2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission hot dimmer switch

[Duane George]

i noticed lately that my dimmer switch get very hot. the only lights that i've added were for my 4 gages that i installed about 4 months ago. i tapped in to the light for the ash try for power. i'm wondering if the other recall light switch would help me in any way or if anyone has any other suggestions.

thanks for any help!



Duane

 

[tgbol]

I am not sure about the 99 but the one on my 01. 5 would get so hot that I couldn't touch the panel. I discovered that there is a large heat sink on the back side of the switch but it is in dead air. The A/C duct runs right under the switch. I punched 2 holes 5/16" in the top of the duct. Since I always have some air moving through the vent I also have some air moving over the heatsink. Now I can hold my hand on it after driving 4 hours at night. It still gets warm not hot.

 

[Whitmore]

Duane, there has been lots of talk on this and it has been said that if you run them dimmer that there is a reostat that makes some pretty good heat, the fix was to only run your panel lights on high Thats how I always run mine and I havent felt any hot stuff.



cheers, Kevin

 

[TURBOs4LIFE]

Since we are talking about headlight switches..... where can I find the little bulbs that are in the headlight switch that lights the indicator so that you can see the switch at night? I went to the dealer and they told me that I would have to buy the whole switch just for the little bulbs!

 

[HC]

The dimmer you set your lights, the more heat will be produced in the switch. But you don't have to set them on "bright". I have managed to find a middle setting that is dim enough to be good for night vision, but not so hot that touching the switch burns my finger.



I like the AC vent idea - I'll check it out!

 

[Duane George]

i ran the light on full brightness this morning and evening. the switch was not warm or hot. i will play with it to see if i can find

a happy middle as full is too bright for me.

will check out the vent idea as well.



thanks!



Duane

 

[WDaniels]

Turbos4life,

I don't think that they are bulbs. I think: Think mind you, that they are light emitting diode of some sort. They are the same thing that is in your radio buttons and stuff. They can't be replaced to my knowledge. If I'm wrong someone can set me onto the path of knowledge.

WD

 

[rweis]

Great info!, Noticed mine was hot (I run with the dimmer totally off), took the switch out to see what the problem was, it is a heat sink rheostat. The dimmer the hotter. I LIKE the idea of the holes in the A/C duct - great! idea. I saw no way to reduce the heat of the rheostat by electrical modifications. I run my gauges off a totally seperate feed / dimmer system. You guys are great, think outside the box THANKS

 

[TURBOs4LIFE]

They are bulbs, I removed the switch and they are removeable. I just hope that I dont have to buy the whole switch just for 2 little bulbs. The switch from the dealer is $54. 00!

 

[roadranger]

Try these guys--use the search function.



http://www.topbulb.com/default.asp

 

[zap]

If you look at the headlight you will see the heatsink is surrounded by plastic which is retaining some of that heat I clipped a bunch of it off . Then I took a small electronics fan and wired it into the switch so it turns on when the lights are on. I can run the lights so dim I cant see anything and the switch does not even get warm

 

[dresslered]

Zap, you beat me to it! I just got my CPU fan but have not installed it yet. I just lost my lamp as well so I am hoping that it is just a replacement rather than a melt down (it had been intermittant for quite some time).

 

[tgbol]

Zap

You found the same thing I did--that the heat sink is in dead air. Your way or mine just moving some air across it cools it down. I am sure that using a small fan makes it alot cooler than the holes in the vent duct.

 

[Jammar9082]

These "fixes" will work but what is causing the switch to get hot? The heat sink should radiate the heat away if it is properly sized. Yes, I know, DC engineering can be wanting! Perhaps the metal heat sink is not in good contact with the switch housing. Would some sort of grease help transfer the heat to the metal? I remember the early solid state ingnition modules would fail if the grease was not put between the distributor and the module. I "think" it was some sort of silicone but am not sure.

 

[tgbol]

Jammer

I think the heatsink is sized right and well connected. My theory is the location. It is on the back of the switch tucked up high in the dash and there is no air flow around it. by putting the fan or the holes in the vent duct it causes a small flow of air across the fins. Of course if I didn't turn the panel lights down so low the switch wouldn't get hot.

 

[John Berger]

How about lithium grease

It's the same stuff used on CPU chips in PC's. I would think that it would be effective.