high-beams will work only when i hold the switch, when i release (and they should normally stay on), it shuts off the headlights and only parking lights are on... hit it again and headlights come back on.. normally i wouldnt care but brake and light inspections wont allow this... my question is what exactly needs to be replaced, the whole arm off the column or a small switch inside it maybe? any help would be greatly appreciated, ive been operating on temp permits for 2 years now because of stupid small things like this..
-Dan
Sounds like the multifunction switch (aka turn signal switch) is bad. Not an uncommon problem for this switch to fail. Replacement is pretty easy with the plastic column covers removed. Also check the switch connectors for burned terminals, pushed out terminals, etc.
...i bought a replacement multi-function switch (used) and installed it... same problem. ive taken it apart and everything seems normal inside. i just cant figure out why the high-beams wont STAY on. it doesnt make any sense to me, any help is greatly appreciated.
Do you have auto-dim headlights? I had the same issue, until I realized I had the sensitivity too high.
Whoops, after re-reading your post, I realized you were talking about the SWITCH, so my response doesn't help at all. Sorry!
maybe you got a bad switch. since it does happen it could be bad is it a known working switch?
I had that problem,changed the multi function switch,checked wiring,chaecked bulbs,and it was the auto-dim switch.I felt like an idiot.
as far as the two auto-light/dim switches... ive always had them off (or at least in the off position at the bottom) and the windshield-mounted light sensor disconnected...
QUESTION===is my problem even characteristic of a bad MultiFunction Switch (or in my case 2 bad MFSs)??...because the more i read the more my symptom points to the auto-dim switch... but whether its on, off, completely disconnected, or just the sensor disconnected... same problem.
btw, the MFS connector seems perfectly fine.
thank you guys again for all your help
So today i got help from two professionals... neither of them could figure it out in the time they donated to me... but at least i now know its not the MFS, auto-dim switch, or any of the auto-dim relays... we did find a point where wires could be spliced and a switch installed to operate the high beams.. but that wont pass inspections, nor is it the safest idea.
i have nothing but praise for the design of this engine compartment, but whoever designed much of this electrical system should be shot.
The high beams may work with the lever pulled back because the flash to pass relay is being used. The high beam circuit uses the yellow wire from the multifunction switch. Confirm voltage at the yellow wire with lights on and switch in high beam position. The yellow wire goes to a gray 12 terminal connector at the far left behind the instrument panel and exits the connector as a yellow wire going to the headlight dimmer relay. A light green/black wire from the dimmer relay goes to the high beam headlamps. If the switch works correctly and the dimmer relay works the high beam indicator should be on. If the high beam indicator comes on in flash to pass but does not come on in high beam there is something wrong with the switch , the dimmer relay, or the wiring. If you have voltage at the yellow wire the switch is OK and the wiring is suspect. If the high beams work in flash to pass and the multi function switch in high beam position works the wire harness to the headlights is OK and the problem is behind the dash in the yellow wire, the gray connector, the dimmer relay or the light green/ black wire. The lg/bl wire is spliced into the lg/bl wire coming from the flash to pass relay. Confirm that the gray/yellow wire at the dimmer relay is grounded with the switch at the auto dimmer control set to off. If there is no ground check the wire and the auto dimmer control switch The flash to pass relay is located to the left of the radio and is the center one of three relays. The dimmer relay is the bottom of the three relays to the left of the three relays mentioned above