Is my new headlight switch bad?
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
Likes: 1,853
From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
I received this switch from you last Friday. However, I don't know that the switch is bad yet. I'm trying to get some input before I take it back apart. And what else to check(first) I tried to download a video to show what its actually doing. But no luck on the video. The vacuum part works great. The headlights blink on high and low beam. Sometimes the stay off 15 seconds, sometime they stay on 3 minutes.
Inside the switch is a beryllium breaker that is an overload breaker for the circuit. If there is a dead short this switch is designed to fail. If the lights are blinking then this switch is defective or there is a dead short in the system.
Normally the breaker will re-set instantly and actually cause the lamps to flash like a police car or someone turning the lights on and off in a fairly rapid manner if the internal breaker is defective. It won't flash off for 15 minutes.
What was the issue before you replaced the switch, are you sure you don't have a short somewhere else?
You can see the breaker switch in the picture below.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 156
Likes: 12
From: Arkansas
They don't blink like a police car. They may go off a few seconds and be on a couple of minutes. Then may flash quick a few times. No pattern to it. I'm going to check a few things tonight or tomorrow night and will post back. Can someone explain how to post a video, or let me send it to them to post?
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 23,381
Likes: 1,067
From: Virginia USA
D6252D is still a good Delco part number but it's not a Corvette Switch. Borg makes this same switch (a bit cheaper) so does a few other nationally manufacturers (also a bit cheaper) and importers.... but it's not a Corvette switch and will not operate your headlamps.
This switch is the earlier passenger car, Camaro style switch that doesn't have the vacuum attachment made on it for the operation of the headlamps. So it'll work and fit your car, you'll just have to by-pass the vacuum from the switch to the over-ride below the column.
Willcox
This switch is the earlier passenger car, Camaro style switch that doesn't have the vacuum attachment made on it for the operation of the headlamps. So it'll work and fit your car, you'll just have to by-pass the vacuum from the switch to the over-ride below the column.
Willcox
Or you can take your original switch apart and put the top cover with the vacuum portion on the new switch. That is if the vacuum portion of the original switch is still good.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 19,294
Likes: 2,754
From: Charlotte NC
Do not ask me how I know this. Just because the outside of the switch looks the same means nothing when what is going on inside the switch is different.
DUB
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 23,381
Likes: 1,067
From: Virginia USA
That may seem like ti will work but what you are not considering is that there may not be a notch in one of the parts inside the switch so the lever on the vacuum switch can actually move when you move the ****.
Do not ask me how I know this. Just because the outside of the switch looks the same means nothing when what is going on inside the switch is different.
DUB
Do not ask me how I know this. Just because the outside of the switch looks the same means nothing when what is going on inside the switch is different.
DUB
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 19,294
Likes: 2,754
From: Charlotte NC
You are correct. I should have mentioned that the original internal slider would have to be used again as well. I went this route many years ago so I forget stuff like this. Good thing we have you around, someone that wrenches on our old beasts on a daily basis, to remind us shade trees.
Heck,..on a non-Corvette headlight switch I got form a local parts house to do this 'fix' becasue it was on the weekend and I was in a pinch to get a Corvette completed...when I took it apart is was so different in the inside that it was waste of my time and money. None of the internal parts from the original GM switch would not work in it.
Keep in mind that I am commenting on that specific headlight switch I got from that parts house...so...it is possible that someone may be lucky and get one that will work.
DUB
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Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 23,381
Likes: 1,067
From: Virginia USA
The "non-Corvette" headlight switch I bought from my local parts store was a Wells SW141. It was identical to the Corvette switch except it didn't have the vacuum port and the ceramic heat sink of the dimmer rheostat was squared off on one corner where it needed to be beveled to fit correctly behind the dash pad. I used my dremel to cut off the ceramic to fit. I'm sure I used the original internal slider as DUB mentioned but I can't remember.
Wells SW141
Wells SW141