Head light switch and high beam stalk

[takiled]

When I purchased auto, did once over while I was outside car and asked owner to turn on lights, turn signals, high beams etc, Did not drive car for a month before I needed to drive in the dark

Issue. Headlights will only come on when I rotate switch clockwise and pull out knog(fog mode). Stalk on steering column will "flash" high beams but when stalk is pushed forward, it stays in that location but high beams will not come on nor does high beam indicator light on dash.

Any idea as to cause. Are both in need of replacement? Switch is @$100 wholesale and stalk asembly is $215 plus labor. Can switch alone be cause of stalk issue. Any experience/comments appreciated

Tks

[lex_gs]

Replace your headlight switch. A very complex and poor design that is prone to failure in many different ways. Mine went bad and the panel lights would take minutes to come on after the headlights came on.

[takiled]

Does that mean that lights are SUPPOSED to come on when turned clockwise without requiring it to be pulled out and it the may resolve stalk issue which may not require replacement???

Tks for prompt response

[rogerjohnsen]

Yes - the lights are definitely supposed to come on when the light switch is turned clockwise. Pulling the switch should activate the fog lights (or whatever they're called) so don't mess with the stalk as a first resort - replace the switch.

Edited August 19, 2011 by rogerjohnsen

[takiled]

thanks will replace switch first and then see if stalk function works. IF not, then replace stalk.Tks much Roger

[pontifex4]

I would be interested to know whether this worked for the original poster: my low beams (Litronic) turn on when I rotate the headlight switch as they should, but my high beams (halogen) only work when I pull the stalk, not when I push it forward. This is on a '99 with Litronics.

Edited September 6, 2013 by pontifex4

[takiled]

les_gs called it right. Switch was defective. Fixed problem. Part was @$125 and a relatively easy install(so said my techy friend). My car is a 2001 C2 Tiptronic. Replacing stalk part is more expensive(double) and much more time to install

[pontifex4]

les_gs called it right. Switch was defective. Fixed problem. Part was @$125 and a relatively easy install(so said my techy friend). My car is a 2001 C2 Tiptronic. Replacing stalk part is more expensive(double) and much more time to install

Thank you. Much appreciated. I'll order the round switch.

[pontifex4]

Just an update to this from my own experience: changing the round switch did not fix the high beam problem.

[Y2K911]

Pontifex4: Is your car US or CDN?

If CDN, your low bean should come on when you start the car. To get high-beam authority which I don't use often, I have to rotate sw twice to the right. Then pushing stalk fwd will turn on high beam. Good luck!

[zapna]

Turn signal stalk replacement is actually relatively easy and there is a good how-to on Pelican. I added the computer control to my Boxster and that was a little more involved!

[etwd]

I have a 1999 ‘996’ and all lights are dim in LH headlight assembly except low beams. Ground by headlight appears ok. Also when using LH turn signal with high beams or fog lights on, the turn signal ceases to blink. Right side perfect always. And finally if I flash the high beams by pulling back on stalk with hazards on, the LH high beam flashes with the hazard lights. On the litronic headlight assembly,all bulbs share the same ground except low beams. Could the light switch or stalk be creating this problem on the left side only?

[Loren]

Yes, the light switch can cause that problem as well the socket where the headlight plugs in could also cause issue if broken or corroded.

[etwd]

Loren, the ‘fog’ light & the high Beam are very dim (only on LEFT side). 

 

Again the litronic low beam (LEFT) is perfect.  

 

I’ve ruled out the headlight plug as I plugged the headlight directly to the plug (removed the plug from headlight bracket) and nothing changed 

 

thanks,

[JFP in PA]

Check the head light's ground connections.