Headlights stopped rotating

[Michael G.]

Re: Headlights stopped rotating

I agree Gary, but you are assuming that China has some organization similar to NIST that regulates standard material specifications, which i don't believe they do. It might have been nice though, if the U.S. company had some idea what material they needed, or conducted a definitive test of the finished product. GM (or probably its Delco division) would've conducted life-cycle testing of some sort on the originals.

I'm sure Apple validates the heck out their products...

[Gary B.]

Re: Headlights stopped rotating

Mike,

I do not believe any government entity such as NIST is invoked in the materials chosen by US manufacturers. Yes, Apple meticulously validates their products made in China, but so can any US company validate what they have made in China.

Wouldn’t many of us pay $5 or $10 more on a $75 part to get a higher quality rollover switch made with higher quality materials? I sure would. If Paragon or LIC believed we would pay extra, they might demand better quality parts from the manufacturer.


Gary

PS. It’s a shame that individual members or the NCRS as an organization can’t talk with Kim Cohen, or the owners of Corvette Central and Paragon on this exact topic.

[Michael G.]

Re: Headlights stopped rotating

Gary,

NIST publishes material standards used by U.S. companies to select materials and processes. Maybe not as much for plastics, but certainly metals.

I think most of us would pay more for high quality parts.

This switch was purchased from Eckler's, less than two years ago, for $89.99. Interestingly, it is the only Eckler's part on the car, and I've never directly purchased anything from them. Not picking on Eckler's, though, this probably came from the same switch supplier used by every vendor.

P.S. The switch on my other 65 is original and still going strong - after all these years...

[Gary B.]

[Michael G.]

Re: Headlights stopped rotating

I wouldn't put the blame for this solely on the U.S. seller though. The Chinese could have been told to analyze the original and make a part just like it (including selecting equivalent materials).

[Gary B.]

[Michael G.]

Re: Headlights stopped rotating

It might be assuming a bit much to suggest LIC (or any seller) is aware of this problem.

I can't speak for any supplier's knowledge of the switch failure, but, this failure is what we used to term a "walk home" in the auto industry (assuming the user didn't know how, or couldn't, open the lamps manually), a very undesirable situation. My headlamps wouldn't turn at dusk, in the middle of nowhere, in the northern Michigan woods, on a Sunday night at 9:00 PM. If I were not extremely familiar with C2 corvettes, I would have been stranded, with a tow the only option, and who knows how long a wait for a tow truck at that time and place.

[Gary B.]

[Ed S.]

Re: Headlights stopped rotating

FYI - there is a "how to repair the headlight switch" article in the Technical Data Base of this forum. Written by Alan Drake - it is not long nor does it appear complicated. The article describes how to disassemble and repair an original switch but would probably work for a repro switch as well. See the article at the link --- https://www.ncrsmac.org/ed/Electrica...h%20Repair.pdf

[Michael G.]

[Frank D.]

Re: Headlights stopped rotating

I'm just sayin'

https://shop.docrebuild.com/1963-1967CorvetteHeadlampRotatorSwitchUsedGenuineGM5716297.aspx

[Michael G.]

Re: Headlights stopped rotating

I'm just sayin'

https://shop.docrebuild.com/1963-196...GM5716297.aspx

[Frank D.]

Re: Headlights stopped rotating

Unless David Sokolowski has a used/NOS switch, I'm not seeing anything out there.

[Gary B.]

Re: Headlights stopped rotating

This is supposed to be a used, GM original on eBay: Item # 174212223297. Seems a bit much for something that might not work.

Gary

[Hector G.]

Re: Headlights stopped rotating

Unless David Sokolowski has a used/NOS switch, I'm not seeing anything out there.

He has hundreds! Problem is that you'll probably have to look at them yourself and choose which one you'd like. Some are in nice condition, others not so much.

Hector