How to clean headlight dimmer switch?
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Sep 2004
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From: Madison WI
How to clean headlight/interior light switch?
Okay guys, I'm removing the headlight dimmer switch on my 72 coupe to clean it since it's always been rather fiddly trying to get the interior lights to turn on. Two questions:
1) How do I get the actual switch out? I already have the pull **** out (that you remove by pulling the silver button on the side) but I don't see what screw or nut is holding the actual switch to the dash...
2) What should I use to clean the contacts for the dimmer? There looks to be a little bit of corrosion on a couple of the coils of the spring, but I don't really care about the dimming as much as I do simply getting the interior lights to turn on...how to clean it?
Thanks in advance guys!
1) How do I get the actual switch out? I already have the pull **** out (that you remove by pulling the silver button on the side) but I don't see what screw or nut is holding the actual switch to the dash...
2) What should I use to clean the contacts for the dimmer? There looks to be a little bit of corrosion on a couple of the coils of the spring, but I don't really care about the dimming as much as I do simply getting the interior lights to turn on...how to clean it?
Thanks in advance guys!
Last edited by 72Tornado; Mar 17, 2006 at 03:39 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 23,831
Likes: 10
From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '07
Try turning the body of the switch to loosen it. I think the bezel on the front of the dash is the nut.
When I've cleaned the rheostat on old GM truck switches, I have carefully run a wire brush on a Dremel across the contacts.
You probably confused people with the part description - the headlight dimmer is that thing on the floor that turns your high beams on and off.
When I've cleaned the rheostat on old GM truck switches, I have carefully run a wire brush on a Dremel across the contacts.
You probably confused people with the part description - the headlight dimmer is that thing on the floor that turns your high beams on and off.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 690
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From: Madison WI
Originally Posted by I'm Batman
Try turning the body of the switch to loosen it. I think the bezel on the front of the dash is the nut.
When I've cleaned the rheostat on old GM truck switches, I have carefully run a wire brush on a Dremel across the contacts.
You probably confused people with the part description - the headlight dimmer is that thing on the floor that turns your high beams on and off.
When I've cleaned the rheostat on old GM truck switches, I have carefully run a wire brush on a Dremel across the contacts.
You probably confused people with the part description - the headlight dimmer is that thing on the floor that turns your high beams on and off.
Hmm, what I might do is wipe the contacts off with rubbing alcohol and then run one of the harder buffing heads of the Dremel on them...would this be ok?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 2,675
Likes: 13
From: Sudbury MA
You might also want to shoot some electrical contact cleaner over the connections and the rheostat on the rear. I think Radio Shack might call it "Tuner Cleaner" but you can get it at any electronics store or any good Hardware or Auto Parts store.
Just ask for contact cleaner.
Kurt
Just ask for contact cleaner.
Kurt
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,192
Likes: 27
From: Boca Raton Florida
Contact cleaner and maybe an eraser to clean the wiper surface, I wouldn't use anything else on it. Won't take much to go thru the coil anf then the lites will be inop. The bezel on the dash is the nut that secures it to the dash. Treat it gently, its old
