High Beam Lever Replacement

[newk00]

Hi, I need to remove and replace the high beam/turn signal lever on the steering column on my 1985 Targa. Does anyone know if I need to remove the steering wheel in order to remove the plastic cover plates (top and bottom) to allow me to get access to the actual lever?

Thanks, John

[porwolf]

I believe you do. That is what I did to fix my '79SC high/low beam switch. It is not that difficult.

[HarryD]

In my 73 the screws for the clam shell are under the steering wheel. I had to remove the wheel to get the clam shell off.

[Joe Bob]

Consider headlight relay installation to keep from frying it again.....

[wrxnofx]

You have to remove the steering wheel. In addition to the two little screws on the side s of the clamshell I believe there are 4 screws behind the steering wheel that hold it on as well. You will need a 27 mm socket to get the wheel off.

You need to get the wheel off to remove the stalk anyway.

I would also suggest loosening the headlight switch and pushing it back into the dash so you can drop it out. This will help you to install the 4 wire connections into the back of the headlight switch.

[HarryD]

You have to remove the steering wheel. In addition to the two little screws on the side s of the clamshell I believe there are 4 screws behind the steering wheel that hold it on as well. You will need a 27 mm socket to get the wheel off.

You need to get the wheel off to remove the stalk anyway.

I would also suggest loosening the headlight switch and pushing it back into the dash so you can drop it out. This will help you to install the 4 wire connections into the back of the headlight switch.

+1

When you go to remove the steering wheel, a few items:

Disconnect the battery before you start. The horn will sound when you least need it to do do.

Do not use the column lock to hold the steering wheel when you turn the 27mm nut. Put you key in the ignition and place it in the accessory position to prevent breaking the steering lock mechanism. Have an assistant or something else to hold the wheel stationary.

Be sure the wheels are centered and place some type of registration mark on the steering wheel so you can put it back in the same position.

Leave the nut on the shaft when you remove the steering wheel. Some times it separates with "great vigor".

[Chuck.H]

Are you sure you need to replace it -- mine just wears out the contacts, and a simple rebending with a pair of needle nose pliers makes it whole again.. just sayin'. but either way you need to remove the steering wheel to get the clamshell off as other have said.

Chuck.H
'89 TurboLookTarga, 371k miles

[ejp]

Originally Posted by newk00

Hi, I need to remove and replace the high beam/turn signal lever on the steering column on my 1985 Targa. Does anyone know if I need to remove the steering wheel in order to remove the plastic cover plates (top and bottom) to allow me to get access to the actual lever?

Thanks, John

Another suggestion that would have saved me a lot of time if I'd known better. Unscrew the headlight switch and remove it to dis/reconnect the wires from the stalk. I probably spent an hour underneath my dash trying to get that plugged in before I did had a sudden outbreak of common sense and just pulled the switch out.

[65_lincoln]

It may be overkill, but I'd recommend replacing the windshield washer lever at the same time if it's original. I did my high beam / turnsignal lever a couple of years back (and installed a headlight relay) after I let the smoke out of it, and ended up having to replace the washer lever a couple of months later. At least the steering wheel was easier to remove the second time around!

[HarryD]

It may be overkill, but I'd recommend replacing the windshield washer lever at the same time if it's original. I did my high beam / turnsignal lever a couple of years back (and installed a headlight relay) after I let the smoke out of it, and ended up having to replace the washer lever a couple of months later. At least the steering wheel was easier to remove the second time around!

Personally I think replacing the good wiper switch just "because you are in there" is not prudent. It takes less than 15 minutes to remove the stuff to access the part. It is not like it takes hours or days where the benefit of doing this extra work is huge.

When I replaced my flasher switch a few years ago I left my original wiper switch intact. Still going strong.

[newk00]

I tried to bend the contacts but had no luck. I bought the 27mm socket and will be removing the wheel to replace the signal/headlamp switch.

Thanks for the great comments…..John

[porwolf]

Originally Posted by newk00

I tried to bend the contacts but had no luck. I bought the 27mm socket and will be removing the wheel to replace the signal/headlamp switch.

Thanks for the great comments…..John

The 27mm steering wheel nut comes off easily with an impact wrench. That is what I got for the job. It is really powerful and has to be handled with caution and a firm grip. Of course it is also useful for other fasteners, like the fan belt pulley nut.

Electric Impact Wrench - 1/2"

[awhnry]

You might want to add the steering column bushing kit while you have the steering wheel off.

[Smoove1010]

I just did this same job over the summer - all the comments here are correct. I second the notion of adding the headlight relay kit - I'm pretty confident that my hi-beam switch went up in smoke due to the combination of high current draw and age/arcing of the contacts in the switch. Your headlights will shine brighter and your headlight and hi-beam switch will last longer.

[ejp]

Originally Posted by awhnry

You might want to add the steering column bushing kit while you have the steering wheel off.

I installed the steering bushing kit when I had everything apart for the high-beam combo switch. I had a ton of play in my wheel, and this fixed it for cheap. It's an easy job, but it doesn't make sense to do this unless there is play in your wheel from disintegration of the internal bushing. Removing your steering wheel is a 5-minute job (easier than removing one of the wheels, IMO). When the factory bushing fails, you can easily do this job later.