Headlight lifter switch/control | FerrariChat

Headlight lifter switch/control

Discussion in '308/328' started by Kingswood, Jun 22, 2023.

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  1. Kingswood

    Kingswood Karting

    May 16, 2022
    148
    Full Name:
    Stew
    Hello all,

    I have a very simple question today. I am about to put the headlight lifters for my project 1975 US spec GT4 together. Currently they are in pieces, nothing connected.

    I have never sat in a 308 and turned the headlights on. So I am wondering what actions on the control switch do what functions.

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    Do you turn the knob anti clockwise from this position to lift the lights? or does that action just put the parking lights on?
    Does pressing the arm down one position lift the lights?
    I do have a high-beam dash light come on when I push the arm down into the second position.

    Any guidance would be great.

    BTW, inside the switch looks OK, no disconnected wires that I can see.
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  2. absostone

    absostone F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Jul 28, 2008
    10,064
    I can check tomorrow if I remember
     
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  3. Plutonium

    Plutonium Karting

    Jul 29, 2020
    97
    Full Name:
    1980 308 GTSi
    On my 1980 GTSi NA the light switch is turned “counter-clockwise” (depending on how you’re looking at it) or rotated up to pop the headlights up.
    With the arm lifted to the highest position (similar to turning right for turn signal indicator) that is only running lights on
    Middle or neutral arm position is for headlights on
    Arm down at the bottom (like left turn signal indicator) is high beams on.
    Likely the same for the GT4
     
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  4. Kingswood

    Kingswood Karting

    May 16, 2022
    148
    Full Name:
    Stew
    Perfect, that all makes sense. Thankyou.

    I just turned the knob on mine and popped a fuse. Which surprised me with the ignition off.

    Should be a fun job getting all parts together and working.
     
  5. dyerhaus

    dyerhaus Formula Junior
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Nov 4, 2012
    898
    Santa Rosa, California
    Full Name:
    Christopher Dyer
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  6. Kingswood

    Kingswood Karting

    May 16, 2022
    148
    Full Name:
    Stew
    OMG, it even has the little direction arrow demonstrating the direction that you turn the knob.

    I've been living off the workshop manual so much I forgot about the owners manual. Turns out I have an electronic version here.

    Thankyou for the heads up. Perfect.
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  7. Kingswood

    Kingswood Karting

    May 16, 2022
    148
    Full Name:
    Stew
    Follow up question.
    I assumed that the lights would not operate when the ignition switch is off. But I popped a fuse when I turned knob "A". Keep in mind my lights are not installed, nothing plugged in, so a short is not surprising, but having power to the lights with the ignition off was surprising.

    So as standard do the lights work with the ignition off? or has my wiring been modified?
    Cheers.
     
  8. Dockboy

    Dockboy Formula Junior
    Silver Subscribed

    May 11, 2013
    610
    Maryland
    #8 Dockboy, Jun 23, 2023
    Last edited: Jun 23, 2023
    Parking lights/Headlights work with ignition off.

    Side note: You can install a toggle switch in the wire to the headlight motor relay and when switched off, the headlights won't pop up if you want to just have the Parking lights on;)
     
  9. dyerhaus

    dyerhaus Formula Junior
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Nov 4, 2012
    898
    Santa Rosa, California
    Full Name:
    Christopher Dyer
    The thing that bothers me with the lights is I can't leave the headlights up without the parking lights being on!
     
  10. kcabpilot

    kcabpilot Formula 3

    Apr 17, 2014
    1,608
    California SF bay area
    Full Name:
    Paul
    No need for that. There is a simple mod to switch one wire in the fuse box and add a diode so lift will only occur when headlights are on.
     
  11. Dockboy

    Dockboy Formula Junior
    Silver Subscribed

    May 11, 2013
    610
    Maryland
    #11 Dockboy, Jun 23, 2023
    Last edited: Jun 23, 2023
    If you add the toggle switch as I stated above, you can turn on the lights, headlights come up, turn off the toggle switch, then turn off the lights. The headlights will remain up with all lights off!:D
     
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  12. dyerhaus

    dyerhaus Formula Junior
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Nov 4, 2012
    898
    Santa Rosa, California
    Full Name:
    Christopher Dyer
    That would actually be a really good feature. Not sure why they didn't make that available from the factory (every other car I've owned with pop-up headlights could be left up without any lights on). Maybe I'll have to install a toggle switch.
     

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