Light Bar Won’t Turn Off With Switch Anymore

Iv had a Baja bar in my front bumper a few years wired to a push button under the AC vents with factory wiring.

When I came out today the bar was on with the switch off but certainly not on before. It’s dim but on and has an occasional flicker. Now, when you press the button it comes on bright as usual but won’t turn off fully when pressed again. It goes back to the dim state. It does of course turn off when disconnected from battery or at harness.

I installed the Genesis Off-road Dual kit with 34 Odyssey’s about 5 days ago and no problems. I pulled all that out to make sure it wasn’t the issue but still doing the same thing.

 

Did you wire in a relay to the switch to power the light bar? If not, your switch is not designed to handle that much amps so it probably fried. I did this a long time ago on my first truck. I installed a cargo light directly to a push switch. It worked for awhile, then suddenly died. I found that the switch was fried.

 

If you did use a relay, I am guessing it is a generic unsealed relay. Install a weatherproof relay. Unsealed relays get moisture inside and get buildup between the contacts and that allows power to flow (at a reduced level) causing the light to be on.

 

Please tell us how you have the lights wired?
This way we can get an idea of where to start diagnosing the problem.

 

this is the relay that came with it...says right there, made in China...maybe that’s the problem.

 

Open it up and see how dirty/wet the contacts are.

 

yeh, wasn’t really and shouldn’t have much reason to be. I hit it with a wire wheel and hit with compressed air. Il probably just order another and keep it off until then. If it’s not the relay it may be something in the switch.

 

yup...relay just showed up and replaced....works fine...thanks

 

Yep. Same problem I had with mine. Used basic relays and moisture got in them and caused buildup on the contacts which made them have enough power to glow but not enough to be visible from the driver seat as being on. I have since gone to using weatherproof relays anytime I need a relay.

 

when I searched for relays, all I saw was this same Chinese crap I already have. Didn’t really see any weatherproof ones....maybe il just stick some di-electric grease in there.

 

When I use singles, I get this style
https://ebay.us/k8iZo0
When I decided to add a better setup, I went with a RTMR
https://ebay.us/16em5K
While a bit costly, the RTMR is a nice setup.

 

I knew I could depend on you guys. Noticed my light bar was on, very dim, when switch was off. Tried multiple things, then consulted the board. Pulled the relay, cleaned the contacts and blew out the socket, problem solved! Thanks guys....

 

Thanks all!

Same problem here after many days of heavy rain. I disconnected the switch and the light stayed on and dimmed.
I opened the hood (engine bay was wet) moved the relay and the light went off. I only noticed it when driving towards a large paned window. It actually looked kinda good. I wish I could put the light bar on "dim" while driving at night. It was dim enough that it would not bother oncoming traffic