Problem with Steering Column Switch

[ybn533]

Hi,

I have a problem with my light changing from HI to LO by itself. when I hold the lever with my hand close to the steering wheel it stays on LO beam.
If I play with it a little bit sometimes it stays too but when I use the turn signel it goes back to the HI beam.

Can I fix it or have to change the Steering Column Switch?

Thanks,
Yaron

[rusnak]

You can fix it if you're careful. It's more work than replacing it. Or you can get by with a zip tie and something like a short piece of a wooden chopstick, if you don't need high beam.

[pete3799]

turn signal switch quick fix pictures

[RDM911]

Great thread. I have the same problem on my 85 Carrera. Sometimes if I hit a bump the lights actually go off or go to high beam. With a slight graze of the stalk they are on again.

[Autoban]

I just replaced mine two month ago. It is really not a big deal. The switch was only about $120 (if I remember correct) and it's a less than two hour job. Don't put up with this and have light go on and off when it is so easy to fix.

[darrin]

I was able to easily fix mine -- don't see it as being significantly more difficult than replacing.

Root cause appears to be that, as delivered from the factory, all of the current going to the headlights passes through the switch's contacts, causing them to heat up and distort.

I STRONGLY suggest that anybody that runs into this problem install headlight relays. This will cause the headlight current to bypass the switch and SHOULD prevent this problem from happening again. Our host sells a nice relay kit from jwest -- instructions were spot-on for my '86 and the relays took around 10 minutes to install.

Here's a link to the relays Pelican Parts - Product Information: JWST-911-HLPR

[Dklever48]

Look under the thread "Lights issues". I just fixed mine and it was very easy to do. You just have to spread the contacts further apart in the switch. In the thread listed it shows pictures and just how to do it.

[Driver_X]

I had the same problem, tried the fix, and it worked...sort of. I lost the flash-to-pass feature, so I probably bent the contacts too far. I ended up just replacing the switch (around $120) along with the relay ($60) and now I won't have to worry about it for another 40 years :-)

+1 on the relay for the headlights, it's on my list of things to do when my more electrically competent father-in-law comes for a visit in the fall.....

[scottb]

Two tips...

The stalk switch has several wires that run from it over to the headlight pull-switch. If you're going to replace the stalk switch, remove and replace the wires on the back of the pull-switch one-by one. It's easy to get them mixed up.

Or, if you're just going to repair the stalk switch, carefully mark which wire goes where on the back of the pull-switch. A photograph might help...

I decided that if I was going to go to the hassle of removing the old switch, then it wasn't worth repairing it and putting it back in. I ultimately put a new switch in.

Finally, +1 on the headlight relays. They're easy to install and will save the new (or repaired) switch from burning up like the old one.

HTH. YMMV.

[ybn533]

Thanks guys. I'll try fixing it. I׳m going to change the steering wheel to momo this weekend so it will mix toghter

Hope it will work for me.

[Nine9six]

The fix discussed here is temporary. The real fis is to install the relay upgrade. I got mine from Marcus Sucro. Others have duplicated the upgrade as well. Maybe a search on turn signal relays will product the overall desired results,
HTH

[isldtime]

Yaron,
Have not driven the car at night for more than 10 years but if I recall correctly when you pull the lever toward the steering wheel that is "flash to pass" when you push it toward the dash switches to high beam!!