Replaced headlight switch... and potential disaster

[RichieSounds 0]

I've just replaced the headlight switch in my 94 VR6 Corrado. The original basically ceased - one day i tried to turn the lamps on and the switch cracked clean off. I found a replacement on eBay, with the same part number, and it looked identical.

 

I have upgraded the headlight loom. I'm told this works by using the 5v circuit that runs through the headlight switch direct to the headlamps to switch on (via a relay) the headlamps directly with 12v from the battery. I have noticed the fuse on the wire running from the battery to the headlamp terminal does need to be cleaned quite often.

 

When I replaced the headlamp switch everything appeared to work fine. I could switch on the headlamps dipped and full beam fine. The indicator light on the switch worked fine too. So I swapped the switches, and drove off. About 20 seconds later acrid smoke appeared from the area around the headlamp switch. I stopped and pulled the new headlamp switch out. The live wire (I think) had burnt its' casing. I don't know how far back the burn has gone, but I just don't have the time ATM to investigate further and will take the car to my garage in London to get it fixed up. Do you think i'm in serious trouble?

[Supercharged 2]

Hello - it's most likely the earth wire mate as I've seen this happen 3 times now... the brown wire is thin and will not take current which it gets when a switch shorts inside. If the rest of the loom is ok you can get the dealer to make up a wire to fit with the proper pins etc then stick a 3amp fuse in line too to prevent it happening again!

 

This happened to me after fitting a brand new switch from a dealers excess stock I got at a show for a quid - this is why I keep telling people to buy new switches, old / unknown ones are a fire hazzard!

[Deluk 0]

Hello - it's most likely the earth wire mate as I've seen this happen 3 times now... the brown wire is thin and will not take current which it gets when a switch shorts inside. If the rest of the loom is ok you can get the dealer to make up a wire to fit with the proper pins etc then stick a 3amp fuse in line too to prevent it happening again!

 

This happened to me after fitting a brand new switch from a dealers excess stock I got at a show for a quid - this is why I keep telling people to buy new switches, old / unknown ones are a fire hazzard!

good tip

[Trig 0]

Same thing happened to me.

[Deluk 0]

dont like fire in my car

[Supercharged 2]

:lol:

[GIXXERUK 0]

dont like fire in my car

 

you lot are too fussy , fire - acrid fumes --- open a window :lol:

[Deluk 0]

yeah that would fuel the fire :oops: hehe

[GIXXERUK 0]

yeah that would fuel the fire :oops: hehe

 

 

exactly mate , if your cars well alight then that would light the road up hence no need to fix the headlight switch .... genius :lol:

[saysomestuff 0]

yeah that would fuel the fire :oops: hehe

 

 

exactly mate , if your cars well alight then that would light the road up hence no need to fix the headlight switch .... genius :lol:

 

LMAO :lol: :cowboy: :onfire:

[Whitedog 0]

Just read this thread...put a huge smile on my face...

 

...cheers fellas

[RichieSounds 0]

Just got it all fixed up - thanks for the advice supercharged, top tip indeed and saved me taking the car to a garage. Fitted an inline fuse there too - how come a fuse didn't blow in the fuse box i wonder?

[Supercharged 2]

Good man, fuse didn't blow because there isn't one (on the earth...)