Headlight alarm warning switch
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 169
Likes: 1
From: East Haddam CT
Headlight alarm warning switch
The passenger side switch that mounts to the headlight assembly on my '75 is unattached from its normal mounting place. My lights function perfectly with this switch just dangling from its wires (the plastic threaded back of the switch and its securing nut have broken off and long departed). A new switch sells for about $30.00. Can I just glue my functional switch back in place and not cause any problems? How does the switch know that it must issue a warning and what kind of warning would be signaled should one be needed?
RB
RB
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,481
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
...How does the switch know that it must issue a warning and what kind of warning would be signaled should one be needed?...
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,023
Likes: 6
From: Austin Tx
The idea is that when you turn on your headlights, the headlight warning light should come on, and go off when your headlights are locked in the up position.
There is a small button on the switch that gets compressed when the headlight assembly is fully up, and locked. If the switch is connected to the harness, and simply hanging there, then that button can not be getting pressed. If you are not seeing the light come on in the dash, then my bet is that bulb has either been removed, or is burned out.
The purpose of the light is to warn the driver that the headlights are not locked, therefore engine vacuum is keeping the headlights up. Lets assume you are driving at night, and the engine stalls. If the headlights are not locked, the headlights might go down, that would be a bad thing.
There is a small button on the switch that gets compressed when the headlight assembly is fully up, and locked. If the switch is connected to the harness, and simply hanging there, then that button can not be getting pressed. If you are not seeing the light come on in the dash, then my bet is that bulb has either been removed, or is burned out.
The purpose of the light is to warn the driver that the headlights are not locked, therefore engine vacuum is keeping the headlights up. Lets assume you are driving at night, and the engine stalls. If the headlights are not locked, the headlights might go down, that would be a bad thing.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 2,125
Likes: 9
From: Crescent City, CA
Glue it or just pull the switch from the socket.
Pulling the switch will eliminate the dash light from coming on because that side will act like the light is up.
Hope this helps.
Terry
Pulling the switch will eliminate the dash light from coming on because that side will act like the light is up.
Hope this helps.
Terry
Drifting
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 1,353
Likes: 44
From: Calgary Alberta
Glue will last about a week in most cases. I glued one on my 76 and it lasted about that long...then the other one went so I just ordered new ones. But I'm the type of guy that doesn't like it when things don't work properly. For me, $30 a piece wasn't a big deal.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 169
Likes: 1
From: East Haddam CT
There is a good chance we might be talking about two different 'switches'? The part I'm talking about makes no contact with anything that moves. The part was originally attached by a nut on the back of its plastic assembly to a non moving headlight structure/support. All my dash warning lights as well as buzzers work. The dangling two wire 'switch' hasn't triggered any warning buzzers or warning lights. I think I could simply tie wrap the 'switch' to its regular location and be done with it as it seems that the 'switch' does not care if it's hanging or bolted to where Chevy put it all those years ago. Unless you look up through the lower air intakes you'd never know that it wasn't secured like its twin on the other side. I only noticed it while detailing the area in front of the radiator when I had the car on a lift and wanted to keep it from flopping around (not to mention finding out what it was supposed to do).
RB
RB
Drifting
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 1,353
Likes: 44
From: Calgary Alberta
Would be surprised if we're talking about different things. Do you mean this: http://www.parts123.com/parts123/yb....Z5Z5Z50000050G
If so, as stated above it contacts the assembly in the up / on position to tell you that the lights are all the way up. One end has a little button on it you can depress with your finger if you want to.
If so, as stated above it contacts the assembly in the up / on position to tell you that the lights are all the way up. One end has a little button on it you can depress with your finger if you want to.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 169
Likes: 1
From: East Haddam CT
Yup, that's the rascal. Going to have to take a much closer look at my broken switch this weekend. Thanks for doing the leg work finding the part and posting the link.
I'm curious as to how the switch actually works. I'll put my car back on the lift this weekend and run the lights through a cycle or two to find out. Looks like my Corvette will be eating $30.00 of mine this weekend in its quest for life immortal
.
RB
I'm curious as to how the switch actually works. I'll put my car back on the lift this weekend and run the lights through a cycle or two to find out. Looks like my Corvette will be eating $30.00 of mine this weekend in its quest for life immortal
. RB
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!
Joe Kucinski
2027 Corvette Buyer's Guide: Everything You Need to Know!
Joe Kucinski
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,023
Likes: 6
From: Austin Tx
Below is a picture I took of one of my switches. The bucket is partially up. You can see the button on the bottom of the switch, and the metal tab that is coming up to press it.
When you get your new switch, be careful when you install it. If someone in the past improperly adjusted the headlight bucket, it may smash your new switch, instead of simply pressing the button.
The way the system works, is by the switches providing continuity when the button is not pressed, and removing continuity when it is. Usually when a switch breaks off, and is simply hanging there, the switch continues to provide continuity and the headlight warning lamp stays on as long as the headlights are on. Either switch can provide continuity, so if one switch is broken, simply removing it allow the other switch to keep the system working as it should.
When you get your new switch, be careful when you install it. If someone in the past improperly adjusted the headlight bucket, it may smash your new switch, instead of simply pressing the button.
The way the system works, is by the switches providing continuity when the button is not pressed, and removing continuity when it is. Usually when a switch breaks off, and is simply hanging there, the switch continues to provide continuity and the headlight warning lamp stays on as long as the headlights are on. Either switch can provide continuity, so if one switch is broken, simply removing it allow the other switch to keep the system working as it should.
Drifting
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 1,353
Likes: 44
From: Calgary Alberta
Just one final point on the install of the new one once you get it - make sure not to overtighten it...you can see in the picture that it is reasonably loose. Don't use tools for this at all, just install the nut finger tight.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 15,892
Likes: 42
There is a good chance we might be talking about two different 'switches'? The part I'm talking about makes no contact with anything that moves. The part was originally attached by a nut on the back of its plastic assembly to a non moving headlight structure/support. All my dash warning lights as well as buzzers work. The dangling two wire 'switch' hasn't triggered any warning buzzers or warning lights. I think I could simply tie wrap the 'switch' to its regular location and be done with it as it seems that the 'switch' does not care if it's hanging or bolted to where Chevy put it all those years ago. Unless you look up through the lower air intakes you'd never know that it wasn't secured like its twin on the other side. I only noticed it while detailing the area in front of the radiator when I had the car on a lift and wanted to keep it from flopping around (not to mention finding out what it was supposed to do).
RB
RB
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 169
Likes: 1
From: East Haddam CT
Great picture and nice installation warning. Your photo is like a visible text book .
Correct me if I'm wrong but are you saying that a warning will only happen if both switches fail (even if one headlamp bucket fails to open)? Can it be assumed that if one cut the wires and twisted them together and then capping them with wire nuts [on both sides] that the now missing switches would indicate to the car that everything is OK?
Seems kind of silly that if the headlight doors failed to open and it's dark most folks shouldn't need more warning after they'd hit a few invisible things in the darkness
. If that weren't enough how about that yellowish pool of light under the car following you around that should be facing forward?
RB
.Correct me if I'm wrong but are you saying that a warning will only happen if both switches fail (even if one headlamp bucket fails to open)? Can it be assumed that if one cut the wires and twisted them together and then capping them with wire nuts [on both sides] that the now missing switches would indicate to the car that everything is OK?
Seems kind of silly that if the headlight doors failed to open and it's dark most folks shouldn't need more warning after they'd hit a few invisible things in the darkness
. If that weren't enough how about that yellowish pool of light under the car following you around that should be facing forward? RB
Last edited by Commodore; Mar 28, 2013 at 11:33 AM.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 15,892
Likes: 42
Correct me if I'm wrong but are you saying that a warning will only happen if both switches fail (even if one headlamp bucket fails to open)? Can it be assumed that if one cut the wires and twisted them together and then capping them with wire nuts [on both sides] that the now missing switches would indicate to the car that everything is OK?
BOTH switches need to break electrical contact to turn the light off.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,023
Likes: 6
From: Austin Tx
Great picture and nice installation warning. Your photo is like a visible text book .
Correct me if I'm wrong but are you saying that a warning will only happen if both switches fail (even if one headlamp bucket fails to open)? Can it be assumed that if one cut the wires and twisted them together and then capping them with wire nuts [on both sides] that the now missing switches would indicate to the car that everything is OK?
No - That would keep the lamp on all the time. Simply disconnect both switches and the lamp will never come on.
Seems kind of silly that if the headlight doors failed to open and it's dark most folks shouldn't need more warning after they'd hit a few invisible things in the darkness. If that weren't enough how about that yellowish pool of light under the car following you around that should be facing forward?
The warning is not that they are down, it's that they are up, and not locked. The lamps may come up, and appear to work ok, but not lock. If you are driving in that situation, and your car stalls, there may not be vacuum to keep the lamps up. I would hate to be driving down the road at night, have my car stall AND have the head lights go down when it does.
RB
.Correct me if I'm wrong but are you saying that a warning will only happen if both switches fail (even if one headlamp bucket fails to open)? Can it be assumed that if one cut the wires and twisted them together and then capping them with wire nuts [on both sides] that the now missing switches would indicate to the car that everything is OK?
No - That would keep the lamp on all the time. Simply disconnect both switches and the lamp will never come on.
Seems kind of silly that if the headlight doors failed to open and it's dark most folks shouldn't need more warning after they'd hit a few invisible things in the darkness
. If that weren't enough how about that yellowish pool of light under the car following you around that should be facing forward? The warning is not that they are down, it's that they are up, and not locked. The lamps may come up, and appear to work ok, but not lock. If you are driving in that situation, and your car stalls, there may not be vacuum to keep the lamps up. I would hate to be driving down the road at night, have my car stall AND have the head lights go down when it does.
RB
2nd Gear
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
attachment nut for headlight door warning switch
Looking for the needle in the haystack here.
The silver nut in the picture, with or without a lock washer.
I bought a replacement (no nut included in box) since my warning switch was cracked in half and dangling from the bottom of the headlight mechanism.
I searched websites for 2 hours and all the photos have the switch without the nut, and no separate part to purchase the nut.
I have searched virtually all websites for the nut to hold this together.
Does anybody know the size of the attachment nut, where to buy one, or another nut of the same size on a 76 Stingray that can be used (and hopefully orderable as a part) to attach the warning switch?
Also, note that the poster that said the interior red headlight lamp warning comes on if the headlight door switch is broken. Mine has been broken (and the light on) forever, and I finally got around to diagnosing the cause thanks to this website.
I am a 3rd owner of a survivor that has been in the family since 1983.
Thanks in advance.
[/QUOTE]
The silver nut in the picture, with or without a lock washer.
I bought a replacement (no nut included in box) since my warning switch was cracked in half and dangling from the bottom of the headlight mechanism.
I searched websites for 2 hours and all the photos have the switch without the nut, and no separate part to purchase the nut.
I have searched virtually all websites for the nut to hold this together.
Does anybody know the size of the attachment nut, where to buy one, or another nut of the same size on a 76 Stingray that can be used (and hopefully orderable as a part) to attach the warning switch?
Also, note that the poster that said the interior red headlight lamp warning comes on if the headlight door switch is broken. Mine has been broken (and the light on) forever, and I finally got around to diagnosing the cause thanks to this website.
I am a 3rd owner of a survivor that has been in the family since 1983.
Thanks in advance.
[/QUOTE]
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 19,126
Likes: 1,667
From: Long Island
TO CHECK THE WIRING / SWITCH:
Put on the headlights without the motor running - . Headlights should be down, but on. Warning light should light on the instrument cluster, if not you have a problem.
Push one light up manually, the warning light should still be lit.
Start the car lower the light. Turn off the car.
Turn on the headlights, push up the other headlight - the warning light should be lit.
If the warning light does not light with either headlight up - you have a wiring problem or bad switch.
Put on the headlights without the motor running - . Headlights should be down, but on. Warning light should light on the instrument cluster, if not you have a problem.
Push one light up manually, the warning light should still be lit.
Start the car lower the light. Turn off the car.
Turn on the headlights, push up the other headlight - the warning light should be lit.
If the warning light does not light with either headlight up - you have a wiring problem or bad switch.
Last edited by BLUE1972; Jan 15, 2019 at 11:20 PM.