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Spitfire Main Head light switch 78 Spitfire

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J

Joe_Pinehill

Jedi Hopeful
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My head lamp switch is intermittant when I move it the head lamp position, works fine for running lights, it had been in frequently intermittant, today it took a dozen toggles to flip the head lights on.

I noticed on BP Northwest's page they state the replacement switch requires the dashboard hole to be opened up. Has anyone done this? I was going to call Spitbits in the morning.

can the the switch be disassembled and cleaned or is bonded together?

Thanks for all your help over the year, Merry Christmas, happy New Year. I found a new MIG welder under my tree.!
 
Much depends on the brand of switch. On a '78, I'd think it likely that it would be a Lucas switch as opposed to the earlier Clear Hooters brand, but I'm not totally sure when the recall on the Clear Hooters switch occurred or if it covered cars as late as 1978. (According to the NHTSA web site, recall #78V013000 did NOT affect Spitfires that late.) I went through it on a Mk3 Spitfire and don't recall having to make any real modifications to the dash itself, but I think there might be some sort of bracket holding the switch that had to get some slight modification.

The switches are not terribly expensive, so it's pretty much not worth trying to clean up the switch (since it's probably broken or worn out anyway).
 
Mele Kalili'maka, Joe. I don't know when Spitfires quit using the failure-prone Clear Hooter switches, but Roadster Factory has some original CH ones. I bought one and it replaced the original bad CH switch perfectly. I plan to use a relay to lessen the current that passes thru the switch.

Jeff
 
Joe - I had the same problem, not as severe. I was able to open up my switch and repair it. I can't remember the details now, but I recall the contacts were pretty pitted on mine. I think I flipped them around somehow to use a better contact surface, but once you open the switch it will be apparent what you can do to fix it, unless the contact points are completely shot.

I plan to get a spare from BPNW, and I'll probably replace the existing switch at some point when convenient. Its very disconcerting when your headlights just flip off while you're driving at night.
 
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