Floor dimmer switch
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Junior User
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: SW Missouri
Floor dimmer switch
I can't believe that this will date me but I would really prefer to have my dimmer switch on the floor instead of the column. I live in the ozark mtns and meeting up with another vehicle on a curve at night can make your heart speed up when you have to take one hand off of the steering so you can dim the headlights. I figure I can get a dimmer switch from an early 70's ford truck model. My question is does anyone know where the easiest place would be to splice into the current switch? What is the color codes for the wires? Any helpful suggests would be appreciated. thanks
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Leesburg , Fl.
You can find the wireing diagrams on line ( someone here probably knows it by hart ) .
I also prefer the floor dimmer , but seems like us old timers are in the minority . I also liked the dash board ( how's that for dateing me ) made of steel not plastic and a fender you could lean against with out leaving a dent ! OH ! and how about an engine compartment with room to work on the engine and not haveing the engine setting halfway under the cowl ! Ok.... I'll go back to my room now ....
I also prefer the floor dimmer , but seems like us old timers are in the minority . I also liked the dash board ( how's that for dateing me ) made of steel not plastic and a fender you could lean against with out leaving a dent ! OH ! and how about an engine compartment with room to work on the engine and not haveing the engine setting halfway under the cowl ! Ok.... I'll go back to my room now ....
Posting Guru
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I can relate, I prefer it on the floor too, but the stalk is actually designed so you don't have to take a hand totally off the wheel to operate it. Unless you hold the wheel in an odd place or have unusually short fingers.
Duncan
Duncan
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Junior User
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From: SW Missouri
Yeah, the stalk switch works fine unless like I mentioned you are in the middle of a curvey road with a steep hill on side and a holler (valley for you up state guys) on the other side of the road. With the shoulder only being the width of the white line on the side of the road, IF you even have that. I'm surprised that with all the retro that some car company hasn't tried to bring the floor switch back. It probably has to something to do with the Federal Safety regulations.
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Originally Posted by blackf3504dr
I also prefer the floor dimmer , but seems like us old timers are in the minority . I also liked the dash board ( how's that for dateing me ) made of steel not plastic and a fender you could lean against with out leaving a dent ! OH ! and how about an engine compartment with room to work on the engine and not haveing the engine setting halfway under the cowl ! ....
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Leesburg , Fl.
whitmo and semperfipsd...... I don't want to date myself too bad ...But I'm old enough to be your dad !!
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From: Central Montana
Hey Semperfipsd,
If you get this working, please post your tecnique. I couldn't agree with you more about wanting my hands on the wheel when traversing those narrow roads and valleys. I have often thought it would be nice to have it back on the floor again. I really don't get why they moved them up there in the first place and then they made them directional instead of switch like, that made it even worse for me. I'm always getting caught off gaurd and have to grope for the blinker **** and pull it back. If they'd put it back on the floor, I could use my hands for the cell-phone, the satelite radio, getting another dvd out of the case, adjusting the volume on the fuzzbuster, or logging on to my wirelss internet connection.
If you get this working, please post your tecnique. I couldn't agree with you more about wanting my hands on the wheel when traversing those narrow roads and valleys. I have often thought it would be nice to have it back on the floor again. I really don't get why they moved them up there in the first place and then they made them directional instead of switch like, that made it even worse for me. I'm always getting caught off gaurd and have to grope for the blinker **** and pull it back. If they'd put it back on the floor, I could use my hands for the cell-phone, the satelite radio, getting another dvd out of the case, adjusting the volume on the fuzzbuster, or logging on to my wirelss internet connection.
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Joined: Jun 2002
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From: Western Slope, CO
I enjoyed the the dimmer on the floor of my '90 F250. I too live in the mountains and it can be quite the surprise sometimes were you meet people on the road. However I do like the flash to pass feature of the stalk on the column for quickly warning motorists of animals on the road, etc., so what do you do?!
Last edited by wingit1x; Dec 28, 2004 at 10:32 PM.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Rio Rico, AZ.
Wow. I hated the floor switch! I thought the column mounted dimmer was light years ahead when they came out with it. It's pretty funny watching a 64 VW beetle accelorating with the floor dimmer right next to the clutch pedal: Bright - dim - bright -dim.
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Junior User
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From: SW Missouri
Well I guess this will become my winter project for my truck! Clemzeter, I will see what I can do over the next couple of weeks about getting the switch back to the floor so you can atleast grab a cup of coffee with you new found freedom. Wing my thought is not to get rid of the use of the stalk switch completly. Hopefully I can still use it atleast for what you mentioned, to flash the lights, but if not in the good'ole days we would just do a quick Texas two step with the left and switch on the floor. About a 15 years ago I had a dimmer switch go bad on a toyota pickup that I had. The price and the hassle to fix the stalk switch was NOT in my budget so I abannoned the switch and just wired in a new floor switch. So, I have done it before but I was hoping for some help with the color schemetic and maybe some expert advice on a what to do or not to do.
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well... I am only 25 and my first car also had the floor switch. I kinda miss it, but not enough to do the mod work.
The reason the dimmer is direcional and not just pull once for on, again for off, like in the older cars, is that it is made so that when you pull back on it it flashes the lights. This is known as the "flash-to-pass" function and came from the autobahn in germany. If some jerk is driving in the fast lane and you come up on them, you are supposed to flash your lights to tell them to move. I do this all the time and most of the time people move.
The reason the dimmer is direcional and not just pull once for on, again for off, like in the older cars, is that it is made so that when you pull back on it it flashes the lights. This is known as the "flash-to-pass" function and came from the autobahn in germany. If some jerk is driving in the fast lane and you come up on them, you are supposed to flash your lights to tell them to move. I do this all the time and most of the time people move.
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