<b>Headlights</b>
For the past few months, I have had an intermittent problem with my headlights going up. I knew that it was the switch giving me problems because if I flicked it a few times they would come up.
So, While I had the dash apart today putting in Odd's panel lights, a new fuel gauge, new turn signaler switch and fixing my steering wheel, I decided to clean the contacts and get it working right.
So, you can image my frustration when they quit coming up totally. I took everything apart about three times before I found the problem, nope, not the switch! I have a bad habit of really flicking the light switch down hard with my index finger.
I had broken the bottom of the switch holder housing that is connected to the metal plate holding all the switches. There were two breaks, along the outside edges of the housing about 1/2" into the switch. You could not see them unless you were actually pushing down on the switch with the fascia removed.
When I would flick the switch, the bottom of the housing would flex so the switch lever would land against the bottom of the bezel without actually making contact. Then when I would move it more slowly, the bottom would not flex and the switch worked as designed.
Grabbed the good old super glue and put some on each crack, then wrapped the whole thing together with some electrical tape. About 30 minutes later, I carefully snapped the switch into place. Now my headlight are working great.
So next time you have a headlight problem, take the time to check that housing when you pull out the switch.
<b>Odd's Buzzer</b> [url="http://web.mac.com/jclaythompson/iWeb/Technical/Blinker_Buzzer.html"]Link to Odd's instructions[/url]
Hum? I have been running along here pretty well, so I will tell you about the buzzer. Because I was changing out the turn signal switch, I decided to put in Odd's Signal Buzzer. But you guessed it, I could not find the connectors anywhere and Radio Shack didn't have the right diodes and the auto parts didn't have a buzzer. I got a small buzzer from Radio Shack and two diodes that were just one number off from Odd's.
So now I had to really rethink this thing. I used a small screw driver to push in the locking taps on the pins of the connector and pulled out the wires. Wouldn't you know it, solder wouldn't stick to the pins! I cut the Anode wires of the diodes at a sharp angle and pushed them into the crimped ends of the connects and crimped them down tight, slid some shrink tubing over the connect pins and worked it up to cover the diodes, I then connected the tad ends of the diodes together and connected them to the positive side of the buzzer. I added a length of wire to the negative wire on the buzzer and then tie wrapped the buzzer to the wiring harness. Last, I wrapped the whole area with electrical tape. I connected the tag end of the negative wire to the screw just above the bonnet release. Worked great!
<b>Turn Signal Indicators</b>
Tired of not being able to see your turn signal indicators unless you are driving around on a moonless night? Well I have been for a long time, so while I had everything out of the instrument pod, I decided to do something about it!
I took the label housing and put it on a light table so I could see where the sides of each cell where. I marked the edge of the cell where the Ignition light meets the cells for the turn indicators with a pencil. The black plastic is really thick and hard, so I used a diamond cutter wheel on a Drummel tool to cut along each line. Next I used an Exacto knife to cut off the melted ends of the pins holding the black plastic to the two corners.
I then took some medium green stage lighting gel and cut it to fit each hole. <i>(If you have an opera house or theater in you town, they probably have some old burnt gels they are going to throw out, or if you have a theatrical supply house, you might be able to score a sample gel book. They are about 3" long and 1 1/2" wide and have about 100 samples in them)</i> Next, use Scotch Magic Tape to hold each gel in place. You want the Magic Tape because it will defuse the light so you can't see the light bulb and the interior of the cell.
Now just put it all back together. I could see the indicator with sunlight streaming in through my garage door.
jclay
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