Hey thanks Kevin for the pointers.  I did learn that the key has to be on to
light the headlights so some of my testing was faulty (like all of it).
This I do know for sure, I have power at the X terminal of the light switch
and power at terminal 56 with the switch engaged.  I think I'll add the
extra grounds at each headlight no matter what as it sounds like a pretty
good idea, that'd be the brown wires right?

I haven't messed with the thing since I got back this morning.  I was in
Butler PA at a bluegrass festival and got to meet a few of the Western PA
listmembers.  Very nice group of people.  I'll be sure to update for the
archives when I get this licked or come back for more help!

Ryan

Oh yeah I gots the hot feets problem now too, cable came off of slide lever
(i think)

----- Original Message -----
From: "Kevin Mulligan" <mulligan_kevin@YAHOO.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Sunday, May 25, 2008 10:10 PM
Subject: Re: Arrgh.. Headlights out on 86

> Sounds as if you've checked already but it could be that the factory
> ground is faulty. IIRC, the factory ground for the headlamps merges both
> high and low beam ground wires into a single spade terminal at the
> grounding post above the fuse box (via a double-male to single female
> connector or some such). My memor is hazy, but I believe there are only
> one or two setups like this at the ground connection, so it shouldn't be
> too hard to locate and test.
>
> If a headlight upgrade was performed, that may mean that a relay was
> installed. Some upgrades use a single relay for both high and low beam. If
> this was done in your case, it's possible that the relay is faulty or lost
> its ground, hence both high and low beams now inoperable.
>
> Look for a relay near the fuse box with blue, yellow, red and either brown
> or black wire connected to it. The problem may be the power circuit on the
> relay (input or output, usually terminals 30 or 87, or the ground for the
> switching circuit on the relay (usually terminal 85). Good luck!
>
> - Kevin
>