The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay Headlight Switch Removal

Hi All,
I've been removing everything on my dash in preparation for taking it back to bare metal. I feel like a complete buffoon, but I cannot find a "release button" described for the headlight knob in most posts about GM headlight switches. Does the AD headlight switch have a "release button"? If it does, is anyone able to be a little more specific than "behind the dash"? Also wondering if this switch can be reused for 12V when I finish the electrical conversion.

It's on the side of the switch itself.

There's a picture of it in the 1948-1952 Shop Manual on page 12-37.

Here's the 2 pictures of the switch from the 1948-51 Chevy Truck Shop Manual that includes the one Otto mentioned.

Should help you locate the push pin to release the shaft. On the 12V use question, yes it'll work.

Yes, the switch can be used for a 12v conversion.

Make sure the battery ground cable (at least) is disconnected before trying to remove the headlight switch. There are unshielded connections on the switch that are hot with the key off.

Also, when you press the release button you have to twist the knob in fully in one direction (not sure which, so try both), before it will allow you to pull the knob and shaft straight out, allowing access to the slotted nut on the outside of the dash. Use a large screwdriver to remove that nut.

Just a couple of pictures to help out. Phil's instructions tell you what to do. You just need keep the spring release held down.

Somewhere there's a repair tutorial I wrote around 4 years ago...was supposed to become a Tech Tip but that hasn't happened yet so we'll need to hunt. If the switch doesn't work as a new one should those instructions ought to help make that happen. I'll do some looking and see if I can find it...

edit: here it is:

https://www.stovebolt.com/ubbthread...ur-headlight-switch-tutorial#Post1366233

Just a picture of my headlight switch.

So I discovered when I was removing the gauges and sent sparks everywhere 😓

I’ll try to use this to repair the switch. I may replace the knob itself so that I can have a nice and shiny dash, but at the very least this should help me save $50. Thank you!

Jon, in the meantime, since you are a Moderator for the Electrical Shop, make it a Sticky Thread, so it don’t get lost!

Well...shoot...nobody taught me how to do that Phil.

Jon G - It looks like it's covered. That link now shows as a "sticky" at the top of the "Electrical Bay" forum list.

Well, gee...thanks to whoever did that! Looks good up there.

Jon it’s under tools, the very last one!