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Dumb question about headlight switches

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Jack_Long

Jack_Long

Jedi Hopeful
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The headlight switch on my 73 Midget seems to have disintegrated - the rocker is flopping loosely and you can feel the rest of the switch loose behind the dash.

My question (actually 2 questions) is: 1) how do I remove the switch from the dash? and 2) is there any way with a multimeter to check a new switch before installing it (I picked up a used one at Carlisle last weekend).

A third question just ocurred to me, too - what wires go where on the light switch? The one I bought has 3 lugs and is supposedly for a 73 Midget.

Thanks in advance.
 
Hasn't anyone here ever removed a headlight switch, or is the question so dumb as to not merit any answer? My shop manual says almost nothing about it.
 
OK, It is one of those things that is hard to see until after you have removed it. On a '73 with a rocker headlight switch I think there is a plastic "light ring that has to be removed, then there are two little tabs on each side that need to be pushed in a little to get it through the metal.

When reinstalling, you will need to sort out the terminals with continuity tester if the switch did not come with instructions (terminal # and locations vary in replacement parts). Then consult your wiring diagram to determine the feed wires (brown I think), and the running light wires (thinner) and the headlight wires (thicker). If you have more wires to plug in than terminals, then you may need a "y" connector.
 
I reworked the headlight and heater switches on Bugsy my '68 and after cleaning off the green they worked just fine. They come apart and can be reassembled. Get it out, mark your terminals and you may find it can be put back together. There is a little dumbell shaped roller that moves back and forth to make switch contacts.
 
Thanks, all. I knew there was some wisdom that I could tap into out there. The used switch I found at Carlisle is a Lucas original and looks to be in good shape (not melted and solid clicker action). Between the 2 I should be able to make 1 good one.
 
yeah, for us sprite owners, it's a differnt switch so i couldn't really help. didn't want you to think we didn't have an answer.
 
let me know if you need removal pics - my dash is out
 
I went through 3 switches in one year of driving my 71 midget. I used the car for back and forth to work and drove a lot at night. The last switch was a brand new one and like the others, the contacts burned up a bit and the metal got twisted or whatever and the rocker quit rocking. I finally replaced it with a industrial cutler hammer 3 position switch that fit pretty well and had no more problems.
 
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