Light switch won't switch!

[ermie571]

Hi folks,

driven to work today with the lights working as they should....got to work, parked up, and the rocker wouldn't rock to turn the lights off. Pulled the plug of the back of the switch. It was warm. Not too hot to touch...but warm.

So...I should be driving home in the dark..thus requiring lights. Really not sure about plugging the plug back in....got a spare switch in the garage. Or should I just leave a three and utilise the daylight??

Bless her...she got me here and she's told me there is a problem. Now its my turn to get her home safely.

Em
xx

[mrhutch]

they do get warm Em...

For safety, and if you can, leave at 3 and swap the switch... if not I would just plug it back in and drive home.

[ermie571]

pretty much the same thought pattern....leaving at 2 with hubby following or in front. Have got indicators and brake lights...so if really awful can drive on hazzards. But at 2 the roads should be light on traffic.

Thanks for letting me know they get warm. Not happy to plug and pray...she got me here safely...."told" me there was a problem....now I need to get her home safely

Best I have the switches off the sika then......

Thanks for commenting

Em
xx

[bigherb]

You become a swampy then em?

[harvey]

Hi folks,

driven to work today with the lights working as they should....got to work, parked up, and the rocker wouldn't rock to turn the lights off. Pulled the plug of the back of the switch. It was warm. Not too hot to touch...but warm.

So...I should be driving home in the dark..thus requiring lights. Really not sure about plugging the plug back in....got a spare switch in the garage. Or should I just leave a three and utilise the daylight??

Bless her...she got me here and she's told me there is a problem. Now its my turn to get her home safely.

Em
xx

Happened to me over the summer when were in Denmark touring - a real PITA!

Turned out that the ground/earth terminal of the switch had melted into the socket. We went for over a month disconnecting the batteries' ground straps when camped and pulling the headlamp fuses when on the road - never drove at night.

Finally, found a T3 salvage guy (Tim of das T3-Lager) in Lubeck who supplied me with a socket and switch. Changed them out and works good now. However, I still want to go over my ground connections as I suspect this may be an issue. Might be with yours too.

[ermie571]

You become a swampy then em?

I don't think you can become a swampy....think you have to be born on the island.....I think we are at working Immigrant status.


Harvey - thanks very much....haven't inspected the old switch yet....will do though....just whacked a replacement one in which works just fine.

Will remember that earth thing.....did that stop the rocker moving then?

Em
xx

sorry - just re-read youur post....my socket was totally fine....no apparent damage? Just disconnected from the switch till I got into the garage to get the replacement in there. I must admit, when the socket was warm I was thinking all sorts of electrical nightmares....but all seems good .....long may it stay that way...

[AdrianC]

Fit relays for the lights. Not only will you almost certainly get better lights as a result, but your switch will be passing far less current, so won't get warm and melty.

[harvey]

Will remember that earth thing.....did that stop the rocker moving then?

Hi Em, yes, rocker would not move. I bet you were really surprised I was - just couldn't believe that the rocker wouldn't budge.

Adrian's right - we need to get relays. It's on my shopping list.

[ermie571]

its all very well to say "fit relays" ----- how, and where??


I'm guessing the standard 40amp 4 pin ones....12v in, earth...the switch wire and 12 v out.

but how does it signal the main and dipped bit? Don't worry - I won't be doing this myself...would just like to know

Thanks Harvey for the updated info....and yes...I must have tried several times before I accepted it wasn't giving in....

Em
xx

[AdrianC]

its all very well to say "fit relays" ----- how, and where??

<points wiki-wards>

I'm guessing the standard 40amp 4 pin ones....12v in, earth...the switch wire and 12 v out.

Yup. 12v in is straight from the battery, with only a fuse in the way. On a diesel, with the battery two miles away, you might find a better source of a good clean 12v live.

but how does it signal the main and dipped bit?

One relay for dip, one for beam. Or you could go OTT and do one for each for each side, total of four.

[ermie571]