Dimmer Switch Doesn’t

[Jetjock]

I can’t switch from lo beam to hi beam on my Z. The switch itself works as I have taken the panel out and dropped the wheel down. It’s the rod itself that moves around and jams up. I’ve looked at other sites and the best that I can come up with is that the steering wheel itself has to come out.

Anyone ever worked on this problem?

Roy

[DRM500RUBYZR-1]

Does it work at differing tilt selections, or does it occur at only one tilt position?
:cheers:
Marty

[Jetjock]

Does it work at differing tilt selections, or does it occur at only one tilt position?
:cheers:
Marty

It doesn’t work in any positions. It seems to slip out of position after I put it back where it is supposed to be. It works a couple of times and then stops. The whole stalk just doesn’t move.

I have a 100,000 mile Z that works great! This car has only 48,000. ???

Roy

[DRM500RUBYZR-1]

Roy,
Sorry, I lost track of your issue.
If you have not resolved it, you might want to try this.
Rarely, almost never do the rods bend due to a problem with the rod.
Most always a misadjusted switch down at the base of the column causing it to bind.
It is mounted below the ignition switch, and it is adjustable.
If it is not binding there, it would be at the top, but let's hope it is down at the switch.
Keep us posted.
Marty

[Jetjock]

I was busy working so I didn’t see this. The dimmer switch does work; it’s the rod that is the problem. So if I can adjust the bottom position, I might be able to get it to work. I will give it a try this weekend.

Roy

[Jetjock]

I haven't got back the dimmer switch until now. Too busy working. Now that I have time, I'm back on it. The big question is do I have to pull the steering wheel to fix the actuator? I'm going to try to adjust the bottom of the rod to make it work. If that doesn't work, what then? Does anybody have pictures of the actuator and how it fits in the stalk? Thanks.


Roy

[Corvette95]

I haven't got back the dimmer switch until now. Too busy working. Now that I have time, I'm back on it. The big question is do I have to pull the steering wheel to fix the actuator? I'm going to try to adjust the bottom of the rod to make it work. If that doesn't work, what then? Does anybody have pictures of the actuator and how it fits in the stalk? Thanks.


Roy
I replied to your post on the forum, I have some pics if needed. I think I posted two on the other thread.

[Jetjock]

Thank you. I haven't been able to work on it because I pulled a muscle in my back. Finally got back to working on the problem. I dropped the steering wheel down so I could look better at the switch. Apparently, I have to remove another panel to better access the switch. I'll keep working on it.


Roy

[Jetjock]

I dropped the steering wheel down and was able to get to the dimmer switch wire. By messing with it, I was able to get the stalk to work but it only works for a little bit. It seems to feel like it was sliding off whatever it is working. I do have a quesion for you guys. How do you get this piece off the column?

[Corvette95]

Sent you a PM. you need to get further back and look inwards toward the wheel and see if you can push the pivot back into place assuming it is not broken.

[Jetjock]

I played with the lever today and it seemed to be working okay now but I'm curious about where the screwdriver needs to go to push back the pivot in place. I took some pics of the back side of the steering wheel toward the front. Where is the point to apply pressure?

[Corvette95]

I will try to send some pics tomorrow

[Corvette95]

here are some pics. the large cover goes around the column, see the wire in the second picture, the pivot slides against the wire and hold tight, if yours is out, it would not be flush inside the shroud piece shown, if should fit flush on the plastic surround against the dimmer wire switch extension. You have my email if you need more pictures. nothing hold it in place really, it just has to be all together. I know it doesn't explain well, it didn't to me either until I took it all apart to find out I could have done it with it assembled had I had the understanding. Taking it apart was a :censored:

[Jetjock]

I think that I'm beginning to get the picture now(literally). The actuator presses up against the rod and is only held in place by the cover. It seems to me if the rod came up too far, it could jam up the actuator. The lever acted like it couldn't move until I moved the rod down and then it worked. I was thinking about adjusting the switch on the other end to see if it fixed it. I have to be careful because of the ignition uses the same screw.

[Corvette95]

How did this turn out??


Sent from my iPhone using ZR-1 Net Registry (http://r.tapatalk.com/byo?rid=90383)

[Jetjock]

It hasn't. Been too cold to work out in the garage. Also doing a lot of honey do's as well.


Roy

[Jetjock]

I went out to the garage and loosen the nut that holds the dimmer and ignition switch brackets in place. I noticed that the dimmer switch rod bending when I moved the lever. I loosened the nut and pushed on the dimmer switch to take out the lash. I tightened the nut and tried the lever and it worked! I lifted the steering wheel and it still worked. Tomorrow, I will put the steering wheel back in its normal position and see if it still works. Fingers crossed. Thanks for the help. This is a real Mickey Mouse way to do this function.


Roy

[Corvette95]

Yeah!!

[DRM500RUBYZR-1]

I went out to the garage and loosen the nut that holds the dimmer and ignition switch brackets in place. I noticed that the dimmer switch rod bending when I moved the lever. I loosened the nut and pushed on the dimmer switch to take out the lash. I tightened the nut and tried the lever and it worked! I lifted the steering wheel and it still worked. Tomorrow, I will put the steering wheel back in its normal position and see if it still works. Fingers crossed. Thanks for the help. This is a real Mickey Mouse way to do this function.


Roy

That will indeed fix it as suggested in post #4.
Once corrected, it should not re-occur.
Enjoy high beams!
Marty

[Jetjock]

Just out of curiosity, how do you get the housing part off after you take the plastic cover off? The part that holds the actuator in place.


Roy

[Corvette95]

If you’re talking about the hard plastic surround shroud, it’s a pain.

[Jetjock]

If you’re talking about the hard plastic surround shroud, it’s a pain.


I was afraid that you would say that.


Roy

[Jetjock]

I got the steering wheel back up and the lever works! Now to work on something else. Here is a pic of my car.