Headlight Switch - How to change?

[Dodger3000]

Hi everybody!

I have a question: Do I have to remove the cluster or the whole dash in order to change the headlight switch?
Guess this switch is broken. Have no tail lights (indicators and brake lights work!!!) and no more cluster lamps working.
Every time when I switch on the lights there is always the same fuse (Fusebox says: "Misc." 20A) breaking down.
When I got the car everything worked and everything is still in original condition. I know that the electrical system is susceptible for cable brand but without looking behind the cluster and/or dash (don't no in detail it is's enough to remove the cluster) I can't say if a cable brand is responsible or not.

Can you help me? Maybe you got some helpful pics showing important things hard to explain by words?

Thanks in advance,
Joachim

[brock]

I think the headlight switch could be swapped out without removing the cluster or the dash.
There is a button on the switch that allows removal of the knob. Once the knob is removed,
you can unscrew the nut located behind it to remove the switch.

What year is your car? You do have a wiring diagram to help you troubleshoot it with, right!

[Dodger3000]

Hi!

Thanks a lot for your answer! My Dodge Charger is a 71.
I already downloaded several wiring diargrams and I would say that I am able to read these diagrams although I'm not an electrician.
The problem is that I downloaded a wiring diagram at first which is named "1971 Coronet/Charger" but after a while I saw that it shows a fusebox containing only 6 fuses. The fusebox my car has, has space for 8 fuses but only 7 fuses are installed.
After that I found a colored diagram for a 72/73 Charger. And the third diagram I found seemed to be the right one (posted by Nacho as far as I know) but it was scanned with a low resolution why it is not readable.
I don't know. Everytime I use the headlight switch the "Misc"-Fuse breaks. Actually I hope the switch is reason for this circumstance and not a cable brand or something like that.

[gunmetal]

Is it possible that the headlight doors are connected to the Misc fuse? You might try disconnecting the wires at the headlight door motor, and see if that keeps the Misc. fuse from blowing.

[Dodger3000]

That's a good idea but I do not have headlight doors. Sorry for not mentioning.
I was told that there is a cable going to the transmission being responsible for the taillights? I don't know actually. Will try to check this within the next days.
I think it's the headlight switch but I don't know how to disassemble. Brock described a way. I have to test. Hope it will work the way he told me.

[brock]

My dash is laid across my workbench (still). I looked at it today.
The button I describe for removing the knob is on the topside of
the switch. (not exactly a userfriendly place)

[Dodger3000]

Cool! Nice to know! Thanks for your effort!
Hope to have the chance for another look on Friday afternoon or saturday morning. Actually it's getting dark so early here in Germany and my (small) garage isn't equipped with electricity. Working conditions are not not optimal.

[Dodger3000]

By the way: It was the headlight switch!

Managed it to disassemble it and it looked like this:


Replaced the switch and everything's ok again.

[quapman]

Super!

What is a cable brand?

[Dodger3000]

May 3, 2009 6:20:10 GMT -5 @quapman said:

Super!

What is a cable brand?

That's "Germish" - A combination of German and English:
Cable [eng.] = Kabel [ger.]
Fire [eng.] = Brand [ger.]

I meant cablefire. Don't know why I wrote such a nonsense