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The early cars' headlight switch is a known weak point. The contacts carry all the amperage for the lights on these pre-85 cars and can burn out. The 83 is on its second one and it's starting to give problems. Pull the knobs, the little panel, the metal bracket, and get the switch out of there. Look for signs of overheating.
The Red wire is 12V from the battery. Unfused, so be careful! The Yellow is power out to the headlights via the beam switching relay under the hood. The White sends power to the fuse panel for the taillights, parking lights, and the lights on the controls and instruments.
Remove the wires from the switch and short together the Red and the White. If the light switch is indeed the problem, you'll see the above lights go on. Touch the Red to the Yellow. Probably a good spark, and the headlights will go on. If all this happens, the switch is bad.
Installing a relay to carry the load on the Yellow wire will vastly extend the life of your new replacement switch.
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Bob (son's 81-244GL B21F, dtr's 83-244DL B23F, 'my' 94-944 B230FD; plus grocery-getter Dodge minivan, hobbycar MGB, and numerous old motorcycles)
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