65 Barracuda headlight switch

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bamacuda

bamacuda

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I replaced the factory switch on my 65 barracuda with one I bought off of ebay a few years ago. It fits, the wires plug in the same, but the stem when pushed in does not lock. It has the lock release button, but it doesn't "click" so when I pull out for the headlights, the stem just pulls out.

HELP!!
 
It could be that the switch is made for a longer stem. Have you tried to push ot in without the nut installed so the stem will go a bit further in?
 
The shaft is 3 sided IIRC. Try rotating it approximately 120 degrees and see if it won't click into place. Has worked for me.
 
BillGrissom said:
I think the headlight switches were the same for all years 63-76.
Click to expand...

They were not. Look at the shape of these two switches. Pay close attention to the top side of the switch between the release button and the knob. You can see that one switch has a step down shape in the sheetmetal of the switch body. The switch with the step down requires a slightly longer headlamp switch knob stem. I recall my 65 valiant using the non stepped variety.



http://www.ebay.com/itm/1963-1964-1...ies&hash=item4d09340f51&vxp=mtr#ht_649wt_1141

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1965-1966-P...ies&hash=item4d044a7f6d&vxp=mtr#ht_623wt_1170
 
mcnoople said:
They were not. Look at the shape of these two switches.
Click to expand...
mcnoople. Thanks for the correction. Every scrap of info we can get helps, since rockauto isn't always right, nor are after-market factories. A little confused because the 2nd link you posted says for a 65-66 C-body. I have a 65 C-body and thought the switch was the same as my A's, but ...
 
The c-body headlamp switch has the exact same wiring and plug, but it is the one with the step in the shape. I found this out the hard way about 10 years ago when I changed the switch in my valiant. It had a bad rheostat so I took one out of a 65 newport dashpanel I had laying around. I ended using the newport switch with the newport pull knob for quite some time before I finally bought the right switch for the car.
 
Thanks. I will just have to search for the correct one. Why did they make them this way???
 
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