Headlight (switch?) issue

[Coffinhunter]

When I turn on my lights at night they sometimes do not come on. If I pull the switch the driving/fog lights do. I have to turn the lights on and off a couple times before they come on. Then last night while driving, lights on, I flicked on my high beams. When I flicked them off, the low beams did not come on. (thank god for the driving lights). I had to turn them off and on a couple times to get them back on.

Any ideas. I tried searching, but couldn't find this issue. I am sure it is out there though.

[911monty]

Hey Coffinhunter; I'm going to go with a bad headlight switch. These i'm sure you're aware are a common failure item. One thing that was identified in another post by a resident electrical genius (Particlewave) is that these switches have full electrical current running through them versus controlling a relay, therefore making it easy to understand how they can corrode and/or burnout. Since the headlights are used most they will also fail first.

edit: since I see you have switch in parentheses I know you're aware!

[Coffinhunter]

I thought I read somewhere the switch could be cleaned. Any truth? How?

Thanks.


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[dghii]

I had a similar issue with mine as well earlier this spring. I imagine the switch could be pulled apart and cleaned but it was easier to find a decent used one and replace my old one. I think the switch I found was about $45. Installation is 10 minutes.

[particlewave]

Originally Posted by Coffinhunter

I thought I read somewhere the switch could be cleaned. Any truth? How?

Thanks.

You can try spraying some contact cleaner into it, but if it helps, it will most likely be temporary. The issue is that all of the current passes through the contacts, causing arcing, pitting and eventual disintegration of the metal itself.

The best solution is to replace the switch and feed the power from the it to a relay. That way, the relay is taking the load. Relays last longer and are much, much cheaper to replace.

[JayG]

I had a similar problem over a year ago.
I used contact cleaner and sprayed it into any place I could find on the switch you could get cleaner into it including down the shaft. Then ran the switch through every possible position and did it all a 2nd time.
After all of that, shake it to get out as much excess cleaner you can, then let it sit for a few minutes to evaporate. In any case, even if the cleaner is still wet, it wont be a problem.

Do not try to pull the switch apart, you will end up replacing it

I have had no problems since for over a year. You can also use TUNER cleaner instead of CONTACT cleaner. the big difference is TUNER cleaner has a lubricant in it as well

[Coffinhunter]

Originally Posted by JayG

I had a similar problem over a year ago.
I used contact cleaner and sprayed it into any place I could find on the switch you could get cleaner into it including down the shaft. Then ran the switch through every possible position and did it all a 2nd time.
After all of that, shake it to get out as much excess cleaner you can, then let it sit for a few minutes to evaporate. In any case, even if the cleaner is still wet, it wont be a problem.

Do not try to pull the switch apart, you will end up replacing it

I have had no problems since for over a year. You can also use TUNER cleaner instead of CONTACT cleaner. the big difference is TUNER cleaner has a lubricant in it as well

How do you get the switch off?

I'm going to try this. Thanks.

[JayG]

Originally Posted by Coffinhunter

How do you get the switch off?

I'm going to try this. Thanks.

There are some threads on that here, do a search

Also Pelican or Pedros may have a DIY

Its not hard, maybe 15 min