Spotlight Switch Green on Indicator light out

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Feb 24, 2013 | 07:56 PM

fathog

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From: Long Island NY

Spotlight Switch Green on Indicator light out

Strangest thing and I'm at a loss trying to figure it out. I replaced the spotlight switch because I scratched the one installed by the dealer. When I removed the scratched switch I was unable to remove the pin terminal for the black wire from the plug so I cut both black wires from the scratched switch and the new replacement switch then soldered the new switch to the original black wire that was in the plug and used shrink tube to insulate it. The other two wires yellow and black/grey came out of the plug with no problem. After putting everything back together all works well except that the little green indicator light that goes on when the switch is put in the on position does not light. I thought that maybe it was defective and took everything apart. I then tested the new spotlight switch by using a 2amp 12 volt battery charger and confirmed that the little green light does work on the bench. I tested it by putting the switch in the on position then attaching the neg side of the charger to the black wire terminal pin at the plug and the positive side of the charger to the plug pins yellow and black/grey wires one at a time and the green indicator light goes on with the positive side of the charger touching either of the black/grey wire or the yellow wires at their respective terminal pins. Both the scratched and new spotlight switches responded the same when testing. I then put everything back together and the little green light still doesn't go on when I turn on the spotlights. Would soldering the black ground wire cause a problem for the little green light? I did the test attaching the battery chargers neg side to the terminal pin out which is after the soldered portion of the black (ground) wire. I did inspect the plug terminal pins on both male and female sides of the plugs and all seems ok and not bent. Any thoughts, comments or suggestions would be much appreciated.

Last edited by fathog; Feb 24, 2013 at 07:59 PM.

Feb 24, 2013 | 08:07 PM

In2It

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From: EL Paso,TX

Now if you have a meter check and see if you have voltage to the switch.

Feb 25, 2013 | 03:43 AM

z71_fourwheelin

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From: SE Alabama

Pin might not be set properly or you might have broke the connection inside the plug.

Feb 25, 2013 | 05:20 AM

fathog

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From: Long Island NY

Quote:

Originally Posted by In2It

Now if you have a meter check and see if you have voltage to the switch.

I don't have a meter but when I turn on the spotlights they do both go on, just the little green light does not. Does that prove that there is voltage to the switch?

Feb 25, 2013 | 05:41 AM

fathog

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From: Long Island NY

Quote:

Originally Posted by z71_fourwheelin

Pin might not be set properly or you might have broke the connection inside the plug.

I thought that I might have destroyed something in the plug so when I tested the switch I used the pins at the business end of the plug. I used a 16 gauge wire attached to the positive side of the charger and carefully touched the end of the yellow and then the black/grey wired pins and the green light goes on in both tests.Then I examined the male terminal pins in the female plug and everything looks good. So I think I eliminated the posibility that the plug is damaged and the pins both male and female look good. I did fight with the black wired pin trying to get it out but it seems to funtion properly when I attach the neg side of the battery charger to it. Is it possible that the black wire being soldered could cause a problem that my battery charger is able to overcome. Maybe to much resistence in the soldered black ground wire for the green indicator light when installed?

Feb 25, 2013 | 05:53 AM

05UltraBob

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From: Littleton CO

You are not getting a good ground to the switch for whatever reason. All the switch does is complete the power circuit to the lights. When switch on it also supplies power to the green pilot light, the ground is just for that pilot light.

Feb 25, 2013 | 06:23 AM

fathog

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From: Long Island NY

Quote:

Originally Posted by 05UltraBob

Now that I know the ground is for the the pilot light it all makes perfect sense. I will recheck the soldered ground wire. Thank you 05UltraBob your wisdom is much appreciated. If I can't get the ground wire to function properly in the plug I can reroute it to another ground.