R32 Headlight Switch Dramas?

[AzzurrA]

Hi All

Was driving home last night, and stopped at a mates place... went to switch the headlights off, and the knob wouldn't turn very far (i.e. wouldn't click off onto just parkers or to the 'off' position) and then it wouldn't stay on the 'on' setting either...

anyway, just pulled it apart then, and it seems that 2 of the connectors have melted....

is this a common problem? any ideas as to what could cause it? as far as i know, the headlight bulbs aren't super duper high powered ones... about the only thing i could think of was that i had my high beams on for about 15 minutes on the highway... but surely that wouldn't cause it?

[CerealKiller]

check the fuses.

make sure the headlights are the right rating.

[boj01]

If you have upgraded your headlight globes to a higher wattage, this is generally the cause of headlight switch failure!

[AzzurrA]

I checked all the fuses... i couldn't tell which ones were the headlight ones (its all in japanese) but i checked the amperage of the fuses against what it says on the cover, and they're all fine

boj01... thats what i thought too, but as far as i know, they are just the standard wattage.... i will check on the weekend (don't really feel like pulling the headlights out to find out at the moment)

the thing i find strange is, i've had the car for 6 months, and the bulbs are the same as they were when i got it, and it suddenly decides to melt it out now?

oh, to top that off, the plug is all scored/blackened, and a tiny bit melted on the end... i plugged it into the new switch, and it still works etc, so i hope tis going to be okay

[AzzurrA]

On that subject, does anyone know the standard wattage of the bulbs, so i can compare mine?

[Nismo_Boy]

This happened to me. The auto elec fixed it, then happened a second time. I believe he said it was the high beam switch shorting out, which stopped even low beam headlights working.

Cost me $90 to fix. Sorry I can’t help more.