C2 Dimmer Switch

[Mark P.]

I hit my dimmer switch on a late night drive last night and the headlights completely shut off. I hit it again, and it was back to normal beams. Repeated it and same results. Are dimmer switches problematic on C2's? Never heard of that problem before. It's not expensive to replace, but I'd like to make sure it's a switch problem before I get one. I'm planning on pulling it tomorrow to check it out to see if I can even see anything.

Any sage advice out there?

As always, thanks.
Mark

[Wayne W.]

Re: C2 Dimmer Switch

Yep, very much so.

[Dan T.]

Re: C2 Dimmer Switch

Mark, Yes you will need a new one. Old electrial stuff just falls apart after a while. It's not too hard to work on it, or expensive either. Dan

[Mark P.]

Re: C2 Dimmer Switch

Thanks, guys. Things are looking brighter already.....

[Gary S.]

Re: C2 Dimmer Switch

I can't say whether it is correct or not, but my local salvage yard has lots of 60's and 70's cars that have pristine looking dimmmr switches. When I had my 66 I actually pulled two new looking dimmers out just to have one ready for the potential switch issue. Price was right.

Gary

[Lane Ockerman]

Re: C2 Dimmer Switch

Mark,

Pull back carpet in the upper left corner by the dimmer switch.
You will find a 3 prong plastic wiring connector to your dimmer switch.
You just may have knocked it loose from the dimmer switch itself.

Make sure it is connected to all 3 prongs on switch.
This happened to me on my 65'. Mine came off due to age and use.
Works fine now.

Lane

[John O.]

Re: C2 Dimmer Switch

Hi Mark

When you said you hit the switch, do you mean your foot accidently hit it or did you press the switch to try to get your high beams on? I have a 62 vette that I just put all new wiring in and after a couple of checks of the lights, I tried the dimmer switch again. All the headlights went off. I pressed on it a couple times again and they worked ok. I think it was just bad contact in my switch, cause I had sand blasted my rusted switch. If this is what you are experiancing, check the swich or replace it.

Good luck,,,,John

[William V.]

Re: C2 Dimmer Switch

Mark

I was able to get a replacement switch for a 1940 La Salle from a local auto parts store. The switch you need is not the same as the la salle's but was used in many GM cars and is as common as dirt.

[Mark P.]

Re: C2 Dimmer Switch

I pressed the switch to get my high beams. The lights clearly went off then came back on when I pressed it again to get the low beams back. I'll replace the switch and go from there.

Thanks,
Mark

[Mark F.]

Re: C2 Dimmer Switch

Lane:

My 65 had a bad dimmer switch in it (same problem as yours). I ordered a replacement from a well-known Corvette supplier on the East Coast and found that it did not fit in the original mounting holes. The mount for the new one was too large for my switch mount. I went to a local salvage yard and bought several; the first one worked just fine. I guess I keep learning the lesson that new is not necessarily better.

Mark