Headlight help for Olds 98?

jasburns007 · May 30th, 2006, 03:12 AM

Hello there. I am new on the site. I have one of the few Olds 98s in Scotland. I have a wee problem with it and would be grateful for any advice. The headlight dip (dimmer) switch is stuck on main beam and will not click off. As the stalk is pulled back it no longer clicks. If the problem lies up at the multifunction stalk is it a lot of work to correct it? Everything else on the stalk works fine. There are no Olds mechanics here and I'm not too confident in the local mechanics! I have the dealer chassis service manual but it assumes a lot of knowledge and access to special tools. Cheers for any help. Jas

Oldsguy · May 30th, 2006, 05:39 AM

Jas, welcome to the site. Well in a nutshell I would say the switch on the multifunction stalk for the headlight dimmer is bad, especially if you can tell that physically it no longer clicks. And, yes you would need at least a steering wheel puller to remove it. Here in the USA we can rent them from the local auto parts stores but not sure about Scotland. That would be of course, after you have found a replacement switch. I couldn't tell you the specifics involved in removing and replacing the switch or, if it might be easier just to R&R the whole multifunction stalk, hard to say. You really need a good reference like Electrical Service Manual, you might try on the internet to find someone to purchase one from. I really hope you find a solution. Good luck.

DonFrost · June 15th, 2006, 01:41 PM

Replace the switch. Do some Ebay work and locate a headlight switch. Hell I think even the regular parts stores have them online. The tools are not anything special. Just a Phillips screwdriver, Small flathead screwdriver (for lightly prying on the corners of the dash trim), and either a 7mm or an 8mm nut-driver (a wratchet and socket work just fine) Easier to do than you think (lots easier than fixing it) If you get it out and get the part number on it that may help in your search. Good luck

DonFrost · June 15th, 2006, 01:45 PM

I am sorry about that last post. I am totally reading wrong. I was looking at it as if it were that twilight headlamp switch. Please disregard.

jasburns007 · July 9th, 2006, 02:38 PM

FIXED! Got that headlight problem sorted at last. Got a replacement dimmer switch from RockAuto-£20 to Scotland in 4 days, top banana! Removed the lower part of the dashboard, dropped the column, removed the column bracket and changed the switch, all done and dusted in an hour. No worries! Cheers lads!

Oldsguy · July 9th, 2006, 03:56 PM

Excellent! Very good news, I am glad you were able to fix it.

May 30th, 2006, 03:12 AM	#1 (permalink)
jasburns007 Junior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Lossiemouth, Scotland, UK Posts: 8	Headlight help for Olds 98? Hello there. I am new on the site. I have one of the few Olds 98s in Scotland. I have a wee problem with it and would be grateful for any advice. The headlight dip (dimmer) switch is stuck on main beam and will not click off. As the stalk is pulled back it no longer clicks. If the problem lies up at the multifunction stalk is it a lot of work to correct it? Everything else on the stalk works fine. There are no Olds mechanics here and I'm not too confident in the local mechanics! I have the dealer chassis service manual but it assumes a lot of knowledge and access to special tools. Cheers for any help. Jas

May 30th, 2006, 05:39 AM	#2 (permalink)
Oldsguy Hot Rodder at heart Administrator Join Date: May 2004 Location: Lees Summit MO Posts: 5,315	Jas, welcome to the site. Well in a nutshell I would say the switch on the multifunction stalk for the headlight dimmer is bad, especially if you can tell that physically it no longer clicks. And, yes you would need at least a steering wheel puller to remove it. Here in the USA we can rent them from the local auto parts stores but not sure about Scotland. That would be of course, after you have found a replacement switch. I couldn't tell you the specifics involved in removing and replacing the switch or, if it might be easier just to R&R the whole multifunction stalk, hard to say. You really need a good reference like Electrical Service Manual, you might try on the internet to find someone to purchase one from. I really hope you find a solution. Good luck. __________________ Dan '77 Cutlass Supreme '46 2 door "The rocket 455.....it's a sledgehammer approach to a thumbtack world" LuxBlue of HAMB.

June 15th, 2006, 01:41 PM	#3 (permalink)
DonFrost Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: MN Posts: 31	replacement is easy Replace the switch. Do some Ebay work and locate a headlight switch. Hell I think even the regular parts stores have them online. The tools are not anything special. Just a Phillips screwdriver, Small flathead screwdriver (for lightly prying on the corners of the dash trim), and either a 7mm or an 8mm nut-driver (a wratchet and socket work just fine) Easier to do than you think (lots easier than fixing it) If you get it out and get the part number on it that may help in your search. Good luck

July 9th, 2006, 03:56 PM	#6 (permalink)
Oldsguy Hot Rodder at heart Administrator Join Date: May 2004 Location: Lees Summit MO Posts: 5,315	Excellent! Very good news, I am glad you were able to fix it. __________________ Dan '77 Cutlass Supreme '46 2 door "The rocket 455.....it's a sledgehammer approach to a thumbtack world" LuxBlue of HAMB.

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June 15th, 2006, 01:45 PM	#4 (permalink)
DonFrost Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: MN Posts: 31	I am sorry about that last post. I am totally reading wrong. I was looking at it as if it were that twilight headlamp switch. Please disregard.

July 9th, 2006, 02:38 PM	#5 (permalink)
jasburns007 Junior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Lossiemouth, Scotland, UK Posts: 8	FIXED! Got that headlight problem sorted at last. Got a replacement dimmer switch from RockAuto-£20 to Scotland in 4 days, top banana! Removed the lower part of the dashboard, dropped the column, removed the column bracket and changed the switch, all done and dusted in an hour. No worries! Cheers lads!

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