Headlights Going Off When Flipping Turn/flash Lever

[Tham]

I'm using a 1981 Corolla KE70, Malaysian "DX" model, 4K engine.

 

I was driving around Sunday night today.. The car in front was going

a bit slow, so I flashed my headlights at him to hurry up. When

the lever returned to its position, the headlights went off !

Turning its switch on the lever off, then on, the headlights

came back on again.

 

Then, when flipping my turn signal lever to the right to change

lanes, it happened again. Turning the on/off switch restored

the headlights. I had been noticing these few months, that

whenever I flipped the lever for a turn, especially to the right,

the headlights would "blip" a moment when the lever returned.

 

Stopped the car at the roadside, sprayed some Philips contact

cleaner into the lever contacts on the inside. Appeared to

help a bit, but the problem was still there.

 

So I phoned my car's wireman, and he said the complete

switch assembly - turn signal, headlights, flash and wiper

- had to be replaced, since the contact surfaces were likely

worn, or else the headlights would fail to switch on

permanently one day.

 

He said this happened more when using the lever on

right turns because this is the direction used most often

on the roads here - Malaysia is right-hand drive. Thus

the headlight/turn signal contacts tended to wear out

more on the right.

 

He could look around for a used or Taiwanese unit for

me, said it would cost at least M$100 ++.

 

Or he could try modifying the wiring, and installing a

separate switch for the headlights, leaving the lever

switch for it redundant. Would cost M$ 50 +.

 

 

However, I called my car's aircon man for some further info.

He said save my money - the problem could just be left alone.

No risk of the headlights failing to come on. Just turn the switch

on/off whenever the above problem arose, and it would

come on again. He said his Datsun 120Y had been having

this problem for years.

 

Any opinions ?

Edited October 10, 2009 by Tham

[corollaart]

I would be replaceing the hole switch as your wire man suggested.Because one day or worse night it will fail ,not a good feeling going from head lights to

 

pitch black .

 

cheers rob

[towe001]

^^ ditto. Its happened to me and its not a very good feeling going from high beam, flipping down to low beam cause of an on coming car with a corner coming up - hazard lights kinda work. But jeez ;) Its like playing Russian roulette with a gun you know nothing about - could be lucky with the thing for years or it could go off the first time its used.

 

Having a separate switch for turning the lights on/off sounds alright as long as you

<1>can still use high/low the lights from the stalk.

<2> don't have to take your eyes off the road to turn them on/off.

Otherwise the M$100 plus will seam like cheap money well spent.

See about hitting up ebay for something or better still For Sale - Car Parts in the market place section of the Club.

[78ke30]

I would be replaceing the hole switch as your wire man suggested.Because one day or worse night it will fail ,not a good feeling going from head lights to

 

pitch black .

 

cheers rob

 

;)

[altezzaclub]

Pull it apart yourself and see what the trouble is- It seems one of the wires breaks inside its plastic tube, a common problem on the KE70s. Maybe you can shorten it and re-solder it back on, or solder in a new section of wire.

 

Then if you can't fix it you can decide whether to install it again or buy a new one. How about the wreckers yard if $100 is too much?

 

I expect I'll have this problem sooner or later, my dash lights go out when I use the indicators at night, then come back on a second or two later.

[towe001]

He could look around for a used or Taiwanese unit for

me, said it would cost at least M$100 ++.

M$100 equals approx AUS$32.60

That'd be Malaysian Ringgit, yes ?

[78ke30]

if so that would be one dam cheap switch, wish they was that cheap here lol

[Tham]

Pull it apart yourself and see what the trouble is- It seems one

of the wires breaks inside its plastic tube, a common problem

on the KE70s. Maybe you can shorten it and re-solder it back on,

or solder in a new section of wire.

 

Then if you can't fix it you can decide whether to install it again or

buy a new one. How about the wreckers yard if $100 is too much?

 

I expect I'll have this problem sooner or later, my dash lights go

out when I use the indicators at night, then come back on a

second or two later.

 

 

Thanks. Will see what I can do, but not good at DIY work,

especially cars (most ordinary motorists over here are technically

illiterate when it comes to cars, apart from replacing the air filter

perhaps or topping up the battery water. Most repairs are left to

the mechanics or wiremen).

 

Otherwise I'll try to get a Taiwanese unit. I called a few shops and

they don't stock it. Called a few wreckers too, no luck. Parts for a

30-year old car are fast becoming a rarity here. Will try again next

week. A wrecker's part may cost maybe M$70 - 80.

 

The problem with these Taiwanese or China parts, they're not

known for reliability or durability. May last anywhere from 3 months

to two or three years, depending on your luck. (One friend installed

a Made-in-China carburettor in his Datsun 1200 and it gave out

after ..... 3 months).

 

At least I managed to find out its OEM part no. - 84310-12333,

for right hand drive vehicles.

 

Here's some China suppliers.

 

http://www.mac-auto.cn/list.asp?ProdID=2719

 

http://www.youngbooauto.com/Switch/ColumnSwitch2.htm

 

 

84310-12300 looks similar.

 

http://www.mac-auto.cn/list.asp?ProdID=2714

 

http://www.nbbona.com/product_largerimage.asp?id=5085

Edited October 22, 2009 by Tham

[Tham]

M$100 equals approx AUS$32.60

That'd be Malaysian Ringgit, yes ?

 

Yes, about that.

 

But Taiwanese/Chinese parts aren't exactly known to last.

See my reply above.

[Tham]

^^ ditto. Its happened to me and its not a very good feeling going from high beam, flipping down to low beam cause of an on coming car with a corner coming up - hazard lights kinda work. But jeez ;) Its like playing Russian roulette with a gun you know nothing about - could be lucky with the thing for years or it could go off the first time its used.

 

Having a separate switch for turning the lights on/off sounds alright as long as you

<1>can still use high/low the lights from the stalk.

<2> don't have to take your eyes off the road to turn them on/off.

Otherwise the M$100 plus will seem like cheap money well spent.

See about hitting up ebay for something or better still For Sale - Car Parts in the market place section of the Club.

 

 

 

 

Yes, I think he'll be leaving the high/low beam function

to the lever, and add an on/off switch for the headlights

and maybe parking lights as well, on the dashboard.

 

It's a good option actually. Maybe I will get the wireman to do

just that.

 

These separate switches for the headlights/parking lights

are far more reliable, really. They don't fail due to being messed

around with by the countless flipping motions of the signal indicators

and hi/lo beam flashers by mounting them all in one big complex

unit on the steering stalks, just as is happening now.

 

Now I know why they had a separate simple knob on the dashboard

for these lights in my old 1974 Opek Kadett 1200S when I drove one

way back in 1979 - 1980. And I had thought these Germans were

old-fashioned then !

[Tham]

Well, the wireman managed to install a separate switch

for the headlights.

 

There was a lack of space on the dashboard and the switch

was somewhat long and bulky, so he mounted it on the bottom

panel just to the right of the steering and below it.

 

He used one of those antique pull-pull switches. First pull

parking lights, second pull headlights, pretty long pulls, so

the knob extends about 3 inches fully.

 

I feel like I'm driving my late mum's 1950s vintage Austin of England !

 

http://www.oldclassiccar.co.uk/austina30.htm

Edited October 22, 2009 by Tham

[Tham]

An update on the OEM part number for the switch unit,

as informed by John of the Chinese manufacturer, Youngbooauto.com.

 

84310-12300 - RHD

 

84310-12333 - LHD