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Dash Park/Headlight Switch

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Bob McElwee

Bob McElwee

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I've had a intermitent problem with my dash lights going out when my headlights were turned on. Ususally I just 'fiddled' the knob and they would come back on.
The last couple of times I've driven the car fiddling didn't help. I found out last night coming home our club meeting that when the dash lights are out the running lights (front and rear) are also out. It really seemed to upset the person behind me even tho I didn't understand all that he said.
Tonigh I checked the switch and found the following:
- when pulled to the first position, dash lights and running lights work fine.
- when I rotate the knob clockwise to pull for the 2nd position (headlights) the dash lights and running lights go out.
- when I pull to turn headlights on, the dash lights and running lights do not come back on.
- I can wiggle the knob (up/down and/or left/right and/or rotate counterclockwise) and the lights will come back on but usually don't stay on.
- there does seem to be a magic position where everthing works.
Are these switches repairable or would I be better off just ordering a new one? My concern with a new one is reliability.
Also the switch under the dash for the panel lights is working fine.
TIA
 
I've had pretty good luck with my reproduction headlight switch. Obviously, it would be an improvement from what you now have /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif
 
They can be taken appart, cleaned and tightened. They are pretty simple. You just have to be careful not to break the tabs on the back side. If you do snap these off you can glue them back together.
TH
 
/bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/savewave.gif TH, 62 Tri Carb.?----------------------Keoke-- /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif
 
I re-read the first post. Are your dash lights on the same switch as the headlights? On my BJ8, the three position switch does running lights and then the headlights. The gauge lights were on a different, two position switch. I've replaced it with a three position switch with the lowest position for my flame-throwers. Are we talking about the same thing?
TH
 
The two switches are different. The first pull on the BT7 switch turns on panel/running lights and the second rotate/pull does panel/headlights. There is a second switch to turn the panel lights out if you want.
When I put the 5 speed tranny in I wired the OD switch to do the flame-throwers.
 
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