3rd Gen Camaro High Beams Won't Turn Off

[AegisJones54]

Alright, I've got a '91 Camaro that the Highbeams won't turn off. When I pull back on the turn signal,er (what else you gonna call it?), I get nothing...no click...nothing. Obviously it's supposed to turn the high beams on/off but mine doesn't.

Now, I've seen the replacement on fbodymotorsports and hawksthirdgen but I don't necessarily think that that's the problem because everything else on it works just fine. It's just the click that's supposed to happen when you pull back on it, that doesn't happen.

Please help because my inspection is coming up soon and I am getting tired of people flashing their brights at me because mine are on.

[Viper_Storm]

Originally Posted by AegisJones54

Alright, I've got a '91 Camaro that the Highbeams won't turn off. When I pull back on the turn signal,er (what else you gonna call it?), I get nothing...no click...nothing. Obviously it's supposed to turn the high beams on/off but mine doesn't.

Now, I've seen the replacement on fbodymotorsports and hawksthirdgen but I don't necessarily think that that's the problem because everything else on it works just fine. It's just the click that's supposed to happen when you pull back on it, that doesn't happen.

Please help because my inspection is coming up soon and I am getting tired of people flashing their brights at me because mine are on.

lol, the click is the button think going it/out when you turn the high beams on/off so if its broke why wouldnt you need a replacement?

[wrightz28]

The multifunction swith (turn/bright) activeates a rod that runs down the left side of the column, Follow the rod down the column to the switch and you should be able to push it with your finger.

Chances are the rod is bent, 3rd gens are comon for bending this rod and the ignition linkage if you have tilt steering and use it alot.

[wrightz28]

ph, obviously if it still dosen't work by bypassing the rod, the switch is bad. But atleast now you know where it is.

[supercarvideos]

The multifunction swith (turn/bright) activeates a rod that runs down the left side of the column, Follow the rod down the column to the switch and you should be able to push it with your finger.

Chances are the rod is bent, 3rd gens are comon for bending this rod and the ignition linkage if you have tilt steering and use it alot.
======================================
That is exactly the problem.... you need to take the sterring coumn apart and mess with that rod. It may have just popped out.

~John

[wrightz28]

You don't need to take it apart, apart, just remove the dash panel cover at the bottom of the column, and then drop the column, if need be. Mine I can reach 3with just the panel out the way. The rod runs right down the top of the comumn, externally.

Sorry supercarvideos, some people get a little twitchy when they hear 'take aprt' so I just wanted to clarify what you meant.

[AegisJones54]

Ok, will the rod be easy to get to once the cover is off? I'm a little gunshy of taking the steering column apart because I just cost myself like $200 by taking the power window motor assembly apart.

[wrightz28]

Originally Posted by AegisJones54

Ok, will the rod be easy to get to once the cover is off? I'm a little gunshy of taking the steering column apart because I just cost myself like $200 by taking the power window motor assembly apart.

You do not have to take the column A P A R T.

just a couple of screws to get the panel off the bottom of the dash. then you will have full access ot the bottom side of the column. reash your hand to the top left side of comlun and (about the 11 o'clock position) and bingo there's the rod, follow the rod to about half way down the comun and you'll feel the dimmer switch. Should you need to drop the column, once the panel is off, there are 2 nuts that hold the comunn up. Nothing complicated.

[AegisJones54]

Thank you for your replies. As soon as I thought about the rod being bent, it made since. The tilt steering lets the steering wheel go way past where it should. So the rod has to be bent. As soon as I thought about that I went outside, tilted the wheel down like that and then tried to turn them off.

And of course, it worked. So, the rod must be bent, as you've already mentioned, but at least for now, the high beams are off and I know what the problem is for sure.

Thanks.

[J.Cutta]

I thought I had that same problem before but before you take it apart tilt the wheel all way the way up. Then it should click.. Like I said I had my brights on all the time too but this worked for me

[FlawedByNature]

My '92 has the same problem as yours aegis. I found out (by luck i guess) that when i use the tilt and move it up and down, the brights can turn off and on depending on where i leave them. If i lower the steering wheel all the way, they turn off or on (whatever i need at the time) and then i move it back up to where i need it and they stay that way. A bit of a pain but that works.

As for fixing the rod, now that i know all i have to do is tweak it to change it, is there anything we can to do permanently fix the problem guys? Is there a way we dont have to deal with a bending rod or is that just a crappy thing that we'll always have to deal with?
Thx.

-Mike