question, is it the headlight switch? or my dimmer? vehicle a 96 2dr 5sp 4cylinder if any of that is needed

when I bought it, I knew lights seemed a little dim on low, so I know a headlight wiring upgrade will be in my future.

well I havent been driving it much unless I knew I work a day shift, as the first time I drove it at night I had no low beams, it was "fun" driving home with only high beams, nearly 30 miles. rednecks just cut theirs on high & leave them on back at you, & more than 20 people did that to me, including 1 cop.

the low & fog are wired together, there isnt a seperate switch for the fog lights, I plan to install a seperate switch so I can cut them on, but still only allow to work while on low.

anyway my day off when it finally wasnt raining I decided to check headlights & I pull one to check for power, & I checked lights & still had no low beams, before I pulled 1 light, I made sure they were not working on low, well after light was removed, & I found power to hot, & checked for low, they came on, as soon as I put light back in, it didnt work for maybe 10 seconds, & then it came on, & now they work everytime I cut them on, all 4 beams, the 2 fog & both low beams.

I dont want to drive it at night & find myself driving home only with hibeams again, but I dont want to replace parts un-necessarily, & budget isnt in that kind of shape either.

I had asked previous owner about, as it was a 1 owner, & she had headlight switch replaced last year, almost a year ago April I think, so I dont want to replace the wrong part, but it is hard to diagnose a part when it is working correctly, at least for the moment, & last thing I want is for them to go off on a mountain road in a curve, & thats where I live in the mountains.

which switch is the most common problem? headlight switch, or dimmer switch? or is it another possibility?

Thank you,
Randy

 

"anyway my day off when it finally wasnt raining I decided to check headlights & I pull one to check for power, & I checked lights & still had no low beams, before I pulled 1 light, I made sure they were not working on low, well after light was removed, & I found power to hot, & checked for low, they came on, as soon as I put light back in, it didnt work for maybe 10 seconds, & then it came on, & now they work everytime I cut them on, all 4 beams, the 2 fog & both low beams."


Check the usual:
Grounds (use a schematic)
Connectors
etc.