Lights out!

**Bill** · #1 (**permalink**) 09-09-2003, 03:04 PM

I 'll try this question here as well:

Help me Rhonda, help, help me Rhonda...
Lost the high beams on Sophia the other day, ('78 Spider) and am befuddled. The beams are good and I ran down the wires only to loose them in the column. (please tell me I dont have to go in there, God help me)! How do I check for a bad relay?
If it is the column switch, any ideas on how to rebuild or find a replacement? Most of the aftermarket suppliers start with '80's models.
Thanks in advance, and I also missed this site this weekend.
Glad your back...

164QV · #2 (**permalink**) 09-09-2003, 03:10 PM

I have absoluteley no idea, but you got me singing!

"Well since she put me down I 've been out doin' in my head
I come in late at night and in the mornin' I just lay in bed

Well, Rhonda you look so fine (look so fine)
And I know it wouldn't take much time
For you to help me Rhonda
Help me get her out of my heart

Help me Rhonda
Help, help me Rhonda
Get her out of my heart

She was gonna be my wife
And I was gonna be her man
(Oh Rhonda)
But she let another guy come between us
And it shattered our plans
(Oh Rhonda)

Well, Rhonda you caught my eye (caught my eye)
And I can give you lotsa reasons why
You gotta help me Rhonda
Help me get her out of my heart"

alfajim · #3 (**permalink**) 09-09-2003, 03:22 PM

It is most likely the switch, the contacts can cleaned by removing the steering column cover and looking at the sides of the switch you will see contacts that open and close. using a needle file clean the contacts with them open then flush with some contact cleaner. With some careful bending you can adjust the tension on the contacts to help also.

**Roadtrip** · #4 (**permalink**) 09-09-2003, 07:55 PM

There is no headlight relay for 78 Spiders that I'm aware of. That can present a problem because the stalk switch has to carry the full current of the headlights. Some people install a relay as a measure to lessen the load on the stalk switch. Same for installing a relay for the SPICA Cold-Start Solenoid/Starter Solenoid.

Before you start removing the plastic steering column cover. . a few questions:

Since you have low beams, the 12v supply wire (top of fuse #4) must be good.

1. When you go to hi-beams on stalk switch, does the blue dash hi-beam indicator light come on even though the hi-beams themselves don't?

2. If not, with the column light switch stalk in the high beam position, is there power to the top of fuse #7? That wire supplies power to the #7 (left hi-beam and blue dash indicator light) and #8 (right hi-beam).

If there's no power there, then the stalk switch is bad.

Pushing in the stalk switch activates the flash function of the headlights . . but that's low beam, NOT hi-beam.