hi/lo beam floor switch - rebuild?

[delco1946]

It's always something.....

My hi/lo floor switch seems to be having problems. Last week it wouldn't depress like normal so I pushed harder and felt/heard a "crunch" of sorts. Fast forward to last night when I was driving at night with my dash lights and sidemarkers on...and my lows (or so I thought). I got flashed by a cop of all ppl and spent the next 10 minutes thinking "RUDEEEEE" and why would someone do that?

Eventually I realized that my headlights weren't on, and I could only get them to stay on by leaving my foot gently resting on the switch. Hi beam seems to work fine. (Side note - does anyone even use hi beams anymore? There's so much light pollution these days or oncoming traffic that I never get a chance/need to use them!)

My question: Has anyone taken apart their switch? Are these rebuildable? I'm sure I can get a new replacement but then its prolly overseas low quality junk but that may be easier than trying to figure out what the problem is with my switch. Plus i've heard they can corrode due to all the floor moisture.

[Rusty_S85]

I dont think they are able to be disassembled and be able to be reassembled but I may be wrong on that. But you can look on ebay there are a bunch of NOS parts for our trucks on there and I buy most of my parts like that NOS off ebay.

If you need it sooner I strongly recommend BWD which is Borgwarner, I use their electrical components as they are more on par with OE than standard for example.

[grumpin]

I dont think they are able to be disassembled and be able to be reassembled but I may be wrong on that. But you can look on ebay there are a bunch of NOS parts for our trucks on there and I buy most of my parts like that NOS off ebay.

If you need it sooner I strongly recommend BWD which is Borgwarner, I use their electrical components as they are more on par with OE than standard for example.

I thought Standard owns BWD.

I’ve had good luck with Standards better stuff, i.e. NAPA Echlin, I forget what Autozone calls that line.

Never heard of rebuilding one.

[delco1946]

I dont think they are able to be disassembled and be able to be reassembled but I may be wrong on that. But you can look on ebay there are a bunch of NOS parts for our trucks on there and I buy most of my parts like that NOS off ebay.

If you need it sooner I strongly recommend BWD which is Borgwarner, I use their electrical components as they are more on par with OE than standard for example.

Thanks Rusty, i'm not really familiar with BWD so i'll look into that! I do troll ebay for parts constantly so lets hope I don't have to wait too long :)

Also, totally off subject but I noticed you have a 1956 Fairlane Town Sedan! I have a 1955 Crown Vic so the 1955-56s rank high on my list of favorite cars. Are you a member of the CVA? I am not, but have been toying with the idea mostly in hopes that the newsletter might be helpful when rebuilding things. Even youtube has its limits! These cars don't seem to fit too well into car club categories (at least in my neck of the woods) as too young to be a flathead, to old to be a muscle/sports car like the mustangs and even thunderbirds.

[Rusty_S85]

I thought Standard owns BWD.

I’ve had good luck with Standards better stuff, i.e. NAPA Echlin, I forget what Autozone calls that line.

Never heard of rebuilding one.

They could, but Standard products ive had fail before they ever leave the shop. Ive also had standard products fail on installation.

Did a headlight switch on my truck was a standard thing broke on installation where you couldnt feel the detent for park lights and then headlights it would just pop straight smooth out to headlights. Swapped it out for a BWD and it had real solid positive stops for park and headlight positions.

If Standard owns BWD, then its just simply BWD is the higher tier product of theirs while Standard is their entry level.

[grumpin]

I thought Standard owns BWD.I’ve had good luck with Standards better stuff, i.e. NAPA Echlin, I forget what Autozone calls that line.Never heard of rebuilding one.

They could, but Standard products ive had fail before they ever leave the shop. Ive also had standard products fail on installation.Did a headlight switch on my truck was a standard thing broke on installation where you couldnt feel the detent for park lights and then headlights it would just pop straight smooth out to headlights. Swapped it out for a BWD and it had real solid positive stops for park and headlight positions.If Standard owns BWD, then its just simply BWD is the higher tier product of theirs while Standard is their entry level.

 I had a problem with a BWD sensor I think it was, the SMP was better in that situation. A lot of times it’s hit or miss. I think sometimes people return stuff and they don’t look at it and put it back on the shelf. 

 

 

Through the years Standard has been good. Seems like a lot of companies cheap out.

 

On Fri, Jan 15, 2021 at 11:02 AM Rusty_S85 [via Bullnose Enthusiasts Forum] <redacted_email_address> wrote:

 

 

 

 

[delco1946]

I don't think they're owned by the same company, or else they are playing the market. BWD takes me to Advance Auto Parts whereas SMP takes me to Napa.

https://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p/bwd-headlight-dimmer-switch-ds109/20975689-P?searchTerm=Dimmer%20Switch

There also seems to be a Napa Echlin version available:

https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/ECHDS114?cid=paidsearch_shopping_dcoe_google

 

[delco1946]

I don't think they're owned by the same company, or else they are playing the market. BWD takes me to Advance Auto Parts whereas SMP takes me to Napa.

https://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p/bwd-headlight-dimmer-switch-ds109/20975689-P?searchTerm=Dimmer%20Switch

There also seems to be a Napa Echlin version available:

https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/ECHDS114?cid=paidsearch_shopping_dcoe_google

Purchased the Napa OEM part. Much easier than trying to rebuild a dinky switch i suspect. Sometimes I get frozen in the planning process so thanks for the reality check.

[FuzzFace2]

Purchased the Napa OEM part. Much easier than trying to rebuild a dinky switch i suspect. Sometimes I get frozen in the planning process so thanks for the reality check.

Yes I use the high beams a lot as it is dark (12pm to 3am) when I go to work and we do not have a lot of street lights around here, roads or high way.

I also have the relay kit installed so they are a lot brighter.

I was going to say hit the local parts store for that switch as they are cheap enough and I have never seen one that could be rebuilt.

BTW when I rebuilt my truck I replaced both the floor switch and head light switch to be safe.

Dave ----

[grumpin]

I don't think they're owned by the same company, or else they are playing the market. BWD takes me to Advance Auto Parts whereas SMP takes me to Napa.

https://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p/bwd-headlight-dimmer-switch-ds109/20975689-P?searchTerm=Dimmer%20Switch

There also seems to be a Napa Echlin version available:

https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/ECHDS114?cid=paidsearch_shopping_dcoe_google

Go to the 2000’s.

https://www.smpcorp.com/en/about/history