Head Light Switch Clicking No Head Lights Now Also

I went wheeling today, started good didn't end good broke both from leaf spring hangers used winch to secure to the Frame got home. And heard a click click click key was off. I tracked it down to the headlight switch and also noticed when I pull the knob I have no head lights can the switch be bad. I have a 1971 cj5 buick v6

 

sounds like the circuit breaker is doing it's job
and it's inline with headlight switch
but other electrical circuits are on it too
you have a short somewhere

 

What other circuits are on it

 

It also does it when the key is off

 

yes battery power always
wiring you really need a FSM

 

As said, a short circuit somewhere. The circuit breaker at the back of the headlight switch protects the rest of the jeep circuits.

You should disconnect the battery until you get it traced.

X2 on the FSM.

 

Sounds like it took a pretty hard blow on front if you broke both front spring hangers. Look for other damage especially around any electrical components. Something could have gotten bent, pinched, or jarred loose likely toward the front of the Jeep but not necessarily. Trace the wires from the breaker, check connectors on lights, horn, brake and dimmer switches. Check the junction block on the fender. Winch was working, how is it wired in?

 

It's wired direct to the battery I was told this morning that my brake lights don't work either

 

All of the lights, including the brake lights are fed from that breaker. So is the horn. It is why I said to check the connectors on lights, horn, brake and dimmer switch. Any of these could possibly have been hit or perhaps just jarred loose and are a potential for the short. Examine the wires going to all of these look for any bare spots or pinched wires.

You could also lift the hood and connect the battery at night and see if you can spot any sparks, but that would be a long shot.

 

After the cowboys game I will go out in the garage and start following wires.

 

Both the horn and brake lights are hot all the time and are good things to look at. There is a brake light switch just over the left motor mount that could be shorting.

 

Did you happen to pinch some wires when you used the winch cable to secure front springs?

 

Thanks every buddy I found it it was a pinched wire going to my brake light switch