electrical problems high/low beam switch

[fificox]

this 914/4 gives me migraines since his arrival in the garage and troubles again
I now have electrical pbs changed the turn signal my broken on my 1971
commodo first generation.
a new one is in place, all wires welded and reconnect
, Turn signals, headlights works (low and high beam)
i re install the column completed and NO more high/low beam

disassembly and re testing connection, everything works


re install the metal column and no high/low

is it a ground problem?
does anyone faced this situation before?

AT rescue ..or I'll put the fire this car very soon ..

[Mike Bellis]

Sounds like a ground issue.

The Hi/Lo relay is an electro-mechanical relay. I takes a ground pulse from the column (brown/white) to trigger the relay. In the relay is a cam that latched from side to side every time it's switched. Either there is no ground to the column, OR the brown/white wire or contact is broken, OR the relay is bad.

If you can here the relay click, the wires are good. If you hear the click and still no workie, the relay is bad. It is a square relay above the fuse panel.

[fificox]

hi KG6
you are right this is a ground issue
lights works with the metal column appart from the chassis (i hear the click from the relay) and as soon as it is attached to the dash withthe 4 bolts no more high/low beam selection.
i investigate, tested everything and i heve no more idea.
when i pull the light button i have low beam, if i push it and the pull it again high beams comes.
that's the only way to make the high/low works.
if i paut appatr the column from the dash everything works at it should
normally the black column is at the ground in spite of the small rubber pieces
between it and the dash?
when i changed the turn signal unit the only difference i founded is a wire (bottom left of the connector) missing in the unit from where i took the new turn signal unit
but this wire seems to go to the key direction, so no link to my troubles?
i do not know finally..
my connector



connector from other column where turn signal has been removed

[fificox]

if somebody have for sale a complete unit including the turn signal never taken appart along with an ignition switch and key (my tumbler is broken) i could be interested in changing eveything to solve the 2 issues..
let me know..

[etcmss]

did you say this happened after the turn signal switch was replaced?

[fificox]

yes after replacing the turn signal unit
does someone knows if the steering wheel unit that hold the turn signal and ignition switch is at the ground or insulated from the car??

[Mike Bellis]

Sounds like the switch is binding. Based on your post above. If you can push and then pull the switch and the high beams work. In you picture above, you can see the brown/white wire. This wire controls the relay. Figure out what is binding the switch.

Your english is hard to follow...

[Tobra]

sounds like the relay to me, mine had the same symptoms and new relay solved it, it uses the same one as a late 60's VW bug as I recall

[etcmss]

it may seem like relay but replacement of switch led to this and works ok outside of column-it sounds like the switch wiring is getting grounded on install and the screws make the ground circuit complete
Gary
update us when possible

[john_harry100]

I think it is a problem

[fificox]

thanks all for help.
i am going to investigate on the ground as everything works when column out of his location
i'l let you know