27dodger0 Posted November 21, 2011 Share Posted November 21, 2011 Question: Why and when did they take the headlight dimmer switch off the floor. Seems to me that having to remove your hand from the steering wheel to change lights is more of a safety problem. Or, was it a cosmetic thing? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ply33 Posted November 21, 2011 Share Posted November 21, 2011 I recall first driving an American built car with a dimmer on the turn signal stock sometime between 1974 and 78. A rental car (my newest car at that time was over 20 years old) recall it being a GM make. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dwollam Posted November 21, 2011 Share Posted November 21, 2011 I have found driving lots of different cars that the floor dimmer switch can really be a search from model to model. On the turn signal switch it is always in the same place. I can most always reach it with my finger tips without removing my whole hand from the wheel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrspeedyt Posted November 21, 2011 Share Posted November 21, 2011 I still prefer it on the floor and if a dimmer switch fails on a newer vehicle I will replace it with old style switches. however... none of the newer ones have failed yet... (at least on my cars.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Bohlig Posted November 22, 2011 Share Posted November 22, 2011 Up north in Minnesota if you did not have a garage, and even if you had an unheated one, in the winter the slush and sludge would cover the floor switch and your snow boots could not make contact with the switch? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keiser31 Posted November 22, 2011 Share Posted November 22, 2011 Up north in Minnesota if you did not have a garage, and even if you had an unheated one, in the winter the slush and sludge would cover the floor switch and your snow boots could not make contact with the switch?Correct. The switches would simply corrode away with all of the salt in Michigan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
27dodger0 Posted November 22, 2011 Author Share Posted November 22, 2011 WOW! Thanks to you all! I never realized the problems associated with it on the floor. Having grown up in Illinois, I never experienced what you described, even though we had standing snow and slush for months. My only problem was getting into the car in the morning with frozen weather strip, and then not being able to close the door afterward! I am now smarter! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ply33 Posted November 22, 2011 Share Posted November 22, 2011 WOW! Thanks to you all! I never realized the problems associated with it on the floor. Having grown up in Illinois, I never experienced what you described, even though we had standing snow and slush for months. My only problem was getting into the car in the morning with frozen weather strip, and then not being able to close the door afterward! I am now smarter!Me too. If you are raised in the desert you don't really think about issues with snow and salt. Ask me about how I didn't check for rust on the first car I bought when I was in upstate NY. This is another issue that I had not thought about. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JACK M Posted November 22, 2011 Share Posted November 22, 2011 I still prefer it on the floor and if a dimmer switch fails on a newer vehicle I will replace it with old style switches. however... none of the newer ones have failed yet... (at least on my cars.)The multi swithes of today may also work the wipers, cruise, or lights as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Backyardmechanic Posted November 24, 2011 Share Posted November 24, 2011 And don't forget when the floor switch stuck it would drain the battery right now dead as a door nail Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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