JoeNoble

iTrader: (6)

when my head lights are on and i turn on my brights my head lights just turn off, they dont close or fold down or whatever, they just turn off. any body know what it might be? i need to get it licensed and im not sure if it will pass missouri state inspection.

GO85rx-7

Happened to me one time also. Ended up cleaning off my contacts on the combination switch. Have not had a problem since

JoeNoble

iTrader: (6)

can you describe the prosess for me please, im not sure i understand what you mean.

deeman111

sounds like when he turns on hi-beam, the lights turn off. Clean all your contacts and check the bulbs.

-James

JoeNoble

iTrader: (6)

checked the bulbs and there fine. so when you say check all the contact points do you mean in the steering colomn?

Kentetsu

Here's the instructions. You might not have to actually remove anything to accomplish these results (might try just hosing it down first). Check this out.... https://www.rx7club.com/1st-gen-archive-71/electrical-easy-fix-4-your-headlight-combo-switch-headaches-441702/

JoeNoble

iTrader: (6)

thanks ill give that a try.

Kentetsu

Oh yeah, don't go to Radio Shack to get the contact cleaner. You can get a can at Autozone that's 3x the size and only half the price...

j9fd3s

iTrader: (3)

yeah you need to clean the contacts

BMS2004

another symptom. Mine does the same thing, but if you pull back on the lever like to flash someone they will come on, so I need to clean my contacts too I think.

brownmound

Or use a pink eraser on the end of a pencil. Cleans better than contact cleaner and it's free!

RIGHT ON.

Kentetsu

Umm, yeah. Just have fun actually trying to get to the damn contacts. Using the spray, you might not even have to take anything apart at all, just hose it down. At most, you may need to remove the steering wheel and open up the front of the switch. Taking the actual switch apart (not to mention actually removing it in the first place) is a real pain and not something that I would recommend if there are any other options. Works great, trust me...

brownmound

Really not that hard.

right on.

Kentetsu

LOL Well I'm really not that smart either... Tried to take mine off to do exactly that, got stuck, came up with this method as a result.

JoeNoble

iTrader: (6)

that worked like a charm. thanks for the help!

misterstyx69

iTrader: (142)

check the head light relay that is located at the front of the car in front of the rad by the hood latch. (they are little square things that are screws on to the front member.. top), .either a wire is off or it is fried..it's that or your head light switch(inside the car)

JoeNoble

iTrader: (6)

thanks guys, i cleaned the contacts and they work great now!

Kentetsu

The stock headlight system makes no use of relays. There is one for fog lights though (on some models anyway).

aussiesmg

iTrader: (1)

Hmmmm, I did this and still have no high beams, I actually removed the arm and ball bearings and sprayed everything down, used a whole can, but still no high beams, they work when I pull the switch back to flash though.

Any ideas.....

aussiesmg

iTrader: (1)

I got it, had to disassemble the switch completely, contacts were covered in crud, took a little thought putting it back together but alls well that ends well.

Kentetsu

That's good to hear. What kind of cleaner were you trying to use? I'm wondering if there was a quality issue with the cleaner, or maybe if the contacts are bad enough it just won't work. Any info appreciated!

H4Inf

I had this same problem, took it to bits and cleaned it all. Fixed it

12 months later its dead again lol :P Oh well!

PT Ray

I had lost my brights over a year ago but never used them so it may have been even longer than that. Then one night while driving home the dims went out. I had to replace the headlight switch located on the steering column cluster. The old unit had some black marks on the contacts that looked as if there was some arcing going on that may have finally toasted the unit. It is possible it just may have needed the contacts cleaned so I kept the old unit incase I need to salvage it at a later date.

aussiesmg

iTrader: (1)

When I pulled the switch down, the contacts were coated in something clear and hard, I guess old lubricant, the spray didn't move this even when sprayed directly onto the contacts so I just rubbed them hard and it came off. Beware putting it back together, the white plastic probe actuall seperates the contacts to operate the hi/low beams.

The switch is pretty simple, first remove the stalk as previously mentioned, loosen the screw to the retaining clamp on the column and slide the entire switch off.

Turn the unit over and undo the 3 screws securing the plastic switch. The switch is the one that the stalk is normally attached to. Remove the switch and carefully unclip the backing plate, one of the switching contacts is loose in there and will want to just fall out, it is obvious where it sits if it does fall out though.

The white probe sits between the two diodes that rest together and slides one way or the other to seperate these contacts. At this time clean every metal surface thoroughly with the electrial cleaner in aerosol form.

I used the Electrical contact cleaner available from Autozone. It is the designated product for this type of job.

I tested the lights by operating the copper diodes manually to check they were working, beware of crossing the contacts and causing more problems though, use a plastic tool.

reassemble and revel in the brightness of 20 year old hi beam again.