968 Chevy Chevelle SS
1968 Plymouth Barracuda
1977 Lincoln MKV

J. Gomez

Quote from: 55 CDV Fan 82 on April 07, 2021, 04:14:16 PM
Does anyone have the part number for this in case I have to replace it?

Tim,

The MPL has part # 5946565 for 1955-1958 they are all the same.

Just don't be surprise with the $$ if you find one.   ;)

FYI you can rebuild those as long as there are no missing parts, I've done several of them as well as recondition and upgrade several amplifiers and phototube.

Good luck..!
J. Gomez
CLC #23082