Jim Bowen 1 Posted February 11, 2008 typical this!! just reading on forum last week about dodgy headlight switches and mine has just broken i can't turn my lights off, something inside switch has broken and its now all loose and doesn't do anything just it just lever out with a screwdriver? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
daves16v 1 Posted February 11, 2008 I sell the little metal switch repair arms if that's your problem - see the knowledge base for details. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jim Bowen 1 Posted February 11, 2008 right i managed to pull the front of switch off, but can't get switch out. i've just pulled the fuses out for now, but the dash is still lit up. just saw your repair guide, very handy, lots of little bits fell out of my switch how do i get the whole thing out? is there any temp fix i can do so i can use lights still? i hate it when things like this happen just as you need to do something Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
daves16v 1 Posted February 11, 2008 I think it just prises out but not 100% sure. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
too hot 0 Posted February 11, 2008 The easiest way to remove it is prise out the blanking plate next to the switch.(to the left of the switch) Then its easy enough to push the switch out from behind with your fingers. You can then pull the switch off the connector and the lights go out :lol: Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jim Bowen 1 Posted February 11, 2008 got it out, albeit with some other bits attached :lol: i notice the white bit in one of the pics gets very very hot indeed, burnt my finger on it is that normal? seems to of melted the clear plastic ring Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vr6storm 0 Posted February 11, 2008 welcome to the joys of Corrado ownership...............I'm on my 2nd headlight switch in 7yrs of ownership........i had the joy of replacing it first within 1 month of ownership when the switch cost a whopping £80+!!!!!! and yes it does get a tad hot when you take it out after it being on Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jim Bowen 1 Posted February 11, 2008 seems abnormally hot to me, probably what causes them to break its the 1st time its broken that i know of.........is it best just to buy a new one? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jim Bowen 1 Posted February 11, 2008 also is there anyway of bodging something up i so i can turn lights on and off? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vr6storm 0 Posted February 11, 2008 I would buy new everytime............especially as they are now round the £50 mark the only thing to do is keep taking it out when you park up Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jim Bowen 1 Posted February 11, 2008 going to buy a new one and the repair kit, so i have a backup switch.... been putting off a trip to the dealers to get my brake stuff, but now best go asap i wonder if the CCGB card gets discount on the switch? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dinkus 10 Posted February 11, 2008 You should get 10% from Sheppards in Stortford - really nice guys to deal with. Don't go to Vindis, they're tight bastids and really don't care. The switches get warm because the full current of the headlights flows through the switch. If you've got uprated bulbs in and no uprated loom, you'll make the switch even hotter. It's this heat that makes them brittle over time and eventually snap. If you do have an uprated headlight loom, there should be minimal current flowing through the switch, so it won't get warm and thus should last much longer. Plus your lights will be brighter as you'll be getting the full-on 12-13v through the lights rather than wasting a load of it on heating up the standard loom. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jim Bowen 1 Posted February 11, 2008 things just got worse :( :x don't know what caused it, but basiclly the wiring just melted, lots of smoke etc. pissed off now, put car in garage and given up for now till i'm more relaxed is this going to be a massive fix now? the brown wire has melted as far as i can see, and ll the other wires are stuck to it in a horrible melted mess Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jim Bowen 1 Posted February 12, 2008 is this wiring something i can buy again and just plug in? is the loom in separate parts or do i need to replace the whole thing? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Supercharged 2 Posted February 12, 2008 It will be the earth wire mate - get the loom out as it just runs down the the fuse box and replace that wire with a repair wire from VW - I would also stick a fuse inline too... Have a search on here as this has happened a few times now, basically the switch fails and sticks 12V down the thin earth cable. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jim Bowen 1 Posted February 12, 2008 i found someones info, very useful, but not clear about how i replace the burnt bit and what else may be buggered now. Can i just buy a whole new bits of wiring and a new switch and does that just plug in? i noticed my headunit went dead its not jsut the brown wire, its melted all the ones touching it too. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jim Bowen 1 Posted February 12, 2008 is it safe to find someone splitting a VR6, (does it have to be a 1995 VR the same as mine?) and buy the bit of wiring from them? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Supercharged 2 Posted February 12, 2008 Yeah - you might need the loom too then - maybe stick a wanted up... Edit - yeah any late UK corrado should do as far as I know... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jim Bowen 1 Posted February 13, 2008 tried to get the bits of wiring out of car lastnight have now got the fuse box thing undone so its hanging in footwell, got the wiring from above dash to below it, but i can't get enough movement on the box to find where the loom is plugged in. didn't fancy undoing each plug, but i guess i have to? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jim Bowen 1 Posted February 13, 2008 its weird how many wires i've come across that aren't plugged into anything? :lol: Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jim Bowen 1 Posted February 13, 2008 on the plus side i'm fully stocked up on stress relief wrappers now Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Supercharged 2 Posted February 13, 2008 You should be able to find where it plugs in once it's dropped down - you need to 'unlock' the fusebox to remove these plugs - you will see a black tab to do this, it slides across... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jim Bowen 1 Posted February 13, 2008 i did try back really can't get it to budge without the feeling something may break. just been to VW switch = £55 wiring = £88 :lol: refused to pay for the wiring so gotta find something else, i.e: 2nd hand Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
trudubrstu 0 Posted February 14, 2008 mine fell apart when cleaning the dash back in the summer......i walked back into the house, opened my spares box, took out a mk2 golf headlight switch, stuck it in - job done - not one prob, and it dosn't heat up like a b'stard either....anyone else using one of these? much better quality, and o.e. - can't ask for more! blow paying for a new crappy one from vag Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jim Bowen 1 Posted February 14, 2008 wish i'd known that, already paid for VW one and gotta wait for it to come got wire out now seem to of found alot of bits not plugged in to anything Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
