FstBrd6point3

I broke the high beam switch on my car when I fixed the sagging stee ring wheel, and I am wondering if it is possible to wire something so that I can have a remote high beam switch so I don't have to pay a dealer to fix my switch... I can easily and inexpensively find the parts, but what is involved.... is it even possible?? thanks for any help

Eternal

why cant you just get a new switch??? if its the acuall switch it wount be soe hard, unless your talking about the handle or the rod that goes down to it....

FstBrd6point3

well there is a large plastic piece and a few metal leaf like springs and I am not sure how they go back together.... I have the diagram from the dealer, but I can't clearly see which part goes where and how it attaches to the handle.... maybe when I get the helms manual there will be a better schematic... I was just seeing if it is possible, or if they is something more complicated to it.

Eternal

oh so you mean its acually the blinker handle... the acuall switch is futher down, but easier to change.

trans87

Ok I am going to sound like a duma** saying this but where is the high beam switch on my Firebird? Since I have owned it in Dec I never really knew where the switch was.

FstBrd6point3

the handle itself is still intact, it moves back and forth but won't engage or in my case disengage the high beams... when I was putting the column back together I couldn't see how it went, and the little metal clip things had fallen off.

Eternal

yes there is an acuall switch, the blinker handle pushes on a rod that goes down the colum and activates a switch, its easy to see, its on the left side of the colum, if you take the lower panels off of the dash it will become visible, thats the acuall switch. the rod could aslo be broken, or even part of the handle. but you need to inspect it more closely, see if the rob moves, if it does its most likely the switch.

Duck

FstBrd6point3 -- Have the same problem on my '92 Anniversary Z28, the doggone high beam lever mechanism has worn with age and no longer pushes the metal rod far enough to actuate the high beam switch down on the steering column.

Yes, there is an adjustment on the column switch, suitable for mechanics less than 4-feet tall.

Changing either one is a PITA, unless you're a midget to access the column switch, or fanatically patient enough to properly install a new high beam lever mechanism. In my case, I'm loath to spend $100+ for a new mechanism.

Because I have a lot of "truck time" I'll be installing a floor mounted dimmer, just like my old GMC. I figure the switch will cost about $10, never wear out and give my left foot something to do once in a while.

There's four wires that go into the column switch, one yellow, one tan, and two green. An image is attached.

Anyone know which ones actually operate the high beams and what the wiring hookup would be?

Thanks!

FstBrd6point3

when I had to replace the signal cam and all that, there are two sets of wires that actualy go up into the colunm, one set of all different colored ones that go to the signal assembly and all that good stuff and then a tan and green one that I am almost positive goes to the headlights... if you go the the tech articles and then down to electrical there is an ariticle about upgrading your stoclk headlights to accept hella H4 beams..... in the diagram, it shows the green and tan being the headlight control wires (not sure which is which), but I am pretty sure it is just a matter of transfering power from one wire to the other (maybe?). I am not an electrical engineer, nor do I know if that would work. I am planning to do the H4 upgrade to my car in the near future, and will probably just try to find a way to wire a switch in-line with the new harness. Did everyone follow all that stuff in the begining??

Duck

Thanks FstBrd6point3 -- can anyone ID which of the two wires actually control the high beams?

How about the theory of operation, since there are four wires coming out of the switch plug...

Thanks for any help....

FstBrd6point3

from the wiring diagram I looked at in the haynes manual, it shows that there is just a switch that transfers power from one wire to the next, that is what it looks like to me anyway, maybe I am wrong.... if there are three wires, my best guess is power, ground, high beam, low beam.... once I get the helm manual I ordered I will see if they have more detailed instructions and or diagrams... it came with a seperate electrical book too, so hopefully we will be in luck, should be here within a week and I will let ya know.

Duck

Here's a couple of GM floor dimmer switches, should not be rocket science to hook up if someone has the wiring diagram.

Any help would be appreciated...

Thanks!

2vmodular

high beam switch is not difficult to replace if you remove the steering column from the car first.

Duck

Ok, but let's assume someone desires to install a floor-mounted, high-beam dimmer switch anyway ... what would the wiring hookup be?

deadbird

The heavy gauge is power in from the headlight switch, the brown wire goes to the bulkhead then out to you headlamps for low beam. The green wires. one goes out to power the high beams and the other runs to the cluster to light up the high beam indicator. The switch merely directs power to either the high or low beams.

You can even go one step lazier the 2v suggested & just remove the 4 nuts theat hold the column to the brace just behind the face of the dash which allows you to tilt the column down to gain access to the switch with out being a circus contortionist to get to it. I'm a fairly lofty size and it's easy enough for me to do.
Also, if that's still not easy enough, you can take the 4 nuts off the front seat & take it out too.