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Replace headlight switch 1999 Chevy prizm


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thebach
User

Oct 10, 2016, 5:48 PM

Post #1 of 10 (2235 views)
Replace headlight switch 1999 Chevy prizm Sign In

Hi guys,

Do i need to remove the steering wheel to replace headlight switch on 99 chevy prizm? My headlights don't come on sometimes but if I move switch back and fourth like I'm flashing someone off of turning high beams or low beams on the lights will usually come on. Is there something I can try before going through trouble of replacing switch? Maybe spray switch cleaner in there?


Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Discretesignals profile image

Oct 11, 2016, 4:29 AM

Post #2 of 10 (2213 views)
Re: Replace headlight switch 1999 Chevy prizm Sign In

1. Disconnect the negative battery cable.

CAUTION: Refer to Battery Disconnect Caution in Service Precautions.

2. Disable the SIR System. Refer to Disabling the SIR System in Air Bag(s) Arming and Disarming.

CAUTION: Refer to SIR Handling Caution in Service Precautions.

3. Remove the following components from the steering column:
^ The lower trim cover screw
^ The two lower trim cover screws (2) that are located beneath the steering wheel (1).

IMPORTANT: It is not necessary to remove the steering wheel to access the lower trim cover screws. The screws can be easily accessed by rotating the steering wheel.

4. The steering column lower trim cover (6)

5. Remove the following components from the steering column:
^ The steering column upper trim cover screw (3)
^ The steering column upper trim cover (2)
6. Inspect the base (1) for damage. If damage to the base is observed, replace the turn signal, headlamp and windshield washer switch as an assembly. Refer to Inflatable Restraint Steering Wheel Module Coil Replacement in Air Bag(s) Arming and Disarming.
7. Disconnect the turn signal/headlamp switch electrical connector (3).
8. Remove the following components from the steering column:
^ The two screws (4)
^ The turn signal/headlamp switch (2)





Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.


thebach
User

Oct 11, 2016, 8:31 AM

Post #3 of 10 (2208 views)
Re: Replace headlight switch 1999 Chevy prizm Sign In

So it sounds like I don't need to remove steering wheel, just covers I'm glad about that. I'm not glad about what a new switch costs, almost a hundred dollars. I was hoping there might just be a loose wire or some switch cleaner would fix it


Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Discretesignals profile image

Oct 11, 2016, 10:24 AM

Post #4 of 10 (2201 views)
Re: Replace headlight switch 1999 Chevy prizm Sign In

Very hard to tell you what is actually wrong. Cleaner may help temporarily, but most the time the contacts and wipers are worn out.





Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.


thebach
User

Oct 11, 2016, 3:28 PM

Post #5 of 10 (2196 views)
Re: Replace headlight switch 1999 Chevy prizm Sign In

Now I'm getting confused. I went out pulled all my headlight fuses and they are ok. Before this problem with my headlights working intermittently, my drivers side headlight was on but very dim and passenger headlight was on full. So after checking my fuses my lights wouldn't go on. I wiggled the wire leading to the drivers side light that was dim, and all of a sudden it came on full power, but my other headlight that use to be on full power was very dim. It's like the two headlights switched what they were doing. I wiggled my headlight on off switch a little and they both were on full power. I turned car off and then back on, and now my drivers side headlight is on full where it use to be dim, and my passenger side light is dim when it use to be on full. I'm lost. There is a short or something somewhere. Any ideas? I don't see a reason to replace my bulbs when they both work sometimes the fault must be somewhere else. Would a short in my headlight switch make my headlights act strange like this? I don't understand why after wiggling my drivers side bulb that one now works but now the passenger side went dim. Maybe this car is haunted

In Reply To


thebach
User

Oct 11, 2016, 3:37 PM

Post #6 of 10 (2192 views)
Re: Replace headlight switch 1999 Chevy prizm Sign In

I did just verify something for sure now. I went back out and tried my lights and they would not come on at all. I wiggled light switch and nothing. So i went out and wiggled wire to drivers side light and it came on. If i move the wire a little one way it goes off. So there is a short right there for sure. I just don't understand why now my passenger side light is the one that is dim. If i wiggle its wire it doesn't help. So i have a loose wire on drivers side. Now I need to figure out why my other headlight went dim


(This post was edited by thebach on Oct 11, 2016, 3:39 PM)


thebach
User

Oct 11, 2016, 4:37 PM

Post #7 of 10 (2187 views)
Re: Replace headlight switch 1999 Chevy prizm Sign In

Now that its dark out I just verified something else. I went out turned my lights on and they didn't come on. I wiggled driver side head light wire and right away driver side light came on full and passenger came on dim. If i wiggle driver side headlight wire the passenger side does change brightness a little but does stay too dim. So whatever is loose on driver side is affecting passenger side light too. What should I do now? Tomorrow I was going to take out headlights and make sure connections are good I don't know what else to do


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Oct 11, 2016, 4:57 PM

Post #8 of 10 (2185 views)
Re: Replace headlight switch 1999 Chevy prizm Sign In

You don't have a short. You have a bad connection somewhere in the area, probably some corrosion.



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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



thebach
User

Oct 16, 2016, 1:40 PM

Post #9 of 10 (2167 views)
Re: Replace headlight switch 1999 Chevy prizm Sign In

Just to let anyone know, both my headlight connectors were bad. I was getting contact here and there depending on what bump I hit. I wired in two new connectors now headlights are fine, so it wasn't my switch.


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Oct 16, 2016, 2:18 PM

Post #10 of 10 (2162 views)
Re: Replace headlight switch 1999 Chevy prizm Sign In

If for whatever reason the plug sockets get exposed to routine spray of water or whatever to cause BOTH to be bad do use and maybe repeat periodically called "dialectic" grease on connection that were bad. The ends you spliced if not try to solder them and another product may help is liquid electrical tape and or shrink wrap over splice.


Glad you found it. When both go like that they either share something or if independent quite a coincidence for both at once,


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