87 Suzuki Samurai

So, I get off work last night. Semi-dark outside, but not to dark. I start up the samurai, turn on the headlights and such and leave. As im coming home its getting darker and I notice my headlights arent on. I turn the switch back off, then on again. I have parking lights, but no headlights. I pull back on the switch and the brights come on, I let off, and still nothing. So, im driving home in the dark with no headlights on. Im sitting there playing with the switch trying to make them come on. I figured out that if I push it forward and in and barely slowly turn it, it sometimes catches and they come on. I figured this out just as I was passing a sheriff.
I am positive the problem lies within the switch. How do I take the switch apart , and how do I fix it. .  Is there a way I can rig it to work until I can replace the whole assembly if that is what is required, and what wires could I use to run a toggle switch to the lights until I can get around to replacing the assembly?


Thanks

i had the same problem with my old nissan
I took apart the switch and cleaned the brass contacks up with some sand paper then greased it and put it back in worked fine for another 3 years.

oh ya forgot to tell you, had to cut the casing open then glue it back together

Any suggestions on cutting it open? Which approach or angle would be best? I dont wanna accidentally demolish it.. Thanks!

you have to remove it from the truck first, is the casing made of plastic? if it is look for a seam on it they are usualy made of two pieces put together.  then use a boxcutter and keep scoreing the seam all the way around until your through the plastic.

thereare usally two or three brass prongs (which are the contacts you have to clean) just use a light sandpaper.
had to do the same for my buddys 78 buick but the casing was metal
hope this helps you!

Its plastic. Thanks. Im going to see what I can do tonight when I get off work.

 If for some reason I cannot get around to taking it out and apart tonight, which wire can I run a toggle switch to as a jiffy rigged way, to get me back to work early tomorrow morning with headlights.

i don't think you can run it thought just a toggle switch with out a relay i think you will just burn the switch out!

but i could be wrong! anybody else have a idea?

it should only take u a hour tops to clean it and put it back together

how many wires going into the switch?

I dunno how many wires going into the switch. I havent even had a chance to mess with it cause ive been working looooong hour days....  

i own a sidekick not a sami, is the headlight switch on the turn signal like the sidekicks? if it is, you might wreck the plug if you try to splice in a toggle

Yes, it is on the turn signal...

Anybody else have any ideas or help?

Get you a new unit from a Junk yard or Hawk, plug it in and your fixed
Zig

I might have a spare if you can't resolve it.....

On the Track/Kick the knob is not the switch,
the switch is in the plastic combination assembly
in the middle of the steering collum, it all comes
apart, and if you pay attention you might even get it
back together again   .  I've had mine apart a few
times to fix this or that, the first time my wife was
driving and smoke came out of the steering collum,
I'm thinking the whole thing is fried, but I just fixed
it and put it back together, works fine, and has for years.