Jump to content
Server maintenance Read more... ×
Mick.G

XF high beam / Indicator switch

Recommended Posts

G'Day gent's

                     Thought i would ask if there is any thing i should look out for , before pulling apart the high beam / Indicator switch.

Hoping it is a easy task to clean the contact points.

1054009982_Lightswitch_900x.jpg.77c93e55be49f17467ccdd9345d46050.jpg

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
G'Day gent's
                     Thought i would ask if there is any thing i should look out for , before pulling apart the high beam / Indicator switch.
Hoping it is a easy task to clean the contact points.
1054009982_Lightswitch_900x.jpg.77c93e55be49f17467ccdd9345d46050.jpg
Hey Mick, try just cleaning it with contact cleaner from how far you have it stripped down now.
Spray it in, flick it into all positions multiple times, spray again and do same. After a few goes should clean all the dust out.

Sent from my S21 using Tapatalk

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

i agree, I've just sprayed CRC/WD40 etc in anywhere you can,.and flick the high beams back and forth 40 times and whatever else is a bit dicky(horn) and it will likely be enough to fix it

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
i agree, I've just sprayed CRC/WD40 etc in anywhere you can,.and flick the high beams back and forth 40 times and whatever else is a bit dicky(horn) and it will likely be enough to fix it
Have done this based on Dean's advice before and it worked great, still working too actually.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Sprayed the the contact's, Jiggled the switch on/off for a good solid 3 minutes , High Beam came on on the Left headlight but not the right.

took the right headlight out and checked the backing plate for the high beam globe , was dirty (pic Below) , gave it a quick clean with a wire brush , Presto , Hi beam now work's on both Headlight's.

HBeam_Dirty.jpg.6cea8c66dd7cac8ba66d6f05471a031b.jpg

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
1 hour ago, Mick.G said:

Sprayed the the contact's, Jiggled the switch on/off for a good solid 3 minutes , High Beam came on on the Left headlight but not the right.

took the right headlight out and checked the backing plate for the high beam globe , was dirty (pic Below) , gave it a quick clean with a wire brush , Presto , Hi beam now work's on both Headlight's.

HBeam_Dirty.jpg.6cea8c66dd7cac8ba66d6f05471a031b.jpg

 

high beam also works on the main globe, that is more of a spot light. . but good work, i've had those with RUST on the connectors before.. quick sand = fixed

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
1 minute ago, deankdx said:

 

high beam also works on the main globe, that is more of a spot light. . but good work, i've had those with RUST on the connectors before.. quick sand = fixed

Glad it was a simple fix , now need to adjust the lights to get maximum light on the road as they seem really Dim......Had to pull over to see if they where on.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
1 minute ago, Mick.G said:

Glad it was a simple fix , now need to adjust the lights to get maximum light on the road as they seem really Dim......Had to pull over to see if they where on.

are the reflectors shiny?
are they genuine ford glass?  the glass makes a MONUMENTAL difference.. 

if the reflectors are cooked you'd be driving as if they were parkers..  aiming is extremely important..

 

show a photo of the headlights?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
5 minutes ago, Mick.G said:

Had to pull over to see if they where on.

check out this thread(sorry first photos are gone)
this is what immaculate headlights look like
 

OEvRF2p.jpg

 

 

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

they are genuine ford glass ....gave them a good clean , The silver reflective s*** is worn out on them. might paint them to see if that help's . But knowing me i will just end up buying genuine new one's.

will post some pic's of them tomorrow.

 

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
10 minutes ago, Mick.G said:

they are genuine ford glass ....gave them a good clean , The silver reflective s*** is worn out on them. might paint them to see if that help's . But knowing me i will just end up buying genuine new one's.

will post some pic's of them tomorrow.

 

 

chinese new ones are pretty crap, but they'll at least be bright.

 

they are tricky to disassemble, i got it down to ... 

  • spray all the clips with CRC/WD40  makes the clip slide off the plastic(clips holding glass to the housing)
  • gently pull the reflector on one ball joint mounting area at a time(starting at the indicator side from memory)
  • do the same for the chinese one, and see if the ball socket is a snug fit(i've had to swap them over on some brands.. massive difference in size)
  • clean the glass internally.. 
  • reassemble.. (obviously unplug all the wires/remove parker globe etc first)
  • i did about 10 lights, i chipped one glass, chipped one reflector.. and broke one glass that had a slight crack or chip in it. 

    that was doing fully refinished genuine ford reflectors mostly, but i made up a pair of chinese reflector ones out of the junk that remained. 

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I've had the headlight's apart already to clean and inspect , going to try and re chrome the reflective part first .If that fails then i may buy the aftermarket headlight and swap the reflector's.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
6 hours ago, Mick.G said:

I've had the headlight's apart already to clean and inspect , going to try and re chrome the reflective part first .If that fails then i may buy the aftermarket headlight and swap the reflector's.

i had a headlight reco place redo the finish on the genuine reflectors, they were done to modern standards which is an interesting process. (painted super gloss black, flow coated super smooth, and then the silver(chome) painted on in some fancy fashion) was expensive, i think $150 each. .but the results were amazing. the person i dealt with was a bit unreliable because he focussed on bulk orders rather than my 10 or so i got done.. can't remember the details, was based in Seaford Vic from memory though. 

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
3 hours ago, deankdx said:

i had a headlight reco place redo the finish on the genuine reflectors, they were done to modern standards which is an interesting process. (painted super gloss black, flow coated super smooth, and then the silver(chome) painted on in some fancy fashion) was expensive, i think $150 each. .but the results were amazing. the person i dealt with was a bit unreliable because he focussed on bulk orders rather than my 10 or so i got done.. can't remember the details, was based in Seaford Vic from memory though. 

Sound's like that will be the way i go, realy want to keep as many genuine part's as possible . Watched a video on Utube last night about re chroming light reflectors .

My left Reflective coating is very bad , Thee right still has a full coat but wont reflect any light.

Left Headlight

Left_headlight.jpg.026aef1bc667d70e32789c75c0d7ab2d.jpg

Right headlight

Right_headlight.jpg.ec9f7a878d5bf6e1e889ca17744635be.jpg

 

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
6 hours ago, Mick.G said:

Sound's like that will be the way i go, realy want to keep as many genuine part's as possible . Watched a video on Utube last night about re chroming light reflectors .

My left Reflective coating is very bad , Thee right still has a full coat but wont reflect any light.

yeah seen plenty in that condition, they are better than a lot of the ones i took in.. the less work they need to get SMOOTH the better(some were burned by people trying higher wattage globes which is useless) 

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

FL/Headlight can see how much the silver has faded through the len's

IMG_20210321_132135.jpg.05f11cf6e282a39141c9b82fbb8759c0.jpg

After Disassembly i noticed a little bit of moisture on the reflector at the front . gave it a wipe with my finger and it took more silver plating off. (  My fault for not drying out lens properly before i re assembled )

IMG_20210321_132142.jpg.57d358289ce198610e54f512c737ac1a.jpg

The a light scuff for the paint to apply too.

IMG_20210326_101235.jpg.885a4443ee38874bb72dd4f93ea33292.jpg

Masked up and first dust coat applied.

IMG_20210326_104631.jpg.d53ce00914b059cb34edeaeef3e75d23.jpg

Second dust coat.

IMG_20210326_120453.jpg.cc470fa0202669e17e9b58fb08f24dcd.jpg

Third Light coat.

IMG_20210326_120535.jpg.3fa0a71e86091fa22976df700abe1fa7.jpg

Fourth is a Wet coat

IMG_20210326_164216.jpg.be9ba3c7233c726570b0985b6aad7950.jpg

Fifth and final wet Coat.

IMG_20210327_095902.jpg.8501afb90890c6771b846a8ca00b7dc6.jpg

Finished  product with the paint and cleaner i used for prep.

IMG_20210327_102555.jpg.eb9bdc596a3f88a6806b1776db3d988c.jpg

Will Get some Night pics, Was surprised to actually see the light beem on the garage wall during the day.

Oh had a little problem getting light's to work after installation.

IMG_20210327_100841.jpg.47d3c58823ddb082fe4e0160eb83fb07.jpg

Forgot to hook them back up to power. ( What a Dickhead )

But in all seriousness , i believe i will buy the aftermarket Light and put these Genuine ford lenses on them.

Had to have a go as it would have eaten at me for not trying.No regret's.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

before you swap the lenses.. try fitting the aftermarket lights..the brackets on some are so crap you might need to modify how they mount (better to not scratch up or drop/break with the good glass)

 

you might prefer to try fit the aftermarket reflector in the ford housing

 

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
25 minutes ago, Mick.G said:

IMG_20210327_102555.jpg.eb9bdc596a3f88a6806b1776db3d988c.jpg

Will Get some Night pics, Was surprised to actually see the light beem on the garage wall during the day.

Oh had a little problem getting light's to work after installation.

 

at least it LOOKS road worthy..
see what they work like? 

 

i saw someone put mirror finish tape/wrap on some once.. not sure how it lasted

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
 
at least it LOOKS road worthy..
see what they work like? 
 
i saw someone put mirror finish tape/wrap on some once.. not sure how it lasted
My wagon has aluminium foil on one of the headlights it's been there since I got it registered.

Wouldn't recommend it - beam is definitely not as good as the other side which has one of the reco reflectors I got off you in it.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
FL/Headlight can see how much the silver has faded through the len's
IMG_20210321_132135.jpg.05f11cf6e282a39141c9b82fbb8759c0.jpg
After Disassembly i noticed a little bit of moisture on the reflector at the front . gave it a wipe with my finger and it took more silver plating off. (  My fault for not drying out lens properly before i re assembled )
IMG_20210321_132142.jpg.57d358289ce198610e54f512c737ac1a.jpg
The a light scuff for the paint to apply too.
IMG_20210326_101235.jpg.885a4443ee38874bb72dd4f93ea33292.jpg
Masked up and first dust coat applied.
IMG_20210326_104631.jpg.d53ce00914b059cb34edeaeef3e75d23.jpg
Second dust coat.
IMG_20210326_120453.jpg.cc470fa0202669e17e9b58fb08f24dcd.jpg
Third Light coat.
IMG_20210326_120535.jpg.3fa0a71e86091fa22976df700abe1fa7.jpg
Fourth is a Wet coat
IMG_20210326_164216.jpg.be9ba3c7233c726570b0985b6aad7950.jpg
Fifth and final wet Coat.
IMG_20210327_095902.jpg.8501afb90890c6771b846a8ca00b7dc6.jpg
Finished  product with the paint and cleaner i used for prep.
IMG_20210327_102555.jpg.eb9bdc596a3f88a6806b1776db3d988c.jpg
Will Get some Night pics, Was surprised to actually see the light beem on the garage wall during the day.
Oh had a little problem getting light's to work after installation.
IMG_20210327_100841.jpg.47d3c58823ddb082fe4e0160eb83fb07.jpg
Forgot to hook them back up to power. ( What a Dickhead )
But in all seriousness , i believe i will buy the aftermarket Light and put these Genuine ford lenses on them.
Had to have a go as it would have eaten at me for not trying.No regret's.
Did you apply the MetalCast base coat first?

https://www.repco.com.au/en/car-care-panel/paint/specialty-paints/dupli-color-metal-cast-anodised-base-coat-311g-mc100/p/A9302375

If not then you're only getting half the result, the DupliColor MetalCast range needs the ground coat first then the colour coat to get the proper metal/anodized finish

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
1 hour ago, Mr Polson said:

Did you apply the MetalCast base coat first?

https://www.repco.com.au/en/car-care-panel/paint/specialty-paints/dupli-color-metal-cast-anodised-base-coat-311g-mc100/p/A9302375

If not then you're only getting half the result, the DupliColor MetalCast range needs the ground coat first then the colour coat to get the proper metal/anodized finish

WHAT !!

 

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
WHAT !!
 
Na...I am not sponsored by REPCO
Was the easiest website to find it on, you can buy it at other shops.

But I guarantee you'll have a much better colour if you used the base coat underneath.

The rocker cover on my BarraCruiser has the blue MetalCast, without the base coat it would've just been a light blue paint with no metallic appearance

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

×