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headlight switch knob removal

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Old Sep 11, 2015 | 04:49 PM
  #1  
Bird-Dog 250's Avatar
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From: Otto, NC
headlight switch **** removal

How on earth does one get the **** off the headlight switch on a 1997 F250?
Help PLEASE! before I break it!
Thanks
 
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Old Sep 11, 2015 | 08:27 PM
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From: Tallassee, ALabama
Is this the type of switch that you pull out and a shaft is attached to the ****? If so, there is a release button on the switch itself that you have to mash to pull the ****/shaft completely out. It is not easy at times to reach the release button on the switch.

See the small spring loaded button on top of the switch in the photo? That is what you push if this is your type of headlight switch

 
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Old Sep 11, 2015 | 08:47 PM
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From: Otto, NC
I thought it might be something like the photo. It looks like a GM switch from the 60's! They were probably made for multiple brands who knows. I get how that works for sure. I'll see if I can get to it some how. I have the cluster surround panel loose but I can't get my hand in there or get it in from the bottom. Looking behind the panel is not too spacious and I can't see much of the switch either. Now that I know what I'm looking for maybe I'll get lucky.
I'd like to hear from anybody that has a good way to get to it???!!!
Thanks
 
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Old Sep 12, 2015 | 02:34 PM
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What year?
Can you remove the lower skirting, below the dash?
 
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Old Sep 12, 2015 | 05:01 PM
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From: Otto, NC
It's a 1997 super cab. I can remove the lower dash but there is no access from under. Lots of aluminum bracing with no passage to the switch. I have about an inch to look through from the top. I have not had a chance to get into it today. Had to mow 6 acres. That took the day away. I'll look for the release button on the switch from the passengers side tomorrow. Till tomorrow!
 
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Old Sep 12, 2015 | 08:52 PM
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Is the switch like the f-150 one? Ford made a specific way to get those out:

The headlight switch has a built in cam that is designed to come off with a series of turns.
1. Turn the **** to the ON position.
2. Remove the **** by gently pulling straight out.
3. Reinstall the **** UPSIDE DOWN.
4. Again turn the **** to the ON position.
5. At this point you should be able to wiggle the entire switch assembly out with light pressure to access the remaining screw.

Worked for me on my '98 F150 Supercab.

Note, this procedure takes out the entire switch panel. The **** itself will be off at the end of step 1.
 
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Old Sep 13, 2015 | 08:27 AM
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From: Otto, NC
This switch is the pull type. It's the spring button I need to get to to push for releasing the shaft. That's the problem at this time...I've got to figure out how to get to it.
 
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Old Sep 13, 2015 | 12:11 PM
  #8  
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From: Otto, NC
OK! here's the deal for removing the headlight ****/switch on a 1997 F250 diesel 7.3.
I took me a while to figure it out. I took everything off the dash I thought would gain access to the top of the headlight switch to push release button to remove the ****.
HERE"S what I did...I pulled the dash instrument cluster cover panel forward as much as I could. I then with a long 7 MM open end wrench removed the screws that held the headlight switch to the dash. There's 2 of them. With those removed the dash panel pulled out enough to get to the release button. One push and I had the **** off. I put the switch back in the dash for reinstalling the dash cover right away.
FYI...The release button is pointing toward the left upper corner of the dash. It's impossible to reach. On my particular truck as far as I can see there is no other way to do the job. The engineers weren't thinking very clearly with that design I went through hours of scratching my head on this one. BUT I WON!!!!!
Thanks for the help!
 
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