Sloppy headlight switch

As I was getting out of the car the other day, my jacked somehow caught the end of the headlight switch (on the stem) and popped it off. When I put it back together, it functioned, but now it has no "click." It's like it just swivels completely loosely around the stem. As a result, when I hit bumps or brake (or really anything), the switch will swivel around and activate / de-activate the lights.

I did find a tiny spring on the floor this morning, which might be part of it. I'm not sure where it goes, though, as the obvious place made no difference.

Any suggestions? If one of you wouldn't mind (CAREFULLY!) popping yours apart and sending a snapshot of the assembly, that might help me put it back together right.

Thanks,

Mark

 

I think there is someone on the board who can rebuild these switches. Perhaps a search and then shoot him a PM so no one has to dismantle their working (20+ year old) switch.

Regards,
Jerry

 

Fair point about not asking anyone to pull theirs apart.

I know that Verrell can rebuild these switches. He redid the one on my old 308. But the plastic switch here is in apparently good condition. I think I'm just reassembling it wrong, so I'm curious if anyone can suggest what I'm doing wrong based on the symptom I described.

 

Sounds like you dropped the ball, literally. There's a detent ball and spring inside and yours must be missing.

 

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/308-328/257534-instructions-fixing-headlight-switch.html

 

Wade -- Thanks. Just what I needed, and now I know what my problem is. I am missing the "ball." I'll look around in the car and on the floor around where I was parked when this happened. If all else fails, I'll find a BB or something.

 

Easy fix, gotta love it!

 

The little ball is nowhere to be found. But a plastic bead from my little daughter's craft supplies fixed it like new.

 

You dropped the ball.

Get a magnet, fish around on the carpet. Or, go to a bicycle shop, buy several bearing balls for 10 cents a piece of different sizes. One will fit. Also, you may need a spring from a Bic pen, cut to size.