Author Topic: what's the life of a headlight switch?  (Read 2264 times)

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Offline bwaz

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what's the life of a headlight switch?
« on: July 29, 2008, 08:12:58 AM »
I've found recently that my dash lights when on were either off or on using the dimmer on the headlight switch. Now they're just off. I got another switch and tested it before putting it in and am finding a similar issue with the reostat. Either off or on when using the tester. A common issue on older electronics, or is there somewhere inline that changes that voltage, although can't understand that happening on our older cars?
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Offline BUSDADDY

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Re: what's the life of a headlight switch?
« Reply #1 on: July 29, 2008, 09:39:46 AM »
The fine wire in the rheostat has broken or worn through, bound to happen after 30-40 years, the rheostat is in the switch at the dash end and it's the sole device for dimming the dash lights. No real fix other than a new switch unless you use an external rheostat and connect the dash lights to the parking lights.
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Offline Bruce

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Re: what's the life of a headlight switch?
« Reply #2 on: July 29, 2008, 02:52:16 PM »
It is usually corrosion on the bare wire of the winding.  Rotate it back and forth 20-30 times.