Highbeam/Lowbeam Switch Position

[SteinOnkel]

Hey guys,

quick question. Can someone explain to me the position of the switch.

Switch up = Lowbeam
Switch down = Highbeam

?

I swear mine is reversed. When the indicator is on, the lights are lower.

Cheers
Steiny

[spider2081]

There are 2 indicators. The indicator on the left is green and indicated that the parking/lo beam lights are on the indicator. On the right is blue (often only visible in shade or dark) is the hi beam indicator.

[SteinOnkel]

I get that, but that doesn't answer the question of which position is which on the switch.

Like I said, I'm 90% sure mine is wired backwards, but just wanted to confirm before I deep dive into this.

[18Fiatsandcounting]

Steiny, are you talking about the toggle switch on the dashboard to the left of the gauges, or the "stalk" on the left of the steering column?

Here's the way it works on mine, which I'm pretty sure is correct. This is for my models years (mostly pre-1974 or so), and later model years might be different. The switch on the dashboard has 3 positions: Up is off, the middle position turns on the parking lights and the instrument light, and the bottom position is parking/instrument lights plus the headlights. The stalk on the steering column also has 3 positions: Up ("clockwise") turns the headlights off but leaves the parking/instrument lights on, the middle position is low beams, and the down ("counterclockwise") position is the high beams. I believe later model years got rid of the "up" position as it was kinda redundant, and my assumption has always been that it was there to provide a quick way to turn off the headlights without taking your hands off the steering wheel, as a courtesy if you had an approaching car where your headlights were shining right at them.

Sounds like yours might indeed be reversed. Note that on some of my cars, I have reversed the action of the switch on the dashboard so that down is off, middle is parking lights as usual, and up is headlights on. I guess I'm just used to having switches that you toggle up to turn things on, and down is off. Personal preference.

-Bryan

[SteinOnkel]

Ah, okay. Let me clarify.

So I've got the dash switch with three positions. Up = off, Middle = Parking Lights, Down = Driving lights.

Side note: when I take the key out of the ignition, the lights are always off regardless of where the dash switch is. Is that normal? It's a nice feature, as I like to drive with the lights on 100% of the time anyways and this way I can just leave the switch in the driving lights position.

My question is about the switch on the steering stalk. It has two positions. Which is which?

I've ordered a new set of headlights and a relay harness, because the wires to and from the ignition switch do get awful warm with the lights on.

Cheers
Steiny

[dinghyguy]

+1 on relays..... I have built and installed headlight relay mods for both my fiats. Major improvement.

the stalk on mine has 2 positions level or "up" is low beam and "down" is high beam, on both cars.

on both cars and according to the circuit diagram turning the ignition off turns the headlights off BUT NOT the parking lights IF the headlight switch is just toggled to parking lights.. So you can still run the battery flat if you are not careful.

cheers
Dinghyguy in the rapidly cooling unheated garage as winter threatens....

[SteinOnkel]

Thanks for all the help.

I was lazy this time and bought a universal kit...$18...I'm sure it'll burn the car down sooner or later, but that's what insurance is for

Okay, I think the switch is wired correctly then.

I'll report back once everything is installed and hopefully adjusted properly.

Cheers
Steiny

[18Fiatsandcounting]

Dinghyguy has it correct, and I do now recall that the one '78 spider that I had was set up so that the horizontal (level) position on the stalk was low beams and moving it down switched to high beams (as Dinghy notes). There was no "up" position. With one of the model years, the 3 position stalk switch was changed to a simpler 2 position switch, but I don't know the model year when that changeover occurred. Mid 70s I'm guessing.

-Bryan, in the garage that maybe is warmer than Dinghyguy's but still feels cold in the mornings.

[PaulC]

I rewired the dash switch on our 79 to be more logical:
Down= off
Middle= parking lights only
Up= headlights and parking lights

Nearly all electrical or electronic devices I've seen have switch down as off and up as on.

[SteinOnkel]

And done!

I installed a set of brand new Philips headlights long with the kit. Everything is working as it should now, you turn on the high beams, the lights actually go up a little bit.

Not sure what was wrong with the old ones, as everything is wired basically the same.

The relay kit I used is so-so. Cheap connectors, a fuse arrived DOA and the wires are more insulation than copper.

But hey, it's nice and bright now and the fuel and temp gauge don't read higher like they used to with the lights on.

Painted the wheels today as well. You gotta love restoring cars in California, everything was pretty much rust free. New tires go on Monday or Tuesday and then she'll be back on the road.

Cheers
Steiny