Georgia Fiero Club Forum

All Things Fiero => Tech Tips, Tech Questions => Topic started by: Donster on November 30, 2018, 12:50:30 pm

Title: High-beams alway on
Post by: Donster on November 30, 2018, 12:50:30 pm
Just noticed that my high-beams are always on.
When I pull the wiper-arm back, I hear no clicking sound, blue indicator light in the cluster stays on also.
Bad switch??
\D
Title: Re: High-beams alway on
Post by: TopNotch on November 30, 2018, 03:36:35 pm
Stock lights?
Title: Re: High-beams alway on
Post by: Donster on November 30, 2018, 04:28:23 pm
Yes, all stock
Title: Re: High-beams alway on
Post by: Fierofool on November 30, 2018, 04:34:57 pm
Sounds like it is the dimmer switch.  I'm having problems with my 87 so that when I first turn on the lights the low beams don't illuminate.  I have to put them onto high then back to low to get them to come on.  Sometimes when driving at night with high beams, dimming the lights causes them to go out.  I was dreading having to pay someone to tear the column apart and replace the switch. 

Then I found out that the dimmer switch is actually bolted to the column, just above the pedals.  You do have to drop the column away from the dash to get to the bolts that are on top of the column.  Before ordering a new one, you might check the rod that runs from the multi-function lever to the switch.  I don't know if it can be bent, but that might be the case.  The switch can be operated by hand just by pushing the plunger where the rod fits into it, once you've dropped the column. 

The ACDelco part number is D8041A.  I just bought one from Rock Auto. 
Title: Re: High-beams alway on
Post by: GTRS Fiero on November 30, 2018, 05:51:38 pm
It could be the lever, but probably isn't the dimmer switch.  It sounds as if the lights are stuck in high-beam mode.
Title: Re: High-beams alway on
Post by: Fierofool on November 30, 2018, 08:36:41 pm
There's no headlight electrical component to the lever.  It just pivots in a socket and pushes on a rod that runs down to the switch on the column. 
Title: Re: High-beams alway on
Post by: GTRS Fiero on November 30, 2018, 08:38:30 pm
Right.  Currently, the lever does nothing.
Title: Re: High-beams alway on
Post by: Donster on December 01, 2018, 06:14:02 am
Fixed. It was the rod. It was obstructed/bent.

Thanks all.

\D
Title: Re: High-beams alway on
Post by: Roger on December 02, 2018, 06:24:05 am
Sounds like it is the dimmer switch.  I'm having problems with my 87 so that when I first turn on the lights the low beams don't illuminate.  I have to put them onto high then back to low to get them to come on.  Sometimes when driving at night with high beams, dimming the lights causes them to go out.  I was dreading having to pay someone to tear the column apart and replace the switch. 

Then I found out that the dimmer switch is actually bolted to the column, just above the pedals.  You do have to drop the column away from the dash to get to the bolts that are on top of the column.  Before ordering a new one, you might check the rod that runs from the multi-function lever to the switch.  I don't know if it can be bent, but that might be the case.  The switch can be operated by hand just by pushing the plunger where the rod fits into it, once you've dropped the column. 

The ACDelco part number is D8041A.  I just bought one from Rock Auto.

Sometimes I think we need to sacrifice a chicken over your car.
Title: Re: High-beams alway on
Post by: Fierofool on December 02, 2018, 08:20:25 am


Sometimes I think we need to sacrifice a chicken over your car.

We already did.  Had it for Thanksgiving Dinner. 
Title: Re: High-beams alway on
Post by: GTRS Fiero on December 02, 2018, 12:27:25 pm
The ACDelco part number is D8041A.  I just bought one from Rock Auto.

Why is it called a dimmer switch, if it controls the high-beam headlights?

Fierofool, will you be replacing this yourself?
Title: Re: High-beams alway on
Post by: Fierofool on December 02, 2018, 01:57:05 pm
Because it dims the headlights from high beam.  I suppose it could have been called a 'brighter' switch.   ;D

No, I won't be replacing it, myself.  I'm afraid to get underneath the dash in the manner which I would have to contort my back, neck and shoulder.  I put out a want-ad to see if anyone wanted to do it for pay but there were no takers.  Maybe by summer I'll be able to do it myself. 
Title: Re: High-beams alway on
Post by: GTRS Fiero on December 02, 2018, 02:06:02 pm
That's no joke.  I had to unscrew something from behind the driver's seat, under the backboard.  My back was against that hard corner on the console.  Ouch!

I was thinking the switch should be called the high-beam switch.
Title: Re: High-beams alway on
Post by: GTRS Fiero on December 04, 2018, 06:41:16 pm
No, I won't be replacing it, myself.  ...  I put out a want-ad to see if anyone wanted to do it for pay but there were no takers.  Maybe by summer I'll be able to do it myself.

I must've missed that thread.  I couldn't find it.  I saw the thread about the locks.
Title: Re: High-beams alway on
Post by: Fierofool on December 04, 2018, 09:38:21 pm
I put it somewhere.  Maybe that's why I didn't get any takers. 
Title: Re: High-beams alway on
Post by: GTRS Fiero on December 04, 2018, 09:56:29 pm
Maybe the weather had something to do with it--or the season.