Crazy Headlight Problems

[randytrish]

Hello all,
I hope to find so help with a headlight problem I have. I have recently purchased a '75 911. I've got it where I can drive now and have noticed some strange things with my headlights.
First, now this may seem like a silly question, but which way is the headlight lever positioned for high and low beams? With that asked I'll go on to describe my problem.
It's hard to distinguish if the lights are on high or low. I believe they are staying on high all of the time. I was in front of a building and using the glass windows noticed that when I actuate my turn signal the headlights go to low beam. When I take the signal off they go back to high.
My dash indicator for high beams doesn't seem to work and anytime that that I try to use my signals both turn indicators light up. When I move the lever for low to high there is a break in the beams, but I think they are continually on high.
Thanks in advance,
Randy

[Gordo2]

Randy,

Sounds like your high beam contact switch is gooned up. My '83 was wierd when I bought it too - brighting everyone when I put on my turn signal, going over a bump etc.

You can order a new high beam switch assy here on Pelican. To replace you remove the steering wheel and you will be able to access it.

I ended up bending the tabs on mine to get it to work correctly.

Do a search on high beam switch and you should find lots of related info.

Good luck,

Gordo

[widgeon13]

sounds like the wiring is done incorrectly, get a diagram and see if things are hooked up right, also check the bulbs to see what wattage is on the bulbs. What headlights are installed?

[masraum]

I agree with Gordo. Common problem. The switches start to act up and get worse and worse. Normally the switches should have 2 and a half positions. Middle is low beams, pressed forward is high beams, and pulled back is high beams, but if you let it go when pulled back it pops right back to the middle. That's just to flash the high beams.

WHen the switch gets cruddy you can either bend the contacts slightly like Gordo did, and I did, and many others have done, or you can replace the switch.

No matter what you do you should install a relay for the lights. That's why our switches fail the way they do. The current for the bulbs flows through the switch which is unusual. Usually in most cars the current flows through a relay and the switch only has enough current flowing through it to actuate said relay. By having all of the current flowing through our switches, age and heat take their toll. By installing a relay you will mitigate this problem and probably have better quality lighting because you'll get better voltage to the headlights.

Look up "sucro relay kit" or something like that. It's a kit that's premade for this purpose.