I have searched the board and found most of the answers I need(no high beams- lever does not 'click' anything) but I need an answer on one question in particular: my high beams do not come on but the 'high beam' light on the dash is on whenever I turn the headlights on.
Do you think that is related to the switch or do I perhaps have a short somewhere in the cluster?

 

Inside there is s 3 way cam switch. up down blinkers, back h beams
If you hit the handle to hard... You will need a lock plate & steering wheel puller
You need to find out if you broke the cam, or the column holding the handle

I would look at the h beam rod to the switch first.. if its just the h beams

 

I have cruise control, wipers and both turn signals- and that damn high beam idiot light on the dash!

 

Sounds like it might be localized at the high beam switch...

 

The high beam switch is farther down the column, under the hush panel. The turn signal **** activates it via a cam and long rod that runs through the column.

If your tilt column is loose enough it can affect proper operation of the switch. Tightening the column is covered in several threads here with pics.

If your tilt is tight, you'll need to adjust the high beam switch underneath. You'll see the rod running along the column to it. Just confirm that the rod moves when the lever is depressed. The rod isn't really attached at either end. The tilt switch has a spring that keeps it in place. You'll see it all, and how it works, if you get down underneath.

I always spend the extra five minutes to pull the seat out when working under there now. When you get older you'll appreciate the difference in laying back comfortably or spending agonizing time contorted.

 

Yeah, if you feel for the rod going down the column to the hi/lo switch and push it in to the switch with your hand and it clicks and your highs go off, it just needs to be adjusted

 

Is the rod extremely loose or flopping about? The aforementioned cam switch operates the rod via an odd looking fragile dog-bone looking little plastic piece. It fits between the switch, rod and column housing like a Chinese wooden puzzle piece, might be broken or missing.