headlight switch sorrows Part Deux

Well, after all the posts about headlight switch problems, and after I ordered my two kits from Pelican, and before they were delivered, I got SMOKED... Yes dear friends, on my way to the post office last night I noticed a strong stench of electrical goodies - my headlight switch as you may have guessed. Thankfully, I live by the motto: CHANCE FAVORS THE PREPARED MIND, so I had the extra switch in the trunk as well as the NORMAL 55W bubls to replace my 100Wers. Not wanting to tempt fate, I did an about-face and retreated to the house, everthing seemingly normal. Tonight, I thought I might take a test flight around the block (you know the kind...) and sure enought, the smell returned. No smoke though...

Have I screwed up other stuff too? THIS CAN'T BE HAPpENING TO ME!!! The wire connectors looked a little brown in couple of spots, but were still plenty flexable.

The only think I can think of is the new SWITCH. I pulled out the old one and replaced one wire to the new unit at a time. However, the new switch has one extra spade. All lights work: parking lights first then the headlights and they work at all four corners.

Any ideas (or donations of that matter) are excedingly welcome!

------------------
'76 911S 130K miles and runs GREAT

[This message has been edited by VIPRKLR (edited 12-19-2000).]

Are you certain this smoking is the light switch? I'm concerned that what burned before, was also what burned the second time. I'd look pretty thoroughly to see if another wire or device got hot.

Did the smoke come out of the switch? The column switch or the light switch? Did you put your hands down there recently - perhaps something shorted.

Just ideas.

------------------
'83 SC

The old switch was burned out noticably. I will look more closely tomorrow.

Do you think the relay kit will solve my problems since all of the power will be controled from them instead of the switch?
Wishful thinking...

Absolutely it will. This is the reason for the relay.

If your burning problem is in a circuit other than your lights, then the relay fix will not help, obviously. but yes, if this is your problem, and it probably is, then the relay is the answer.

After relay installation, the current running through those switches will be almost zero. I believe the current that will go through your switches after the relay installation, will be only the current needed to energize a very small electromagnet (inside the relay). Problem solved.



------------------
'83 SC