Hi. The switch for the headlights on my 1972 GS has come loose wich makes it almost impossible to turn the headlights on and off. I tried to remove the dash (or at least the black section of it, with the speedometer and stuff) but came up short. I found four screws (IIRC); two just next to the steering column and two at the top of the section but despite removing these the thing wouldn't budge. What am I missing? TIA.
Here you go. This should help... http://www.buickperformance.com/cluster.htm thanks to George N. Good Luck Bert
You dont need to remove the instrument panel to tighten up the headlight switch. You just need to get you hand behind it and hold it in place as you tighten the chrome nut. Once you have your hand behind the dash, and are holding the headlight switch, turn the headlights on. Take a set of needle nose pliers and tighten the nut at the base of the switch. Be careful you dont scratch anything!
The instrument panel just takes patience. You'll have to pull it off a bit, then unplug the gauges & speedometer. Its a bit difficult to work off the column. However, I agree with Jason. You can get at that without removing anything. Get a flashlight and the pliers, lay on the floor, and take your time.
As I understand it from the link and your descriptions there should be a nut on the "outside" of the dash, between the knob and the dash? Because I'm pretty sure I didn't see a nut when I looked. :/ I'll take a closer look later today. Thanks for your help.
The "Nut" IS the dish-shaped chrome bezel with the serrated edge behind the knob, on the surface of the dash. Hate to say it, but if your switch is loose there is a very good chance that the threads on the plastic "nut" are stripped.
Well, that or the fact that the plastic "bolt" is broken off. Here's a close-up of the bolt. I'm off to get a new alternator, I'll see if these guys by any chance has one of these as well.
Parts store won't have that. If the two parts (threaded part and bowl) still fit back together tightly, you MAY be able to repair it with model airplane cement, or plastic pipe cement from the hardware store. Otherwise, need to find someone with a used one to sell
I only have the part that was left in the switch so I can't glue anything back there. The shop I went to sells used parts as well but no dice, he didn't have any at all. Is there anyone on this board that's willing to sell me this plastic "bolt"?
Sounds like you may not be understanding how this all goes together. The light switch has a threaded hole, into which the plastic threaded nipple (what you are calling the "bolt") screws. That plastic threaded male nipple was originally part of the bowl-shaped chrome bezel that is in your first picture. You need to re-attach the threaded nipple (bolt) to the bowl-shaped chrome bezel. The bowl and the nipple are supposed to be one part, which screws into the light switch and butts up flush on the instrument panel.
