Lubed your... HEADLIGHT DIMMER SWITCH lately ?!?
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 2,139
From: Commerce, mi, USA
Lubed your... HEADLIGHT DIMMER SWITCH lately ?!?
I've been having some trouble lately with the headlight dimming switch on my Camaro. The car has a lot of miles (85k), from its previous life before I got it last year. So I'm not surprised when I discover strange things needing maintenance. But the headlight dimmer had me worried... steering column and all... I had visions of costly repairs in my head. Turns out the fix was a lot simpler than I expected! 
The problem cropped up about a week ago when I got the car out of storage and started driving it around. I could go to high beams, but then it would take five or six (or ten+ !) pulls on the stalk to go back to low beams... always a good way to make new friends on the road at night.
So I pulled out my trusty Camaro part drawings/numbers CD from http://www.metzcon.com/fbodymanual/order.htm (sorry had to plug this very handy CD!) and started investigating... found the dim switch and the dim switch rod, which runs along the steering column sleeve under the dash. Hate to say it, but it's really kind of crude, the thing rests right up against the column sleeve and there's enough friction -at least on mine- for the rod to even cut a little groove in the steering column sleeve over time. Anyway, I figured maybe the switch is wearing out a little and maybe it would work more positively if there were less friction between the rod and the column sleeve. So I put a drop of motor oil where the rod has made a tiny groove in the column and now it works like a charm!
You have to remove five 10mm hex body trim screws to drop the knee panel from the dash to access this area - but it was well worth it (obviously should also be cognizant of airbag hazards if you have a 1990 or newer). Anyone else encounter this?
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NBM 99Formula, DF Lid, FRA, K&N, SLP WS6 Takeoff Muffler | DFGreen 98 GTP, Insulated SLP K&N, !U!Res, 3.5 Pulley, transcooler
| Brilliant Red Metallic 1990 IROC-Z Camaro, K&N, Camaro SS takeoff muffler
The problem cropped up about a week ago when I got the car out of storage and started driving it around. I could go to high beams, but then it would take five or six (or ten+ !) pulls on the stalk to go back to low beams... always a good way to make new friends on the road at night.
So I pulled out my trusty Camaro part drawings/numbers CD from http://www.metzcon.com/fbodymanual/order.htm (sorry had to plug this very handy CD!) and started investigating... found the dim switch and the dim switch rod, which runs along the steering column sleeve under the dash. Hate to say it, but it's really kind of crude, the thing rests right up against the column sleeve and there's enough friction -at least on mine- for the rod to even cut a little groove in the steering column sleeve over time. Anyway, I figured maybe the switch is wearing out a little and maybe it would work more positively if there were less friction between the rod and the column sleeve. So I put a drop of motor oil where the rod has made a tiny groove in the column and now it works like a charm!
You have to remove five 10mm hex body trim screws to drop the knee panel from the dash to access this area - but it was well worth it (obviously should also be cognizant of airbag hazards if you have a 1990 or newer). Anyone else encounter this?------------------
NBM 99Formula, DF Lid, FRA, K&N, SLP WS6 Takeoff Muffler | DFGreen 98 GTP, Insulated SLP K&N, !U!Res, 3.5 Pulley, transcooler
| Brilliant Red Metallic 1990 IROC-Z Camaro, K&N, Camaro SS takeoff muffler
Registered User
Joined: Dec 1969
Posts: 1,147
From: Phila., PA
That's a good, cheap fix. I've had dimmer stalks that have been close to having that problem but they always seemed to keep working just well enough that the problem wouldn't become a nuisance or a must-fix. I'll keep it in mind if I ever run across this problem.
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 27
From: Osgood, IN U.S.A.
my car did the same thing. i have tilt wheel and would raise the wheel all the way up then i would click it and then let it back down. what a pain in the butt.
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brandon
79 Z, 357, pro1 heads, victor jr.intake,
prostars, powerglide, 9" ford w/ 4.86 gear, etc...
best pass to date :10.16@132.72mph
91 rs stroked not sprayed
11.86@115 so far........
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brandon
79 Z, 357, pro1 heads, victor jr.intake,
prostars, powerglide, 9" ford w/ 4.86 gear, etc...
best pass to date :10.16@132.72mph
91 rs stroked not sprayed
11.86@115 so far........
Registered User
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 212
From: Powder Springs, Ga. USA
Mine did the same thing. The dimmer switch had to be replaced.
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92BLKL98
'92 Black Z28 Hardtop w/Harwood 2" cowl ind. hood Modded 700R4, MSD
Ignition, March Underdrives, TPIS Fastpak, Ram air w/gutted filter box, SLP Prom, Flowmaster, & free mods, removed cats, Amsoil synthetic lubes, CE SFC's, Edelbrock STB,Spohn TA,Roadtech LCA's and Panhard Rod, Energy Susp., PST polygraphite bushings, KYB Shocks.
------------------
92BLKL98
'92 Black Z28 Hardtop w/Harwood 2" cowl ind. hood Modded 700R4, MSD
Ignition, March Underdrives, TPIS Fastpak, Ram air w/gutted filter box, SLP Prom, Flowmaster, & free mods, removed cats, Amsoil synthetic lubes, CE SFC's, Edelbrock STB,Spohn TA,Roadtech LCA's and Panhard Rod, Energy Susp., PST polygraphite bushings, KYB Shocks.
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