Mary,
I had exactly the same problem. Old turn signal/dimmer switch went
bad. Bought new one from Xxxx. Installed it and it worked fine with the
DOT sealed beam headlights. However, after installing European Carello
headlights (80/120 watt bulbs, I think), the low beams started going off
after about 15 min of use. The time till going off gradually got shorter
until the low beams wouldn't come on at all (high beam & turn signals worked
fine). The low beam would work if the stalk was pulled back a little (but
not enough to turn on the high beams).
The problem turned out to be a "made in China switch" with a too
thin copper (brass ?) contact for the low beam that actually deformed under
the heat generated by the high wattage headlights. This contact can bee
seen by looking into the switch where the stalks go into the case; if I
remember right, its the first contact you see. Maybe by bending the contact
slightly, you can make the switch work again.
I ended up buying a genuine "Lucas" (or was it Smiths??) switch from
Motorhead (they have a web site) and so far, the Lucas switch is working
fine (about 3 months). The bad news with the Lucas switch is the "classic"
MG clunking sound the switch makes when the turn signals are activated :)
Good Luck, Skip
'74 MGB
Date: Tue, 5 Aug 2003 08:09:44 -0500
From: "Mary Kreeger" <marmail@sound.net>
Subject: LIGHTS
IDEAS PLEASE
Just purchased a terrific '73B and switched out the lights "stalk" with a
new
one because the old one was extraordinarily loose. The only way we could
keep
the headlamps "on" was to engage the high beams. Our guess was the
micro-processors inside the stalk were no longer making proper contact ---
and
the only way to keep the regular headlamps "on" was to slightly pull the
stalk
toward you and hold it.
We replaced the headlamps with some Hellas we had (H4 sealed beam
replacements) because they were brighter and everything was great -- for a
couple days. Now we're back to the beginning -- the headlamps won't stay on
unless you're using the high beams -- and, if you slightly pull the stalk
toward you and hold it, the regular lights will stay on....
The additional malady is that the brake lights aren't working. All the
other
lights (backup lights, regular tail lights and turn signals) are working
fine.
Here's what's been checked so far: (1) traced all the green wires; (2)
cleaned all connections with oxidation solvent; and (3) checked relay (by
trying to short across the two lines -- will try the volt meter next once
we
get it back from the barn where we're restoring another car).
Thanks.
Mary
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