The heat is probably coming from the dash light dimmer. That is a resistor,
which gets very hot, especially if you have the dash illumination about half
way between all the way bright and totally out. Try driving the car the
same distance with the dash lights on full bright - if this reduces the heat
you feel, there is probably nothing wrong. If it makes no difference, you
probably have a bad headlight switch. You mention that this is a
replacement switch - it is a new part that is identical to the original, or
is it an aftermarket off brand product?
In general, heat is the result of current passing through a resistance. For
a headlight switch, while the current is very high, the resistance is
supposed to be zero or very close to that, thus there is very little heat
generated. If the switch is defective, or hooked up wrong, it could develop
excessive resistance which would cause the toggle handle to get very hot.
Dick Benjamin
----- Original Message -----
From: "William Burroughs" <jaredadam@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, March 25, 2003 6:00 PM
Subject: Re: IML: Hot Headlight Switch
> The car is a 1967 Imperial Crown 4 door.
>
>
>
>
>
>
> >From: "William Burroughs" <jaredadam@xxxxxxxxxxx>
> >Reply-To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> >To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> >Subject: IML: Hot Headlight Switch
> >Date: Tue, 25 Mar 2003 19:08:14 -0500
> >
> >
> >After driving home from work last night (third shift) I touched my
> >headlight switch to turn it off and noticed it was really hot. It is a
> >reproduction switch I replaced when the original went out. Is this
normal,
> >should I worry, is my switch about to kick the bucket.
> >
> >Can anyone shed any light on this subject. If so reply to the whole
list.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >_________________________________________________________________
> >STOP MORE SPAM with the new MSN 8 and get 2 months FREE*
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