General Uno Headlamp Stick...

[davethetekkie]

Hi peeps...

WAY back in october I invested in my second car (well... the first to be in my name anyhoo...) which is a 1991 Uno 45s with a 999cc FIRE engine... within ten seconds of getting into the car I had broken something... but I can't see it being a totally difficult thing to fix... the head lamp stick... just to figure it out I went thru all the controls before setting off... sidelights, headlights, full beams... but I tried twisting the control off while the full beams were on and now I can't turn the lights off! I can get headlights or sidelights, both work normally, but for the life of me I can't get them to turn off!!! :bang:

So... do I need to get a new switch for it or can it be fixed?

Dave.

 

[Luke]

Hi peeps...

WAY back in october I invested in my second car (well... the first to be in my name anyhoo...) which is a 1991 Uno 45s with a 999cc FIRE engine... within ten seconds of getting into the car I had broken something... but I can't see it being a totally difficult thing to fix... the head lamp stick... just to figure it out I went thru all the controls before setting off... sidelights, headlights, full beams... but I tried twisting the control off while the full beams were on and now I can't turn the lights off! I can get headlights or sidelights, both work normally, but for the life of me I can't get them to turn off!!! :bang:

So... do I need to get a new switch for it or can it be fixed?

Dave.

You'll probably find you've broken the contacts on the last turn of the switch, in which case it'd probably need replacing.

If you didnt want to pay a fortune, get under the dash and find the wire which switches to the lights relay - then stick a normal push switch inbetween it. That way you can control the on off with the switch, then operate the intensity with the proper dial.

I have teh same year and model uno as you so the wire you'd be looking for is yellow. youd need to unscrew the 3 screws under the stearing wheel, then undo a final screw and bolt on the bottom plate above the pedals. You'll then have easy access to the whole loom which makes things easy.

 

[alexGS]

There is some sort of interlock, isn't there, that prevents the switch being twisted to 'off' unless the headlight lever is in the 'dipped' position (and likewise, the lever cannot be moved to 'main beam' unless the switch is twisted 'on'?) Sorry if you have already found this!

I would have a shot at taking the switch apart, personally, as perhaps the various plastic bits just need to be popped back together correctly.

-Alex

 

[Steven]

It's a common problem this on Unos. It happened to mine as well. Check eBay for a used switch unit. I got one for a fiver.

 

[davethetekkie]

well I had considered buying a switch for it and cutting it off... seems the best short term solution... the description of the cable I'm lookin for is good... I like the Haynes manual for all but the wiring diagrams

 

[Morty Mort]

Maybe you've got a Norwegian switch unit. It is not allowed to drive without lights at all, so turning lights off is impossible. Both back and front...

Morten.

 

[davethetekkie]

nah mate... I'm fairly sure I've just stuffed it up... I'm a bit clumsy like that... does anyone know how difficult the switch is to replce once I've gotten the covers off the steering column? PLEASE tell me there's no soldering involved!!!