Curious...I've had problems with my dash lights occasionally not working and I know the fuses and my dimmer transistor are okay...so I'm assuming the switch is bad. Has anyone ever taken the switch apart to clean the contacts or can it even be done ?

If springs are going to fly out of the thing and I need six hands to reassemble it, then I don't want to mess with it...anyone ?

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I bought a new one and replaced it.

Buy a new one.

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'87 Fiero GT Fastback Auto.

At the electronics store you can get contact cleaner. It is a aerosol and you just spray it in a crease and move the switch back and forth. Normally a switch gets atmospheric cr*p in it and this cleaning spray does the trick.

I use it on amplifiers, guitars, organs, radios, and...... cars.
Arn

Take you 10 mins and a new switch. Electronic cleaners do work, but there usually only a temp fix. These cars are getting so old now, all the factory lubricants in things like locks and switches is drying up and grinding parts.

Its EASY to disassemble the headlight switch and clean it. Nothing will fly out and get lost. In fact, they have grease of some sort in them, which tends to melt and get all over everything in the switch. Maybe there's so much grease in there you're not getting contact.

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1988 Fiero GT 2.8
1991 S-10 5-speed 2.8

Hey...even though I am a cheap bastard, I'm willing to try anything...just thought it might be faster and easier to try to fix my old one until I can get a new switch.

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The actual headlight switch or the dimmer wheel?

The dimmer wheel can usually be cleaned up if needed. They get dirty and the OE lubricant goes stiff and can keep the wiper from making a good connection on the resistor.

The HL switch should be replaced not cleaned. There is allot of current thru some parts of it and an internal circuit breaker. Once they start acting up it is just better to replace them. This can actually give you somewhat to noticably brighter headlamps as the new switch won't have a voltage drop like what develops due to dirt and contact burning as they age.

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Dr. Ian Malcolm: Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should.
(Jurasic Park)

The Ogre's Fiero Cave (It's also at the top of every forum page...)

The headlight switch should be replaced if it's not working right - they're readily available at most auto parts stores and surprisingly inexpensive. Last one I bought was about $5.00 - only problem is that the replacements are all black, not black and gray.

The dimmer wheel may or may not be repairable. If the grease has dried up and is preventing the slider from making contact then a cleaning and lubing will fix it. I suspect you'll find that the slider has worn right through the resistive coating, though - not repairable. When replacing a dimmer wheel in a Fiero, purchase the dimmer wheel for a '89 Astro van. This is a much improved version of the control and it fits and connects just like the Fiero part.

Also, those dimmer transistors can fool you - the little contacts in the transistor socket corrode and make poor contact. The part will test fine, but in operation it'll give trouble. I've found that soldering the transistor leads to the socket contacts is a good cure.

My headlight switch would turn off by itself when the high beams were on. Took the switch apart, cleaned and bent the metal band to take more current (oops, Ogre just fainted) and haven't had anymore problems for the last 4 years.

BTW, I make a 40 minute drive in the dark to work most non-holiday weekday morinings.

[This message has been edited by 30+mpg (edited 11-21-2005).]