Old Car High Beam Switch

Up through the 80s.

Old car high beam switch.

The dimmer switch is primarily used to switch between the high and low beam headlights however in many vehicles it also controls the vehicle s interior lights as well. A temporary solution to this is to turn the high beams on and off quickly several times which could clean the contacts in the switch. In most cases the failure of high or low beams is due to a relay or switch problem and the troubleshooting procedure is similar to the one outlined above. It doesn t take long to restore fogged headlights and night visibility.

That s 20 in the diagram. In 1925 the depressible headlight became obsolete when the guide lamp co. The larger blue red wire from the other relay goes to the low beams. In 1927 the dimmer switch was moved to the floor where it stayed for about 50 years until it was moved again to the steering column.

The difference is that some vehicles have a separate relay just for the high beams and the high beam passing or dimmer switch may or may not be integrated into the headlight switch. We see this more on cars with their headlight switch on the steering column. Switching between low and high beam was accomplished through a switch on the steering column. Dimmer switch built into the headlight switch.

I remember a 1978 mercedes 300d that my parents bought new being the first car i drove with the high beam control on the stalk. The larger blue white wire from one relay goes to the high beams. My 1962 and 1949 cadillacs have the switch there as well and the 49 has a push button on the dash near the key for the starter. The original wires going to the low beams and to the high.

Introduced the 2 filament headlight bulb. For some vehicles it is a button switch located on the driver s side floor 1960s to mid 70s gm vehicles while on other vehicles it is mounted on the steering column. Some had other interesting things like foot operated windshield washers too.