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Old 11-07-2009, 06:58 PM   #1
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High beem switch lever not working

I can't get my bright lights to come on on my 92 RS. When I pull on the lever, nothing happens. I did notice this summer, it took more effort to engage the high beam. Now nothing happens. Just the low beams come on. Any input would be greatly appreciated.
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Old 11-07-2009, 07:03 PM   #2
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Re: High beem switch lever not working

Does your steering wheel "wiggle" (left/right/up/down), regardless of the tilt position?
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Old 11-07-2009, 09:31 PM   #3
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Re: High beem switch lever not working

It doesn't wiggle back and forth, but it does move down when I get out of the car. It did this since I owned it, and the switch was working fine.
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Old 11-07-2009, 09:37 PM   #4
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Re: High beem switch lever not working

Sounds like the typical steering column slop.

As the steering shaft gets looser & looser, the Hi/Dim switch stops working. Don't fix it & eventually the shaft will seperate & no more steering of any kind!

And the wheel (s on the bus) goes round & round, round & round....

http://www.thirdgen.org/steeringcolumn
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Old 11-07-2009, 09:45 PM   #5
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Re: High beem switch lever not working

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350 Carb 10:1 Dometops Mild Cam
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Old 11-07-2009, 09:50 PM   #6
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Re: High beem switch lever not working

The steering seems fine for now, and the "slop" seems the same. No better, no worse. So what's the fix?
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Old 11-07-2009, 10:05 PM   #7
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Re: High beem switch lever not working

Check, the adjustmet of the high beam switch. It could be too far away and not engaging or the rod has poped out.
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Old 11-07-2009, 10:10 PM   #8
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Re: High beem switch lever not working

I'll check it out tomorrow. This sounds like a reasonable explanation.
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Old 11-07-2009, 10:18 PM   #9
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Re: High beem switch lever not working

That or its just needs simply replaced if you check and adjust and no high beams then its the switch i had to go through putting a new one in myself a while back. Just a reminder its PITA. B/c the ignition switch is bolted with it so you adjust the dimmer just make sure the ignition switch don't get un adjusted like mine did and burn that out to :P. Just a friendly advice. P.S hope its just needs adjusted.
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Old 11-08-2009, 09:42 AM   #10
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Re: High beem switch lever not working

I'm gonna crawl under the wheel today and look. What about what "Stephen" said about the steering wheel going south?
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Old 11-08-2009, 09:57 AM   #11
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Re: High beem switch lever not working

Oh Stephen's take on steering wheel adjustment is highly possible - I'm sure mine could used tightening up as well. I notice on mine (Ihave a tilt wheel) that my high beam switch works easier/better when the wheel is tilted farther down, and not so well when it's tilted up - so I'm sure I need some wheel tightening/adjustment as well.

But - I have a 4th gen steering wheel I'm going to install one of these days, and I'll tackle all of it in one fell swoop. I've had a column apart one time before, and I'm in no real hurry to do it again.

But I'm positive that if your wheel doesn't "wiggle" too much, that you'll be fine safety wise, and that you can get te adjustment you need to work the switch and buy yourself some time with a relatively easy fix.

Just be careful with that 7mm nut on the switch - it's easy to strip so don't overtighten!
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Old 11-08-2009, 09:58 AM   #12
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Re: High beem switch lever not working

If the steering wheels "flops", without using the tilt lever, that would also be a cause of the Hi/Lo switch to stop working or rod to pull out and become out of adjustment.

I provided the link to the fix article here on TGO. I paid $10 & had it done, since it requires special pullers I don't have & it is a lot of "little work" inside the steering column.
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Old 11-08-2009, 10:17 AM   #13
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Re: High beem switch lever not working

I know a guy out in the sticks who has a third gen bone yard, and is also a good mechanic. If I don't feel comfortable doing it my self, I will seek his help.
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Old 11-08-2009, 02:58 PM   #14
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Re: High beem switch lever not working

I just got back from driving my RS, and the high beam will come on when the wheel is tilted down. I'm gonna have a closer look. I'm not a contortionist by a long shot, which comes in handy when scrunching under the dash.
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Old 11-08-2009, 05:59 PM   #15
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Re: High beem switch lever not working

Yeah - that's where I am - I've adjusted mine twice, and it always comes back to that point where it just doesn't want to work unless my wheel is all the way tilted - so I got lazy and gave up. I just don't drive at night much anyway, and when I do it's always in town where I can't run hi beams anyway. Since the body work, new nose cone and HOK paint job, I'll avoid any deer at all costs now - even if it means calling out of work, and getting a room where ever I might be caught after dark.
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Poly Bushings Eibach Prokit Bilstein Shocks/Struts
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Old 11-08-2009, 06:42 PM   #16
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Re: High beem switch lever not working

Yeah, I'll do some adjusting myself. I just don't want to get stuck with high beam on. And hitting deer, been there, done that, but not with either of my Camaros. I remember back in the 70's the deer heard was small enough, and nobody worried about hitting the mangy varmints.
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Old 11-24-2009, 11:29 PM   #17
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Re: High beem switch lever not working

well I am having the same problem but mine is stuck on high beam. I do have a lot of slop in my wheel and I have the rest of the week off so Ill be working on mine tomorrow. the stupid dimmer switch crapped out the night before I went to take it to get safety inspected so im riding around with no sticker for now. thanks for the link and other insight on the problem.
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Old 11-25-2009, 11:34 AM   #18
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Re: High beem switch lever not working

I can work my switch when I pull down on the wheel. I still am not gonna use the switch cause it might stay on high beam. I put my camaros away for the winter, so I will address this in the spring. Good luck, and keep me posted.
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Old 12-01-2009, 02:29 PM   #19
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Re: High beem switch lever not working

well I figured out mine works when the wheel is tilted all the way up so I got it on low beams for now. Ill be putting mine away for winter real soon. so Ill probably do the same as you. hopefully I can get a new engine it over the winter too since the original 305 was gone long ago and whats in it now is a real tired engine from an 87 monte.
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Old 12-02-2009, 06:51 PM   #20
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Re: High beem switch lever not working

Quote:
Originally Posted by Stephen View Post
Sounds like the typical steering column slop.

As the steering shaft gets looser & looser, the Hi/Dim switch stops working. Don't fix it & eventually the shaft will seperate & no more steering of any kind!

And the wheel (s on the bus) goes round & round, round & round....

http://www.thirdgen.org/steeringcolumn

WAIT WHAT? I never knew that, I have been putting it off. What happens?
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Old 12-02-2009, 07:02 PM   #21
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Re: High beem switch lever not working

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr Froman View Post
WAIT WHAT? I never knew that, I have been putting it off. What happens?
Steering wheel hub comes loose (internally) front the steering shaft...Wheel spins round & round (like a hurricane ) & the wheels point wherever the road wants them to. You no longer have ANY control over them.....Mine was held on by THREE THREADS of ONE BOLT when mine was done.....The rest of the bolts had fallen out & were gone completely. Also explains the random bolt I found laying on my floor one day...Other one was stuck down in the steering column.
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Old 12-02-2009, 07:05 PM   #22
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Re: High beem switch lever not working

Sounds like you other guys need this article, for just a bad Hi/Lo switch........
http://www.austinthirdgen.org/index.php?pid=16
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Old 12-02-2009, 07:11 PM   #23
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Re: High beem switch lever not working

Quote:
Originally Posted by Stephen View Post
Sounds like you other guys need this article, for just a bad Hi/Lo switch........
http://www.austinthirdgen.org/index.php?pid=16
thats the good one. mine only turn on with the column tilted all the way up. i needa fix that
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