Disable high beams?

[jasonck08]

First a quick story and a little background....

A couple of years ago I was driving in the country with my brights on. I had my hand on the dimmer ready to dim in case of an oncoming car. All of the sudden a cat jummped out in the middle of the road. My reflexes jurked back the dimmer / blinker switch and broke it clean off. I ended up epoxing things as best as I could, but the brights / regular light switch has been messed up ever since.

Friggen Cats!

So yesterday I was pulled over by a cop because I had my high beams on and I told him that my lights were messed up and he gave me a fix it ticket ($0 but I have to fix it within 2 months). I believe that my lights are messed up to the point where all I have is a combination of High beams and low beams and just high beams. When my high beam indicator light is on, the light output is less than when the indicator light is off, and the blinker / brights selector is pulled towards me.

I don't live in the country anymore and never have a need for high beams. So in order to correct this issue and get the police to sign off on it, I was wondering what the best way to disable the high beams would be. A fuse or wire I can disconnect? I think some of my light cover housing is epoxied as well, so it wouldn't be easy to pull out bulbs.

THANKS.

[Yuko]

There should be a fuse/relay box next to the battery in the 89'. Not a 100% sure but there should be a relay labled for high beam, just pull that out and only low beam should still operate. Because it use a dual filament bulb, there's another option if the relay can't be found. At the back of the headlight, there should have three wires; a high beam, low beam, and ground. Ground a black so that leaves two wires. One of those is the high beam and just cut it.

The best repair is the replace the light switch/stalk. Just simply remove the steering column cover, unscrew the broken stalk, unplug it, and replace it with a new or salvage one.

[E_S]

You should be able to get a used column switch off Ebay or at a junkyard for next to nothing, so why bother with a "hack"?

[jasonck08]

Originally Posted by E_S

You should be able to get a used column switch off Ebay or at a junkyard for next to nothing, so why bother with a "hack"?

That is far too much work and far too costly. The car is junk, I just need it to last me a few more months before I get a new car. So is there really a fuse for the bights? I'll have a look later today.

Problems: Suspension is completely shot, AC doesn't work well (gets 115F in the summer), Exhaust leak, oil leak, car is out of alignment etc. Just not worth fixing all of these problems, especially when I can get $1k from the state for the car!

[white90dx]

Check the fuses in the engine compartment fuse box. You should find "HEAD HI R" and "HEAD HI L" in there, both 15A fuses.

Seriously though, its only a few $ to replace the switch...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/toyot...Q5fAccessories

-Charlie

[jasonck08]

Originally Posted by white90dx

Check the fuses in the engine compartment fuse box. You should find "HEAD HI R" and "HEAD HI L" in there, both 15A fuses.

Seriously though, its only a few $ to replace the switch...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/toyota-camry-wiper-blinker-headlight-switch-2-0-89-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem563ca01c05QQitemZ37038 4313349QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccesso ries

-Charlie

Thanks I'll check the fuses.

Oh and secondly, if I replaced that entire part then I would have to remove the stearing wheel I think... Which is a lot of work, especially when I may ditch the car within 3-6 months.

[jasonck08]

Pulling the fuses turns off the entire headlight...

It looks like there are 3 wires going to each bulb housing.

If I wanted to disconnect the brights (high beam) but keep the low beam, which wire(s) would I cut?

[hairball]

You're right, they only had the separate High Beam fuses on the Canadian models. Hey, you're in luck if you're willing to replace your switch: I have an extra one I removed from my 90 Camry! I only took it out because I was adding a variable speed wiper delay switch. You can actually change the switch pretty darned easy! I'd be willing to GIVE it to you FREE if you would just cover the shipping, which should be less than $5. I'm not looking for any money for it, but I can't afford to ship it free. (It's just an idea to consider if you decide to stop being pulled over.)

Otherwise, it's the Red & Light Blue wire that is the high beam wire.

If you cut it, be sure to leave enough room in case it later needs to be reconnected, and don't forget to at least tape up both cut ends. You certainly don't need anything shorting out. You probably already knew this, but hey, if I'm suggesting someone cut a wire, I don't want them hunting me down if they short something out! LOL!

[hairball]

Sorry, Jason. I just looked and discovered the people who bought my Camry last week took that switch with them. I didn't know they did but I guess so.

I sent you a PM (and an apology).

Good luck.