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Cant drive my new car..headlight switch

Discussion in 'Technical Q&A' started by alohamickey, Oct 7, 2004.

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  1. alohamickey

    alohamickey Karting

    Sep 23, 2004
    180
    San Clemente CA
    Full Name:
    Mickey
    #1 alohamickey, Oct 7, 2004
    Please Help!

    I just bought a 1985 Mondial had it shipped here and I tried to drive her home and the headlights are not working.

    Good news is that after playing around a bit, The headlight will only work if you turn the switch on and over twist it a little and keep the force on it. Kinda hard to drive at night while twisting the headlight swtich and steering.

    I didn't want to start tearing it down until I asked here.

    Any ideas, I read that these switches are no longer made and very expensive to get. But since it kinda works I figured it must be a connection problem.

    If I have to tear it down, any advice appreciated to do so.

    Thanks
     
  2. 348SStb

    348SStb F1 Rookie
    Owner

    Apr 9, 2004
    2,991
    Palm Beach County, FL or Nassau County, NY
    Full Name:
    Dave
    #2 348SStb, Oct 7, 2004
    Is it the headlights themselves that won't go on unless you use your technique, or do the lights fail to pop up?

    If it's the latter, the Owner's manual should contain directions on how to mechanically raise the headlights. This is the emergency procedure.
     
  3. alohamickey

    alohamickey Karting

    Sep 23, 2004
    180
    San Clemente CA
    Full Name:
    Mickey
    #3 alohamickey, Oct 7, 2004
    The lights pop up and go on if I over twist the switch, but as soon as I release pressure, the light go down and off.
     
  4. Ferrari_UK

    Ferrari_UK Formula 3

    Dec 6, 2002
    1,277
    England
    Full Name:
    Jeff Howe
    #4 Ferrari_UK, Oct 7, 2004
    Hi

    Think it's obsolete now.....#119317
     
  5. Philjay50

    Philjay50 Formula Junior

    Jan 16, 2003
    595
    Chester, England
    Full Name:
    Philip
    #5 Philjay50, Oct 7, 2004
    As with any Fcar, or Italian of this era, the switchs are at best iffy. Mine is an 84 Mon and I an gyessing they are the same. The first thing I would do is take the cowls off and clean all the contacts. If that is not successful, and somebody I am sure will correct me if I am wrong, the switches are almost the same as Lancia's. Beta, Delta, etc, I think the stalks may be slightly different but I have stipped them down in the past and rebuilt them.
    Good Luck
     
  6. peterp

    peterp F1 Veteran

    Aug 31, 2002
    6,685
    NJ
    Full Name:
    Peter
    #6 peterp, Oct 7, 2004
    Try Radio Shack's "Contact/Control Cleaner & Lubricant" spray (part no. 64-4315). Spray it into the rotating mechanism and in the contacts inside the steering column, move the switches a little bit to work it in and then spray again and let it soak for a few hours. This spray works very well and also has a lubricant that keeps the contacts from drying out (unlike other contact cleaners that strip the lubricant). I think most of the switches in Ferrari's are fairly high quality despite the reputation of Italian electronics, but the contacts get dirty after 20ish years. I have yet to see a switch that this spray didn't fix permanently -- it works much better than CRC or other commonly available contact cleaners. I think the spray now costs about $10 for a small can, but it is worth it.
     

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