58 light switch/Courtesy light

[Brad H.]

Hi, Have had my light switch in and out many time's to try to get the c. light to come on when turned to the right side. one in five it will work but only if I hold knob to right with a little pressure. Seem's the little rubber washer is giving me problem's. I have cut a bigger one so case does not ground out to the metal on switch but then larger washer won't let it work at all. Is my switch bad or am I missing something with the little rubber washer. This seem's like an easy fix but not working. Thank you. Brad.

[Brad H.]

Re: 58 light switch/Courtesy light

Hi, must be a football kind of day. any idea's on my light switch/ courtesy light problem? Brad.

[Thomas H.]

Re: 58 light switch/Courtesy light

Hi, Have had my light switch in and out many time's to try to get the c. light to come on when turned to the right side. one in five it will work but only if I hold knob to right with a little pressure. Seem's the little rubber washer is giving me problem's. I have cut a bigger one so case does not ground out to the metal on switch but then larger washer won't let it work at all. Is my switch bad or am I missing something with the little rubber washer. This seem's like an easy fix but not working. Thank you. Brad.

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Brad,

Not quite sure what rubber washer you are talking about. C light should come on when either door opens or via turning the light switch. Does it come on when the doors open?

When you turn the light switch to the end, a small metal tab gets shorted to the metal housing of the light switch providing a ground to the C light thus turning it on. The light switch needs to have a good ground.

[Brad H.]

Re: 58 light switch/Courtesy light

Hi Tom....Yes everything work's fine with door's open. My light switch had a rubber washer between the switch and the back of the dash where switch fasten's with threaded bolt. Without it you could not turn off c. light. with washer in between back of switch and dash c. light work's with door's open but I have to get lucky with position of washer to get c. light to work at far right position but have to hold knob firmly to get it to stay on. Is there supposed to be a washer back there or does back of switch fasten to back of dash (metal to metal) seem's this is my grounding problem. I have it seem's to have good ground. Can it be the switch? Thank you, Brad.

[Thomas H.]

Re: 58 light switch/Courtesy light

Hi Tom....Yes everything work's fine with door's open. My light switch had a rubber washer between the switch and the back of the dash where switch fasten's with threaded bolt. Without it you could not turn off c. light. with washer in between back of switch and dash c. light work's with door's open but I have to get lucky with position of washer to get c. light to work at far right position but have to hold knob firmly to get it to stay on. Is there supposed to be a washer back there or does back of switch fasten to back of dash (metal to metal) seem's this is my grounding problem. I have it seem's to have good ground. Can it be the switch? Thank you, Brad.

I don't have a rubber washer on either of my C1's. Sounds like the light switch has some issues. When you look at the front of the light switch, there is a plastic sleeve with a couple steps on it. When turned to one extreme, one of those steps should press a small metal arm in contact with the switch housing. This is what turns the c light on. If that small metal arm is not there, or is not making good contact, or the switch housing has a bad ground, you will not be able to turn the light on with the switch.

Tom

[Brad H.]

Re: 58 light switch/Courtesy light

Tom, are you talking about the metal brass or copper arm (with the funny bend) under the plastic piece? If so mine does that, can that metal piece be bent up higher so as to press harder on the plastic when it come's around? Maybe I need a new switch. Who is selling the best? Thank's again, Brad.

[Thomas H.]

Re: 58 light switch/Courtesy light

Tom, are you talking about the metal brass or copper arm (with the funny bend) under the plastic piece? If so mine does that, can that metal piece be bent up higher so as to press harder on the plastic when it come's around? Maybe I need a new switch. Who is selling the best? Thank's again, Brad.

As long as it makes contact when you rotate the knob then you should be good to go. If you still have issues, then if you are handy with a volt / ohm meter some diagnostic on the switch or wiring may be in order.

If you want to replace the switch, my understanding is that Lectric Limited is the manufacturer for all of the light switches the vendors are selling. I would personally look for a refurbished original, they are out there.

Tom

[Brad H.]

Re: 58 light switch/Courtesy light

Make's sense, anyone have 58 original light switch rebuilt or better? Thank's.

[Dan D.]

Re: 58 light switch/Courtesy light

Brad, beware of the repop light switches. There have been a lot of problems with these switches with the internal circuit breaker interrupting when the headlights have been on for a short period of time. Don't know if they have this problem solved or not, but as far as I know they are all defective.

I am right now attempting to repair a 59 switch for another member. If you can fix your original you are far better off and this does not sound like a difficult problem.

-Dan-

[Brad H.]

Re: 58 light switch/Courtesy light

Hi Dan, I think I will take mine in to my electrical apparatus guy and see how it check's out. Thank you guy's. Brad.

[Dan D.]

Re: 58 light switch/Courtesy light

Okay Brad. If you still need help I have a complete test fixture for testing these switches, including the breaker.

-Dan-

[Brad H.]

Re: 58 light switch/Courtesy light

Hi, back again.... took my light switch in and had my guy look at it.... he took one look at it and said, see this little bar, (under plastic) one little bend and said it is fixed now. put it on tester and said it is fine now. Took it home and work's fine. Thank's for idea's. Brad.

[Thomas H.]

Re: 58 light switch/Courtesy light

Hi, back again.... took my light switch in and had my guy look at it.... he took one look at it and said, see this little bar, (under plastic) one little bend and said it is fixed now. put it on tester and said it is fine now. Took it home and work's fine. Thank's for idea's. Brad.

Good deal. Thanks for posting the outcome!

Tom