1974 Maverick, headlights flash on and off randomly at night after about 45 mins of driving or so, roll down the window, switch cools off and the lights stay on... middle of winter isnt a good time to have the windows down at night though.. so.... I picked up a brand new switch at Advance Auto Parts for $16 bucks (cheaper than I figured). Now I have no idea how to get to it, Pop used to have a 64 1/2 Mustang with the same problem and when he swapped the switch he just reached straight up from underneath the dash and presto, out it came. Thing is, I have factory air, so if I do manage to get passed the air duct and the emergency brake, then I can just barely touch the heater controls. I thought I might be able to get to it through the gauge panel, so I tried to remove the panel getting it out a full 3 inches and not making any further headway. Help?
Disconnect the battery. Unplug the wiring harness from the switch. There is a little button on the switch. You push it in and the knob and shaft will pull right out. Then the bezel unscrews and the switch is free.
I can't quite get to it, I can only manage to get it far enough out to replace a few of the lights with my fingertips, but if thats the route to go, through the gauge panel, I can wiggle it out with a little more persuasion.
thanks mavaholic but i cant actually get to the switch yet, I'm falling about 3 inches short of it from underneath the dash.
Been awhile since I messed with one but I believe I pulled the heater controls to gain access. Just be careful removing the bezel, the little tits that hold it on break off easily.
I just went through it and replaced it. You cant get to it from inderneath. Take the gauge panel off and un hook speedometer cable. Carefully loosen the heater/ac controls move that to the side. Press the button on the dimmer, slide the shaft out. Take it out and replace. $10-12 at autozone for a new one.
I have a problem with the wiring harness to the head light switch. Does any one know how to remove the harness and better yet where do I buy a new one?
The wiring harness would be somewhat difficult to remove....as it controls everything inside the car and everything is behind the dash. Nobody makes any new factory wiring harnesses for our cars. I suggest you start your own thread and state what problems you are having with your wiring harness.
Here's the deal. I was driving at night and I turned on my headlight and noticed they werew not bright enough. So I hit the switch on the floor thinking it was a high beam switch. Then I smelled something burning. I pulled over and noticed the smell was heavy by the headlight switch.
Headlight Switch Wiring Harness continued... Sorry hit the wrong button. Anyway, The next day I removed the headlight switch and noticed the wiring harness to the back of the switch had two wires fused together. I attempted to split the harness and noticed it is attached to a whole string of other things!! Any solutions?
I would think you would have to remove all the wires (and the metal plugs that are attached to them) out of the black plastic. They would need to be cleaned up. Then they would need to be re-installed back into the black plastic plug. You will probably need to find another plastic plug to install them into....as yours is probably bad. Not a fun job....but it sounds like what needs to be done.
What plastic plug? There is a plastic sleeve the whol harness goes into. It's right where the instrument panel used to be. Is thta what you are talking about?
