headlamp switch knob replacement

[84porsche9113.2]

anyone do this before? I checked pricing on the entire switch assembly from the dealer and it is $200. i did a quick search and did not come up with any recent threads on this subject.

the good news is they do sell just the knob. the bad news, it still costs $30 for a small knob.

i've already checked pelican and some other supply houses and this seems to be a dealer item only. some dealers sell it for as low as $22.

anyway, my quesiton was regarding replacement of the knob itself. I've taken my knob off the shaft and there seems to be a round washer looking piece affixed to the shaft with holes in it. The rubber knob fits onto this round washer, and besides push/pull to turn headlamps on/off, it is used in a rotary fashion for dimming the dash lights.

does anyone know if it is relatively easy to just purchase the knob only and switch it out? what happens now is if I pull on the knob to turn the lights on it feels as if the knob is about to come off the shaft, the rubber is very old and flexible. also rotating the knob to dim the dash lights feels very sloppy and spongy as well.

i'm just concerned if I buy the new one with new hard rubber, it might be a lot more difficult to fit it onto the new switch (the hole in the knob is a lot smaller than the washer on the shaft), than the relative ease with which the current old knob with deteriorated rubber is removed from the switch.

just wondering if my concern is a valid one or not, before i go ahead and order this part & tackle this relatively minor project...

thanks in advance for any replies....

[tcar]

Used knobs?

[john walker's workshop]

the round "washer" actually is bonded to the rubber knob, so you need to finish removing that in order to install the new knob. there's a hole through the shaft so if the knob doesn't want to twist off, you can stick a pointed object in there to hold the shaft as you twist the knob. you can actually ruin the switch if the shaft is twisted too hard.

[84porsche9113.2]

thanks for the info!

I'm not sure if i'm understanding you correctly. Are you saying the "new knob" i purchase from the factory will come with a washer already embedded inside the knob?

Like I said, on my old knob, I can easily remove just the knob (as well as put it back), no problem, because the rubber is so soft. When I do this, the washer thing remains on the shaft and doesn't look like it would easily come off... The washer didn't look embedded to my knob since the knob pulled off of it so easily, although I do see little indentations in the rubber (on the inside of the knob) that mach the various holes in the washer...

So when I remove my knob, there is the circular washer still on the shaft. So you are saying I need to remove this washer, and when I buy the new knob, it will come with a new washer embedded in the knob?

How would I install the new knob? Does the embedded washer friction fit on the shaft, or?? Thanks in advance.

P.S. The other reason I ask and seem confused, is because the parts guy says there was a separate listing for a "rosette" and "washer" in addition to the knob so I'm not sure if I have to buy other parts than just the knob or if the knob comes with everything I need complete (the knob part no. I was given is 911.613.215.01).

I think the "rosette" is the thing I'm incorrectly referring to as a washer, it is a circular disc attached to the shaft that remains there when I remove the knob...

[johnermo]

I had a similar issue. Bought the knob from Jeff @ Parts Heaven for $5 or $10 - problem solved!

[84porsche9113.2]

Was it pretty easy to get the new knob on the shaft? (you got a used one?) How does it attach? Thanks.

[84porsche9113.2]

Ok, nevermind, I took at the shaft real closely, and now I see how the rosette is mounted. Looks like it is threaded on. And I see the small hole in the shaft too. I am going to assume that if I buy the knob it should have everything i'd need...

Thanks all.