So yesterday I was driving around and all my lights were working fine. Then I stopped to run into the store when I came back out, headlights wouldn't work... The blinker lights work fine, but nothing else. Also the brights only half work, if I push them away from me (to keep them on) they don't, but if I pull the lever towards me (to flash them) they work fine... any ideas? I checked the fuses and they are all fine. So I'm guessing its the lever? All the other electronics and lights work fine in the car except the 2 buttons for the lights which are located on the center instrument console thing (one has a green triangle and the other has an orange one usually, now they don't light up)

Any help would be great

Thanks

 

Headlight combination switch. The other two switches that you're referencing are the front and rear fog lights, respectively. They also don't work now because they're wired to only come on when the headlights do. You now have two options:

1. Do the DIY fix. this involves removing the airbag and steering wheel, taking the switch apart, and fiddling with one of the contacts inside it. There should be a DIY guide someplace. And

2. Buy a new switch. They run about $150 and up unless you find one on sale.

EDIT: It should be noted that even if you buy a new switch, you're still going to have to remove the airbag and steering wheel to install it. Whatever you do, DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES take your car to a dealer for this. They will molest you horribly for the labor and you'll regret it forever.

 

haha I love the edit, I do have a mechanic friend that does all my work, but I would rather do it myself... That being said, is there anything I should pay special attention to while removing the airbag / steering wheel? And have you seen the DIY? or are you just guessing there is one around?

Thanks for the quick reply!

 

http://www.audiworld.com/tech/elec92.shtml

 

Thanks for the link. This is def. what it is, I did some searching and after reading some of the problems associated with this, I remembered that my cruise control doesn't work either. So I will try the fix this weekend, hopefully the plastic housing isn't to melted / deformed.

 

Good luck, and be careful when removing the airbag. Having that puppy go off in your face would definitely ruin your weekend. Also, make sure you have your radio code handy before you disconnect yer battery

 

Keep in mind that if it's melted down too much you may not be able to fix it. If that's what you find (plug in the switch and hook up the battery to test it before you reassemble everything). If that's the case, while it's apart you can do a temporary fix. The large connector on the outboard side of the switch (the farthest to the left as you sit in the seat) is the one in question. From the driver seat the wires in the upper left corner and the lower left corner, which in my car were one yellow and one gray, are the two you want. One is for the parking lights and one is for the low beams. Using wiretaps, connect the two of them. Then when you flip the lever to the first position to trigger the parking lights, you'll turn on the headlights as well. All the lighting fuses are downstream of the switch, so the full current protection is in place.

I've had to do this in the past twice and had zero issues. I actually extended my jumper wire to about 24" and dropped it down where it's accessible under the dash. I cut it and put blade connectors on it which are wrapped to keep them from shorting out. If/when my switch fails again, in 5 minutes I can get under there, unwrap the connectors, plug them in, and have lights again until I replace the switch.

Send me a PM if you need to do this and want more info.

 

thanks for all the advice, I'll let ya know how it turns out. and if the air bag breaks my face or not :P