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  • 1965 - 1973 Classic Mustangs -General/Talk-
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How do you remove the headlight switch in a 70?

  • Thread starter Thread starter ForceFed70
  • Start date Start date Aug 1, 2005
F

ForceFed70

That's why they call it "dope"
Founding Member
Dec 6, 1999
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69
BC Canada
Aug 1, 2005
#1
  • Aug 1, 2005
  • #1
Need to replace mine, but It's darn tricky to get your hands up there in the dash.

Can anyone give me some instructions for removing the switch?
 
J

jbuening

Member
Apr 28, 2005
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Aug 1, 2005
#2
  • Aug 1, 2005
  • #2
You have to pull on the knob and the knob will come off the shaft. Where the shaft goes into the bezel you will see a round metal ring. you can use a flat tip screw driver and stick it in one of the side holes and twist it off. It basically is threaded into the switch. Once that ring is off the switch, pull the chrome bezel off, reach under the dash and pull the wiring plug from the switch and you are good to go. I've pulled many of these
 
F

ForceFed70

That's why they call it "dope"
Founding Member
Dec 6, 1999
4,818
1
69
BC Canada
Aug 1, 2005
#3
  • Aug 1, 2005
  • #3
jbuening said:
You have to pull on the knob and the knob will come off the shaft. Where the shaft goes into the bezel you will see a round metal ring. you can use a flat tip screw driver and stick it in one of the side holes and twist it off. It basically is threaded into the switch. Once that ring is off the switch, pull the chrome bezel off, reach under the dash and pull the wiring plug from the switch and you are good to go. I've pulled many of these
Click to expand...


Sweet so if I understand you correctly, most of the work is done on outside of the dash instead of the inside?
 
J

jbuening

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#4
  • Aug 1, 2005
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70_Nitrous_Eater said:
Sweet so if I understand you correctly, most of the work is done on outside of the dash instead of the inside?
Click to expand...

Yes. Once you pull the knob you'll see the round retainer thing. There may be a special tool to remove the retainer but a small flat tip screwdriver has always worked for me. The only work under the dash is unplugging the connector and sliding the switch out from under the dash.
 

yeloxr7

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Aug 1, 2005
#5
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  • #5
There is a button on the side of the switch body opposite the connector that has to be depressed in order to pull the knob and shaft out.

It's a good idea to disconnect the battery negative cable first.

Be careful with the bezel when removing/installing the switch so that you don't break off the locating pins on the back of the bezel.
 
J

jbuening

Member
Apr 28, 2005
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#6
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yeloxr7 said:
There is a button on the side of the switch body opposite the connector that has to be depressed in order to pull the knob and shaft out.
Click to expand...

Either way. I tend to find it easier to pull the knob off and leave the shaft attached to the switch. From experience the shaft tends to be really stuck in the switch, not to mention trying to reach under the dash to press the knob and pulling hard on the knob. I tried that the first couple switch replacements and ended up pulling the knob off before the shaft would come out.
 

yeloxr7

Member
Apr 18, 2005
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Aug 1, 2005
#7
  • Aug 1, 2005
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I have never had a problem removing the switch in the proper manner. It's not like it's buried way up in the dash.......
 

pabear89

Active Member
Apr 15, 2003
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High in the Hills of So Ca with the Voices in My H
Aug 1, 2005
#8
  • Aug 1, 2005
  • #8
Most press Too hard when trying to remove the shaft from the main switch.
the little metal button just holds it from coming out when you pull on the lights.
A light touch on the button when the shaft is pulled out to headlight on position will allow it to slide right out.
With the shaft out it is easier to remove the bezel bolt by using the tip of a pair of longnose pliers, or large flatblade
PB

Ps. If you didn't remove the neg cable from the Batt,
then don't forget to turn off your lights.
 
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