mintman92

Can anyone give me a quick way to remove the old headlight switch rod on a 1986 L98?? I have a replacement rod with **** and just want to replace the old with new.....thanks!!

dlb435

Sorry, there is no "qiuck" way. You will have to remove the entire drivers side cover panels to get to the switch. /then remove the switch to replace the rod. It's an all day job. I pulled mine when I replaced the carpet and the LCD panel.

PAINTER MAN

If the rod doesn't need replaced, it's easy to pop the **** off and replace it. You just need a small screw driver. No need to take anything apart.

rich653

There's 2 ways to replace the headlight switch ****. if you look at the replacement **** you have there should be a little slot in the base of **** if you insert a very small screw driver blade or pointy awl into that slot you should be able to release a spring clip that holds the **** in place,once you get the **** off you can see how the springclip works and it should be easier for you to get the old **** off or if it's just missing like mine was slide the knew **** on the shaft and the spring will lock in place, or if you want the harder way to replace the **** and shaft as an assembly you'll have to remove the lower dash panel and hopefully you have very small hands to reach up find the back of the headlight switch and a little release button to press while you pull the headlight switch shaft. I would suggest disconnecting the battery so your headlights aren't flopping up/down while swearing at the switch.
http://www.zip-products.com/Zip/prod...?pf_id=HDL-332

Frizlefrak

Remove the dash pad (10 minutes)
Press the detent in the switch (5 seconds)
Pull the rod out (5 seconds)

Total time, 10 minutes 10 seconds. Double that to reassemble and the job is done. You won't even get the second beer drank.

I have an intimate relationship with the headlight switch

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-g...otsa-pics.html

mintman92

Thanks to rich653, I found the clip he talked about and the new **** was installed today....many thanks to all for your help and input....this forum is the BEST!!!!

spock89

I'm trying to get at the headlight switch on my 1989 convertible but I cannot get the **** off the shaft/rod in order to remove the dash panel. Any suggestions?

Frizlefrak

Read my suggestion above.

spock89

Frizlefrak - I got the **** off. My problem is exactly the same as you solved in your "Bubba repair". I'll see if I can duplicate your fix or find an alternative.

Frizlefrak

Yep, the plastic in these dash boards was lousy when it was new, and 25 years hasn't done it any favors. Very brittle. And in my case, the previous owner had glued the **** onto the shaft and it wouldn't budge. I couldn't even break it into small enough pieces to get it off. Once the dash pad was off, it took all of 5 seconds to remove the whole rod. The rod and button came new as an assembly.

It's been 2.5 years since the "bubba repair" and it's still going strong. Head on over to Lowes and pick up an angle iron. About $2 and an hour to do the repair. Good luck.

bley49

Where's this button you guys say releases it I got the dash pad off and I'm looking right at that area because it was smoking from my headlight switch

Cliff Harris

The button is on the side of the headlight switch with a spring. You have to pull the headlight **** as if turning on the headlights and then push in on the button to release the shaft.

The button looks like a nail head with a spring under it (been like this since my '57 Chevy and probably earlier than that):



I cut a hole in the side of my dash so I could push it without taking off the dash pad (I glued the **** on the shaft because it kept falling off, so I had to take the whole shaft out):

bley49

I thought that damn thing was it, so push the button as im pulling it out?

Cliff Harris

You have to pull it all the way out and then push the button to release it. Sometimes it takes some wiggling to get it to release...