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Light switch at the head light pod.
Posted:
Wed Apr 12, 2017 3:38 pmby Otto
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
Re: Light switch at the head light pod.
Posted:
Wed Apr 12, 2017 5:31 pmby Jon Eckman
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.
Re: Light switch at the head light pod.
Posted:
Wed Apr 12, 2017 5:41 pmby Otto
Hi Jon, thanks for replying, I like you quick fix to this problem
That will get me going, until l I find a suitable solution.
Rgds
Otto
Re: Light switch at the head light pod.
Posted:
Wed Apr 12, 2017 8:30 pmby bulfin
Microswitches, we don't need no stinkin microswitches!
Re: Light switch at the head light pod.
Posted:
Thu Apr 13, 2017 12:02 amby billwill
The switches are normally used as door switches to turn on the interior light when you open a door, I think.
Re: Light switch at the head light pod.
Posted:
Thu Apr 13, 2017 12:27 amby pharriso
billwill wrote:The switches are normally used as door switches to turn on the interior light when you open a door, I think.
Correct!
Re: Light switch at the head light pod.
Posted:
Thu Apr 13, 2017 1:17 amby Elan45
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.
Roger
Re: Light switch at the head light pod.
Posted:
Thu Apr 13, 2017 3:06 amby Andy8421
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.