C3 Headlight switch problem

[Pete B.]

Hi all,
I have a new Lectric limited switch with the vaccum ports. When I hook it up the head lights come on for a minute or so then go off. So obviously the switch is bad. (Replacing it with my old switch it works fine but the reostat is bad)
Anybody have the same problem with new switches?
If not who did you get them from??? NAPA has them but no vaccume ports!

Thanks in advance!

Pete

[Joe L.]

Re: C3 Headlight switch problem

Hi all,
I have a new Lectric limited switch with the vaccum ports. When I hook it up the head lights come on for a minute or so then go off. So obviously the switch is bad. (Replacing it with my old switch it works fine but the reostat is bad)
Anybody have the same problem with new switches?
If not who did you get them from??? NAPA has them but no vaccume ports!

Thanks in advance!

Pete

Pete------


I have heard of problems with the reproduction switches. I'd return it and get another. It might take several such exchanges to get one that works correctly.

I believe the problem lies in the fact that these are now manufactured in small volume in "marginal" manufacturing facilities and they have a hard time getting it right. Very poor quality control.

[Pete B.]

Re: C3 Headlight switch problem

Thanks Joe, thats what I thought. LL is sending me a replacement out today...hope it works!

Pete

[Richard M.]

Re: C3 Headlight switch problem

A friend got a new one for his 73 from Ecklers a while ago. While he had the dash apart he figured get a new switch in there in case the original one went bad.

New one?.......Piece-o-crap.... The internal tang to hold the knob shaft was junk. Tried and tried, no good. We ended up using the original good-'ol Delco switch. Good thing we had the dash still open. Original still works fine. Returned the "new" junk and got a refund. No quality anymore.

RIch

[Kevin G.]

Re: C3 Headlight switch problem

Does anyone out there rebuild the original Delco switches/rheostat?

[Dick W.]

Re: C3 Headlight switch problem

Does anyone out there rebuild the original Delco switches/reostat?

Kevin, with enough patience and a little talent, I am sure that the rheostat wire could be replaced with one from a donor. I have taken the switches apart to clean the internal contacts.

[Edward J.]

Re: C3 Headlight switch problem

Does anyone out there rebuild the original Delco switches/rheostat?

Kevin, if the rheostat wire is still encase in porcelain and not broken, Take a dremel tool and polish the wire where the copper contact rides on and clean the copper contact also, Sometimes its just a build -up of crap from over the years.

[Jack H.]

Re: C3 Headlight switch problem

On the later switches, the rheostat is a 'replaceable' sub-assy. You can remove the defective one from your switch and substitute another from a similar donor switch. I 'think' that applies to the Delco electro-vacuum switches from the early Shark era.

It's the earlier Delco HL switches are are pretty much a 'throw-away' item when the rheostat is blown. In the 50's and 60's the rheostat module's power lines were 'welded' to those coming out of the switch body's contact area. I've never heard of anyone doing replacement 'surgery' on one of these...

[Joe L.]

Re: C3 Headlight switch problem

Kevin, with enough patience and a little talent, I am sure that the rheostat wire could be replaced with one from a donor. I have taken the switches apart to clean the internal contacts.

Dick------


The failure mode that I have observed on these switches has more to do with the "paddle" contact attached to the shaft than with the rheostat wire, itself. These "paddles" appear to become dislodged from the shaft and that's what creates the dis-function I've observed. I don't know how this can be repaired.

[Jerry B.]

Re: C3 Headlight switch problem

Hello Folks, In The Past I Have Purchased A Replacement Headlight Switch From Napa. Carefully Separating The Top Vaccum Assy From The Base. Then Attach The Stock Top To The Napa Switch. A Little Patience Will Go Along Way.

[Pete B.]

Re: C3 Headlight switch problem

I spoke to the Tech at LL, they tell me that the problem that I had is a rare one. He sounded sincere and shipped a replacement out today. I am curious to see if Jerry's solution is easy. Maybe when I get my hands on a working replacement I will check it out.

[Jack H.]

Re: C3 Headlight switch problem

The pot's wiper arm (you call it a 'paddle'), it typically a pretty hearty piece of stamped steel that simply slips over the plastic actuator shaft. The only failures I've seen here are melted/deformed plastic actuator shafts that fail to hold the wiper arm in good contact to the pot's resistor windings.

My hunch is if you have a problem with the wiper arm, the 'fix' is to remove the switch cover and replace the wiper and/or actuator shaft, as required, using donor parts from a scrap yard car's HL switch. Due to the unique electro-vacuum nature of these switches, you're probably NOT going to find a Corvette HL switch on a passenger car unless it just happens to be another with vacuum actuated headlamp buckets (Eldorado, Toronado ???).

I HAVE seen quite a few older HL switches with 'blown' resistor windings. I'm guessing that during a DEAD SHORT incident with the dash wiring harness, it's a horse race as to whether the cockpit fuse blows before the headlight switch's pot resistor windings melt and open circuit the load...