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Headlights issue (Read 1601 times)
Jul 8th, 2003 at 1:57am

BFMF   Offline
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My headlights work fine, but when I push the little 'stick' on the steering wheel to make the high beams come on, they don't. The lights actually go off except for the parking lights. I can pull the light 'stick' towards me and the high beams will come on, but it's not designed to stay in that position.

What do you all think?
 
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Reply #1 - Jul 8th, 2003 at 2:27am

ozzy72   Offline
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Sounds to me like a problem with the switch at the base of the fork, either a loose connection or its worn out.

Mark
 
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Reply #2 - Jul 8th, 2003 at 2:37am

BFMF   Offline
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Would it be easy & cheap to fix?
 
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Reply #3 - Jul 8th, 2003 at 3:09am

ozzy72   Offline
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Yeah. All you have to do is take the housing off the column, then remove the switch (probably a couple of screws, or maybe a clip), then plop in a new switch (available from car-parts shops), and re-assemble it.
Probably if you are not experienced it'll take an hour, if you're familiar with car electrics and changing bits 20 mins. In the UK we have a thing called Haynes Manuals which show you how to do this stuff on different cars, I don't know if you have an equivilant in the US, but it might be worth checking. It also covers lots of other stuff that you might find handy.

Mark 8)
 
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Reply #4 - Jul 8th, 2003 at 3:12am

BFMF   Offline
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Quote:
Probably if you are not experienced it'll take an hour, if you're familiar with car electrics and changing bits 20 mins.


And if I'm completely ignorant about cars, all day ending up without any steering Roll Eyes
 
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Reply #5 - Jul 8th, 2003 at 3:16am

ozzy72   Offline
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No you don't have to remove the steering column! Just change the switch Grin
Trust me I've done a lot of fixes over the years.

Ozzy 8)
 
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Reply #6 - Jul 8th, 2003 at 3:21am

BFMF   Offline
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Quote:
I've done a lot of fixes over the years.


And I havn't. I once attempted to do an oil change on an old gmc truck, but somehow drained a whole lot of the wrong fluids. I also once did an oil change on a car, but we had to take it to the mechanic to get it fixed Grin
 
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Reply #7 - Jul 8th, 2003 at 4:09am

Craig.   Offline
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apart from brakes and a few other minor things i am useless with fixing the things myself. which is funny as i used to spend every weekend helping my dad fix the things.

isnt there a mechanics course you could look into taking or not??
 
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Reply #8 - Jul 8th, 2003 at 6:15pm

Woodlouse2002   Offline
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Take it to a mechanic and it will probably cost you 50 million quid. Tongue

The Haynes manuals are great. Each one is written along side a complete strip down and rebuild so you get photos and everything.

I have the manual for the Series IIA/III landrover and its great. Grin
 
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Reply #9 - Jul 8th, 2003 at 10:13pm

RichieB16   Offline
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What I would do ius just take it an autoparts store (ya know-to buy the part) and try and get some info from one of the people behind the counter.  Thats what a lot of people do (believe me, I work at a parts store).  Usually with something simple like this, it can be easily explained.
 
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Reply #10 - Jul 8th, 2003 at 11:16pm

Rifleman   Offline
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If I was there, I would take a shot at fixing it for ya, heck I can even boil water without burning it....thats gotta count for some qualification ?........
 
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Reply #11 - Jul 8th, 2003 at 11:31pm
visitor;AKA:X   Ex Member

 
The main question here should have been "what
kind of car are we working on?"

A dimmer switch for my Toyota PU costs
about $185.00 and is a bear to change!!
a lot of the cars  '90 and up the switch
is a combo switch and works the lights
wipers. turn signals, cruise and other
stuff too!!!
What kind of car are we working on??

X
 
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Reply #12 - Jul 14th, 2003 at 3:11am

BFMF   Offline
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It's a 1991 Ford Escort GT
 
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Reply #13 - Jul 14th, 2003 at 3:13am

BFMF   Offline
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Quote:
Take it to a mechanic and it will probably cost you 50 million quid. Tongue


That's what i'm afraid of Undecided Embarrassed
 
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Reply #14 - Jul 14th, 2003 at 4:31am

ozzy72   Offline
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Okay Andrew, well I have a European '92 Escort CL, if you remove the plastic housing from around the steering column you should be able to see a black plasic box with the stalk protruding from it, there will be some wires coming out too.
Its held in place by 2 screws on my car, so I hope its the same on yours. All you have to do is get a new switch unit (any decent auto-parts shop should do one), and then remove the old one, and fit the new one as an exact reversal of the procedure (make a diagram of what goes where, especially wires and their colours) before starting so you have something to refer to if you feel uncertain.
Whack the covers back on, and Bobs your mothers brother Wink

Ozzy 8)

PS. Put the screws somewhere safe!!! I'm a champ at loosing bits......
 
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Reply #15 - Jul 14th, 2003 at 2:52pm

BFMF   Offline
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How do I remove the plastic housing from the steering column?
 
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Reply #16 - Jul 18th, 2003 at 3:28am

ozzy72   Offline
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Some have a screw underneath, next to the bonnet (hood) release catch. Others have a clip of some kind.
Just have a look, it should be pretty obvious when you spot it.

Mark
 
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Reply #17 - Jul 18th, 2003 at 11:03pm

Hogans_Alley   Offline
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Grin Grin Grin Grin Grin

Your first problem is that you have a Ford Escort. Hopefully you don't have atilt steering. Nonetheless, as the gentlemen suggested, open up the steering column cover and make a visual inspection. Many of the switch mechanisms are made out of plastic and aftertime they tend to crack. Move the lever to and fro and note as the parts move, noting anything abnormal. You may not need to remove the mechanism. I did a repair similar to your problem using an epoxy. Careful as the same actuator I believe also controls the directional signal. But if you are not too mechanically inclined, I suggest you take it to a dealer.

Good luck.

Hogans Alley
 
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