Light switch at the head light pod.

PostPost by: Otto » Wed Apr 12, 2017 3:38 pm

Hi there
My headlights stopped functioning, and I discovered a malfunction in the little white spring loaded switch. I have attached a photo of it.
Does anyone of you know what it is called, and where I can source a new one.
Kind regards
Otto, Copenhagen
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Lotus Elan +2 130S 1971, VW 181 (Thing) 1975, Honda VFR 400R 1991, Vespa GT 1957, VW 231 1975,
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PostPost by: Jon Eckman » Wed Apr 12, 2017 5:31 pm

Hi Otto,

On my 66 S3 it's called a headlight microswitch, which completes the ground when the headlights go up allowing them to work. I believe this was set up as a safety feature to prevent the lights from doing any heat damage if they were left on by mistake when they were retracted. Mine failed some time back and I got a replacement from one of the US (where I am) suppliers that looked nothing like the original, so I jumped the switch out intending to adapt the new one in at a later date, which to date has not happened.
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PostPost by: Otto » Wed Apr 12, 2017 5:41 pm

Hi Jon, thanks for replying, I like you quick fix to this problem :D
That will get me going, until l I find a suitable solution.
Rgds
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PostPost by: bulfin » Wed Apr 12, 2017 8:30 pm

Microswitches, we don't need no stinkin microswitches!
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PostPost by: billwill » Thu Apr 13, 2017 12:02 am

The switches are normally used as door switches to turn on the interior light when you open a door, I think.
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PostPost by: pharriso » Thu Apr 13, 2017 12:27 am

billwill wrote:The switches are normally used as door switches to turn on the interior light when you open a door, I think.

Correct!
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PostPost by: Elan45 » Thu Apr 13, 2017 1:17 am

There was a similar, all plastic switch for my brake lights on my +2S. All my 2 seat Elans are essentially S3's and have hydraulic brake light switches and metalic headlamp up switches, but all function the same, simply on-off.

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PostPost by: Andy8421 » Thu Apr 13, 2017 3:06 am

Along with a number of other areas of the wiring in the Elan, these 'microswitches' are a disgrace. As pointed out above, the original switches (if you can call them that) were designed to switch on the interior light when a door was opened. They lived a relatively protected life in the door jamb.

Frankly, they weren't much good as interior light switches, and stuck out in the elements at the front of an Elan, they really don't stand a chance. I have disabled mine.

I have never seen anyone credited for the wiring on the Elan. There are many owners of burnt out cars who might want to discuss the unfused wiring under the dash with whoever came up with the design.
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