Intermittent High Beam

[OZCarrera3]

Recently, the high beam switch for the headlights on my car has started taking a fairly casual approach to providing its services. Occasionally it will work as it is supposed to, whilst at other times it needs a bit of friendly coaxing by switching back and forth between high and low beam before deciding to cooperate. Sometimes it will not work under any circumstances.

My question is, is the switch ready to be pensioned off or can the thing be cleaned or pulled apart and repaired? I have thought about giving it a bit of a squirt with carby cleaner (after disconnecting the battery of course) to clean any unwanted gunk out of the switch. Will this just be waste of time and carby cleaner though?

[Joe Bob]

Some can be cleaned, the stalk switch is a common failure point. Lot's of times it will toggle between high and low when hitting a bump or running over the mother in law....

[OZCarrera3]

Thanks Mike.

Mother-in-laws also tend to snag the sway-bars...

[CarreraDan]

Sheldon,

I milked my high beam switch along for 6+ months and finally decided to just replace it. You can try to clean it, but by the time you get the thing out of the steering column you will probably just want to be done with it for another 15 years.

All and all the job isn't bad, took about 1.5 hours going slow and cleaning up the wiring while I was in there (and looking for a screw that flew off the horn). If you do decide to replace it make sure you only change one wire at a time on the ignition switch--it would be a nightmare to figure out which one goes where any other way. Good luck and lots of nice pictures in the archives on replacing the stalk.

[syncroid]

You could temporarily patch it if it is not roasted to bad already. If you look into the hole where the lever is you'll see a little bar about the size of a small nail. You can slip a piece of shrink wrap over it and that "might" buy you some extra time. Otherwise, just replace the darned thing. Part# is 911-613-305-01 About $125.00 US dollars and about an hour for a first timer to replace it.

[OZCarrera3]

Thanks guys. I think you're right, I'll just bite the bullet and get a new switch.

[Bill Douglas]

I fixed mine the other day. Easy. Remove the switch and you will see three brass bits (contacts) in the switch about 20mm long. Clean the contacts with very fine sand paper, then bend the bottom one down slightly with a pair of neddle nosed pliers, and test it until you get it right. Much easier than swapping out a perfectly good switch.

Big temperatures for this time of year in Brizzy!

[sagacis]

I second Bill's comments. In fact, I did just that a few days ago myself. I removed the steering wheel, unscrewed the top and bottom covers, and got at the switch reeds. Sanded down the contacts a bit with find sandpaper, and bent the little copper reeds with careful application of screwdriver and needle-nose.

Now it works like a champ. Don't know how long it will last though.

[Mark McClure]

Same as above......once you work out which contacts are which and the movement it is a simple task to set it up again.

It has been over two years since I did mine but all is well.

Cheers

Mark........

[OZCarrera3]

Ok Bill, sagacis and Mark you've talked me into it.

I'm gonna be a bit of a 'flipper b*tch' and change my mind. I like the odd project or two and this sounds like another one. If it works I've saved around $AUD250 and had a bit of fun, if not, then I'll put it down to experience and buy a new one.

[Bill Douglas]

Oh, I didn't know you were saving THAT much. If it works you owe us a "virtual" beer. Good luck

[alf]

While you are in there do the same thing to your wiper switch, both of mine went about the same time. I cleaned both as above about 6 months ago and works great.

alf