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any tips for removing headlight switch 61 dynamic 88
hi! new guy here
having an issue with dash lights
would like to remove headlight switch to test rheostat
any simple way to do this without disassembling dashboard
can't even get my hand in there to press **** release button
thanks for any help
Just google "1961 Oldsmobile shop manual" and you'll find them in all conditions and price ranges.
The one pictured is a second edition which will have any service procedures updated since original fall 1960 printing.
You'll probably see a Starfire supplement and an F85 manual too. You won't need those for a Dynamic 88.
The manual includes all mechanical, electrical and body service procedures as well as color wiring diagrams. There are also dealer technical bulletins and Service Guild publications that update service procedures and often include shortcuts the dealer mechanics had found to make jobs easier. These cover September thru August of each year, not January thru December as a lot of people sell them as. As in you'd need September 1960 thru August 1961.
Welcome to the world of Space Age Oldsmobiles! Even armed with the manuals there are some things that will make you wonder what they were thinking. That headlight switch might be one of them!
Last edited by rocketraider; July 7th, 2024 at 12:54 PM.
The removal of the headlight switch is fairly simple.
Pull the **** outward fully. Reach under the dash and press a small button on the underside of the switch. (blue arrow)
With the button depressed, pull the **** all the way out.
Unscrew the escutcheon from the switch.
Pull the switch downward so you can unplug it from the wiring harness.
Last edited by Charlie Jones; July 7th, 2024 at 11:37 AM.
Here's another thought.
See if you can get your girlfriend, wife, or sister to help.
Women usually have smaller hands and can accomplish tasks in small quarters much easier.
ha good one - but seriously thanks for the help
going to wait until it cools off outside in a bit and give it another go, I've done it on other cars but it's tight up there
found an oem/nos switch online and wanted to test the old one before i ordered, but considering parts availability on these cars i might just get it to have in stock for the future or for someone that needs it more than i do
From January 1965 factory parts book: Grp 2.485 p/n 1995094 is the original Olds switch. 1961 except GuideMatic or F85. If car has GuideMatic p/n is 1995108. Both appear to be 1961-only.
November 1973 book lists 1995111 for 1961 except GuideMatic or F85, so the p/n had been superseded by that time. Either the 5094 or 5111 switch should work.
From January 1965 factory parts book: Grp 2.485 p/n 1995094 is the original Olds switch. 1961 except GuideMatic or F85. If car has GuideMatic p/n is 1995108. Both appear to be 1961-only.
November 1973 book lists 1995111 for 1961 except GuideMatic or F85, so the p/n had been superseded by that time. Either the 5094 or 5111 switch should work.
Wow! killer information don't have guidematic or F85
box says Delco D-1520 1995111
thanks for that, gonna put it in stock
success! nos part delivered
squeezed my hand in there and we now have dash lights
rheostat on 60 year old original switch had disintegrated
now i have to figure out why the courtesy lights are no longer working
might have snagged a wire
saw some funky stuff that a previous owner did under there
Did they work before you changed the switch? We're talking the dome light, right? And front footwell lights if the car has them?
Some 60s full-size Oldsmobiles do not have a dome/courtesy lights contact on the main light switch, so turning the **** CCW doesn't turn the dome lights on.
I've always believed the difference in the original 1961 part number and the superseded one was that one had the dome light switch contact and the other didn't.
You might also find that if the car has glovebox, trunk and underhood lamps, the main light switch has to be in "park" or "headlights" ON position for them to work. They're wired thru the taillight circuit of the main light switch.
Last edited by rocketraider; July 12th, 2024 at 01:47 PM.
they were flakey before i installed the headlight switch
it's a convertible so no dome only front footwell lights and rear courtesy
no existing glovebox or underhood lights - don't see any wires that could be
there's a dashboard switch above the radio for the interiors and a switch on the rear armrest drivers side that i assume is for the trunk light that is not hooked up
the females in the headlight harness and the males in the headlight switch all aligned with no extra contacts
i think i'll have to dive deeper into the wiring diagram and existing wiring to figure the problem
very happy to have working dash lights for now
working courtesy lights would be the cherry on the sundae
Last edited by charles x; July 12th, 2024 at 02:20 PM.
The rear armrest switch is so the rear seat passengers can turn the armrest interior lights on and off. They're also bad about getting crudded up and throwing the whole courtesy light circuit wacky.
*With battery disconnected* you can take the switch out of the armrest to spray some electrical contact cleaner in it. Exercise the switch to clean its internal contacts and that ought to help.
The door jamb switches can benefit from a shot of contact cleaner too. They should have a rubber boot on them. Again with battery disconnected you should be able to pry them out of the door jamb and clean and exercise them. Also clean the hole it snaps into to ensure good ground. If the rubber boot tears I think Fusick has those.
Sounds like you have a dash mounted map/interior lamp switch. It can benefit from cleaning too as can the top switch. The stuff is 63 yrs old, after all, and convertibles are exposed to weather more than a closed car.
Here's the front body harness diagram for 1964 88s and 98s. It doesn't show the armrest switch or CVT wiring but might help. The cars' wiring didn't change that much between 1961 and 1964.
the courtesy light saga continues
PO did some shoddy work
we have a short due to the wrong bulbs in the sockets does anyone know the correct 2 pin bulb number
there's also a cobbled together stoplight switch am searching for nos replacement
this is what's in there now
here's some dangerously hacked wiring, that's a modern fuse taped? in there, the orange and white leads seem to be incorporated but,,,,,, no likey
1993571 lists as 61-62 with power brakes except F85.
Non-power brakes is 2.477 577683, 60-63 except PB or F85.
These numbers show up in both Jan 65 and Nov 73 parts books. I can't find 3565 in either. May have been superseded after 11/73.
Google "packard wire connectors" and you'll probably find an appropriate two-port plastic plug for the brake light switch.
If the car came with an owners manual the lamp bulb specs should be in it. They'll be in the shop manual electrical section when it gets there. I'm thinking a #90 but go by the manuals.
Thinking back on how many courtesy lamp problems have shown up here, just about every one traced back to someone putting a single-contact bulb in one of the courtesy lamp sockets. Then new owners pulled their hair out trying to figure it out.
I always said Oldsmobiles didn't get subjected to wiring buggery the way Chevrolets did, but the more I see, the more I think maybe I was wrong!😄
Last edited by rocketraider; July 13th, 2024 at 01:15 PM.
much buggery it seems
1993571 looks like the ticket
not sure if the brake switch plug is still there
don't want to unravel it til i get a new switch
pulled a correct bulb out of the rear armrest but no numbers on it
went to a couple of amateur parts stores to eyeball it but no love
going to
have to wait til monday to get to a real parts store for the bulbs unless i get a verifiable bulb number
thanks for all the great help
Was digging thru the 65 parts book just now and located the 1961 bulb chart. Looks like the front footwell lamps are #90 and the armrest lamps are #68.
Hope this helps. You benefitted from someone who needed to know 1953 HydraMatic speedometer driven gears!
Last edited by rocketraider; July 15th, 2024 at 08:31 AM.
many thanks again, funny how the knowledge trickles down
getting impatient to receive my shop manual
got everything contact cleaned, ohm'd out and good continuity, new fuse for the heck of it
rear lamps are working as they should when either door is opened, need two new front lamps
going out to the real parts store, will get a few of each of the recommended bulbs hopefully in stock
got a new temp sending unit today, we now have the cheery green glow on the dash upon start up
still waiting on the stoplight switch
with the new headlight switch the gauge lights are working but dim not - exactly sure if it's the curse of the generator, age, or normal
contemplating some leds if they're your typical 194s but not feeling like jamming my hands into the dashboard nether regions to find out
will probably wait for another day
all in all the quest to rectify past mistakes proceeds nicely
Last edited by charles x; July 15th, 2024 at 09:13 AM.
July 7th, 2024, 06:42 AM
