Main beam switch issue?

[Zerotosixty2]

Apologies for starting with a please help thread.

I recently purchased a 1986 911 Carrera after selling my mk1 golf and trading up.

I love the car and consider myself reasonably adept in the garage. I do seem to have come unstuck with the main beam switch on the indicator stalk however.

Searching the wider web, I seem to have the opposite problem to most people in that the flash works on my car, I can see the mechanism for this as the stalk pushes the contacts directly. However the main beam position on the stalk doesn't result in main beam.

When operating the stalk I can see that the pin retracts and the cast arm moves with it but no main beam.

As the main beam only works when the headlights are on, could the problem be with the headlight switch itself somehow?

I do also have the Bentley manual, but it doesn't go into detail other than dismantling and reassembly.on this.

I'm hoping that someone more versed can shed some light on this.

Many thanks in advance.

 

[chas3.2]

Sounds like the switch on the coulomb the contacts melt
the switch.

Would be good idea to fit relays.
Ring me if you need more help.

Regards
Charles.

 

[chas3.2]

This is what i did so you can fit high power bulbs.

Charles

 

[Zerotosixty2]

Thanks Charles, the switch appears pretty good with no signs of meltage:
Did you fit a kit or obtain a couple of fused relays?

Thanks

Neil

 

[chas3.2]

Hi
Get your own relays . I like the ones with fuse built in.
Yes your photo looks good .
Is the round plug where the switch pugs in in.
on the bulk head.

Can you flash main beam with ing and with out.
Fuses all ok.

Charles.

 

[Zerotosixty2]

Hi Charles,

Thanks again. I'll get a couple of fused relays. To confirm, the flash works withe headlights on or off.

Neil

 

[Zerotosixty2]

This is what i did so you can fit high power bulbs.

Charles

looking at your photo a little closer, you appear to have removed the bullet fuses from the original fuse location, are you using the fused relays instead. do you have a wiring diagram for that it looks pretty funky, like you have bypassed the in car fuses? but used the fuseboard a connection block? I must be reading that incorrectly....

 

[chas3.2]

Hi
I used the fuse board as a connector block.
i will try and do you a diagram.

Charles.

 

[chas3.2]

Look at the photo.
pin 30 red wire power from battery + term no fuse.
pin 86 brown Earth
pin 85 blue /white switch side of fuse board main beam.
pin 87 Black feed to head lights
Yellow is dip beam.

Do not do this unless you are fully competent with electrics

Charles. Phone me if you need help.
[attachment=IMG_0352.jpeg]

 

[Zerotosixty2]

Charles,

Got it, thanks

 

[chas3.2]

Don't forget fitting these relays won't cure your fault with main beam.

Cure this fault first.

Renew the stalk switch.

Charles

 

[Zerotosixty2]

I will do Chas thanks for all your help.

 

[Zerotosixty2]

I just wanted to feed back on this.

Charles diagnosis was absolutely correct.
Once the indicator stalk was replaced the main beam started working perfectly.

the addition of 2 x relays to take the load should ensure that the problem does not reoccur for another 30+ years

Fitting the new stalk is not as difficult as I anticipated:

firstly, there is space to pull out the old cabling and plugs from between the column and dash.
once the main plug, black with green dashes cables are unplugged, I removed this lead (cutting about 50 cable ties en route)
this gave space to insert the new plug and lead through the same gap
I plugged in the plug and black with green connections
I then routed the other cable through the gap and down to the right place (this has 2 connections to the headlight switch (red/white and white/black))
I replaced the grey wire (short) and the other two (grey/red and grey/black)
finally I removed the headlight switch by prising out the centre, unscrewing the nut (10mm) and the unscrewing the knob. then you can access the switch mount (I used a pair of circlip pliers to undo)
there is enough space to remove the headlight switch to replace the red/white and white/black wires.
then simply refit everything and test

 

[chas3.2]

Thank you for the feed back its good to know how things went.

Charles

 

[Zerotosixty2]

Thank you for the help, it enabled me to learn a lot about how the lights operate in the 911 as well as getting the right component on the first try