87 Carrera erratic headlight selector switch

[Rleog]

When the steering column selector stalk is in low beam position, the high beams may also come on. When I push the stalk forward, low beams are off and high beams remain on.

In low beam position, with both high and low beams on, if I pull the stalk back fully and keep pressure on the stalk, high beams are extinguished and low beams remain on.

What contacts are bad; what do I need to replace.

Thanks

[pete3799]

pull the wheel ,clamshell housings and have a look at the switch.
You'll find that the high beam contact needs to be bent away from the low beam a little
to prevent them both making contact at the same time.
I used 2 needle nose pliers to tweak it a little.

[Hodgey]

In low beam position, with both high and low beams on, if I pull the stalk back fully and keep pressure on the stalk, high beams are extinguished and low beams remain on.



How do you have high and low beams on at the same time??

I have just discovered when I go over a bump with low beam on, the high beams come on......
If I lightly push on the stalk with low beams on, my high beams come on. I suspect you and I have got faulty light stalks....

Let me know how you go and I'll do the same

Neil

[Loomis]

Except the low beams would shut off for about a second before the high beams came on. Now the high beams don't come on at all. Guess I'll have to dig into it...

[HarryD]

This is a common problem. Caused by the fact that the power for the headlamps go through the contacts in the stalk and over the long haul, they are not up to the task. This thread has the full skinny: turn signal switch quick fix pictures

To prevent it from happening again once you get fixed, you should add some headlamp relays to take the load off of the stalk. You can buy a kit from our host: Pelican Parts - Product Information: JWST-911-HLPR.

[Rleog]

Pete et al, thanks for the explanation. Harry, great reference with pics.

Thanks