Light switch removal

[dporto]

So, I finally broke down and bought a new light switch (because my right side low beam refuses to light on occasion). I had an hour or so yesterday,and I decided to try to install it. My problem is that I can't get the original switch out of the receptacle. I'm able to remove the vent housing etc. but cant for the life of me get the switch out of the housing. This is due to the "faceplate" capturing it  so it can't turn past the stops... Any ideas to get this thing apart would be welcomed! Thanks

[Loren]

 

[dporto]

^Thanks^, but I can do all that stuff with my eyes closed by now (I've had the vent/corner unit out probably 10 times now). Unfortunately, I cant get the switch itself out of the surround. it's the last step (#5) that I can't get past...

[Loren]

As I recall the switch has a key that locks it from turning in the dash - so push and turn.

[dporto]

Thanks again for the reply! Yeah, my problem I think is that the front "insert piece" (#27 the one that sits in front of the switch) just refuses to budge and it keeps the "legs" of the switch from clearing the stops that keep it from turning when you turn the lights on. That front piece is just jammed in there and I'm afraid of breaking the plastic "cup" of the corner vent unit that it fits into - I've got the "full leather" interior, and that side vent unit retails for $1368.91

[dporto]

Nuthin'? No body else has had a problem with this piece? Wow...at least my lights work MOST of the time...

[JFP in PA]

When you get to step #5, you need to slide the switch faceplate about 5mm (1/4 inch) out of the vent unit, the turn the switch slightly counterclockwise to remove it.

[dporto]

^Thanks^, and herein lies my problem... Any idea how I might "slide the switch faceplate about 5mm (1/4 inch) out of the vent unit" ? I can't get it to budge... Have you ever actually done one of these? I just can't believe how tight the thing is - it's like it was pressed in, and there's nothing to grab to get it back out... Thanks again

[JFP in PA]

Yes, we have done several in the shop, and every one came apart that way.

[dporto]

On ‎10‎/‎5‎/‎2016 at 1:42 PM, JFP in PA said:

Yes, we have done several in the shop, and every one came apart that way.

Ok, so how did you get part # 27 out of the surround?

[JFP in PA]

2 minutes ago, dporto said:

Ok, so how did you get part # 27 out of the surround?

What is this, a quiz?

 

You remove the large nut, and then the inner race, twisting slightly.

[dporto]

Hahaha!  No, not a quiz...I just can't for the life of me get that front piece out, and hence can't get the switch out either. The nut is off, and I've gotten quite good at removing the vent unit, but the switch - not so much

[dporto]

^^^So, I'm finally able to put this issue to bed! What I found was that due to the leather covering on the vent module, part # 27 was virtually impossible to remove without first getting the light-switch to turn. The difficulty with this is that that the switch is "keyed" by a plastic tab on part #27... What I wound up doing was turning the light switch hard enough that it snapped the "key tab" enough to let the switch turn far enough to pop out of the housing. With the switch out of the way, I was able to push #27 out from behind. This revealed why it was so tight and difficult to remove - the leather covering was wrapped over the edge of the cup that #27 fits into - which in turn created a super tight fit (not to mention the excess glue used to secure the leather to the plastic vent unit). Once I had it out I sanded the outside of the part a bit and waxed both it, and the inside of the vent unit that it fits into (just in case I ever need to remove it again). I glued the "key-tab" (it wasn't broken all the way off, just cracked and bent over) back into position, and re-assembled with the new light-switch. **Unfortunately, after all this, my problem remains - passenger Litronic low beam works intermittently.**... on to the ballast and/or ignitor...