Headlight Switch Repair.

[4squared]

So I go out tonight, I turn my lights on and nothing. I check the fuses and they are good. The high beams only work when I pull the lever not when I push it out.

After googling I found this:

http://audiworld.com/tech/elec114.shtml

Anyone else have this problem and this fixed it? Please let me know ASAP.

[A4Rob]

Many B5 owners have this problem. I have heard you can pull the stalk out of the car, split it open and clean the contact points.

Me personally, I picked one up from a junkyard for $10

[stevejones19]

Holy cow. This is the third active thread on this. I had to use that DIY quite a few times. Its a great band-aid, but doesn't fix the problem. It'll buy you some time to go get another switch.

[A4drei]

You could install your own relay to fix this. since all the power of the headlights goes to the switch. Those audi engineers should have done that.

[4squared]

I just fixed it with the DIY. Wasn't as hard as I thought. Hopefully I can grab on on the cheap. My brother and I were talking about wiring up a switch in case of an emergency.

[4A Play]

Had the same problem. Search my name. I have an extremely detailed fix posted. You can use any year b5 stalk to replace the contacts but you have to take apart the housing. Look up all my posts.

[Jonparis]

Had the same problem. Search my name. I have an extremely detailed fix posted. You can use any year b5 stalk to replace the contacts but you have to take apart the housing. Look up all my posts.

So I've done the quick fix a few times already, the plastic peice kept melting... Got a new peice from an a4 part out, works great. BUT NOW, I have no lights again. Took it apart, contacts are good, wiring is good, im lost. My question... My high beams won't come on if there's no contact, they work fine now, again everything looks good, just no low beams. Could it just be my bulbs? The two switches next to my hazards don't light up- same as they would if my switch wasn't working, do they not light up if your bulbs are out? I'm a new b5 owner so I wouldn't know

Don't want to buy bulbs if I don't need them...

[Jonparis]

So I've done the quick fix a few times already, the plastic peice kept melting... Got a new peice from an a4 part out, works great. BUT NOW, I have no lights again. Took it apart, contacts are good, wiring is good, im lost. My question... My high beams won't come on if there's no contact, they work fine now, again everything looks good, just no low beams. Could it just be my bulbs? The two switches next to my hazards don't light up- same as they would if my switch wasn't working, do they not light up if your bulbs are out? I'm a new b5 owner so I wouldn't know

Don't want to buy bulbs if I don't need them...

took apart the switch again, completely lost at this point. High beams are working fine still, can't be the bulbs. Need help!

[Jonparis]

Bump...help!

[down_n_dapper]

checked fuses 20,21 and 36?



my next port of call would be checking those fuses.

Also this thread seems to detail your problems too Link is here

[rjpiselli]

I've done the "fix" 3 times in 70k miles on my b5. admittedly never a proper fix with a new stalk, but twice I took apart my stalk and repaired it, and once replaced it with a used stalk which I also disassembled and cleaned up prior to the install.

After getting tired of performing this repair, I ordered a fog light switch off ebay and inserted it in one of the blanks and rewired my headlights to turn on via the 3rd fog light switch. works like a charm; wired it so the little yellow triangle illuminates when on and the red light symbol lights up when the dash lights are on. looks factory, and acts factory. the only thing it doesn't do like the factory switch is melt every 20k miles. Turn signal switch still toggles high/low beams.

edit: FYI the high beams can still work and low beams not once the switch "goes bad", or lows can work and highs may not. Just bc your Highs work doesn't mean the switch is good.

[maxiz1]

If both lamps doesn't light up then the switch is most likely the culprit. Take out one of the fuse. Put ignition to ACC. Switch on the dipped beam. Get a voltmeter and measure the voltage across the fuse terminal to verify this.

I'm guessing that the stalk contacts melted again. Could it be possible that you are using a pair of higher wattage bulbs like 90W H7? If so, then you need a relay.