Fog light switch

Are you sure? Have you tested the switch?

The only relay in my car (except starter) is on the fog lights. You might want one.

Just an on/off pull switch. Any parts store. Look on eBay and will likely find one that matches.

Yes, tested it- 100% the switch.  

Pry the metal ears off the plastic and you'll see the contacts burned from current sparking - then toss it in trash.  With a relay - a cheap switch will last a long time as the relay takes the "heat".

This is the heavier duty VW switch I use for lights and wipers     Air Cooled VW Beetle Headlight Switch (58-67) 98-9421-B | eBay

In related news, I drove by the only remaining electronics store in my town and it’s shuttered. First Radio Shack, now this. The only thing left is the Mouser catalogue.
When I was a kid, TV’s were more expensive than refrigerators, and repairable. Now they’re disposable.

When I was a kid, thrown out TVs were my biggest source for parts for my ham radio habit.
I almost cried when the last Radio Shack closed in my area a few years back.

But then the Pandemic hit and I needed to DO SOMETHING and started designing small electronic things and quickly needed parts, so I re-discovered Mouser, Newark, Arrow, You-Do-it and a whole bunch of never-heard-of sources on Amazon.  

Suddenly, the lack of a Radio Shack nearby wasn’t such a big deal.

Yeah, except for having to WAIT for everything. Digi-Key and Parts Express are a couple more sources in addition to the ones Gordon mentioned for electronics.

Alan, yes, that 6v headlight switch works well, won't burn out like the cheap 12v China-pops. It's especially nice if you can find a used VW OE one like I did at Carlisle when the swap guys used to set up tables...

I believe you still can buy at Radio Shack on line:   RadioShack.com Official Site - America's Technology Store

Thanks for the link Alan

Had a friend with a Radio Shack associate store in his music store. I bough his small parts inventory for $40, back in the 80's and am just now running out of stuff. I really miss the wire connector assemblies...I hate those squeeze on connectors. Just won't use them.

The sad state of throw-away electronics really is a bummer. My Frigidaire Professional oven was giving me trouble. It would take an hour to pre-heat and even then it wouldn't get very hot. Long story short I determined it was the Oven Control Board. Seeing as how the oven is almost 18 years old Frigidaire doesn't make/stock that part. I was faced with buying a new $2K oven or trying to fix the OCB. We have an electronics repair place in town that has been in business since forever. Took the the OCB and they had it fixed and back to me in one day, it cost me $150 to have it repaired. The oven works like a champ again.

BITD there was an old guy that had a kiosk in our local utilities office. He repaired my families 50’s toasters and waffle irons for me several times. All long gone, but I used them for about 50 years.

The threaded  fastener on the switch is intended for the VW sheet metal not the thicker fiberglass, remove some of the back side of the dash to fit the VW switch, use a radius burr / rasp bit and go slowly.

Wow

I just spent 30 minutes looking for a replacement switch identical to the one Marc shows and came up with nothing!

Speedway Motors and Painless Wiring show the most promise, but I finally gave up and went to dinner.   Never thought it would be that hard to find a friggin switch.  And I used a bunch just like that over the years, too.  A toggle switch or rocker switch would be much easier to find.

@Marc Orloff everything I looked at for switches was rated for a measly 15 amps, which is almost exactly what two fog lights will draw.  If you get a switch, try to find one rated for 20 - 30 amps OR get a fog light relay kit with a 30 amp relay rating so the relay and switch will last forever.

Wow Gordon, thanks for doing that!  I will keep looking and try NAPA  with the switch in hand

Here's 75amp HD one on Amazon for $12.  You can change knob.

Amazon.com: Fastronix Heavy Duty Push/Pull Switch: Automotive

Sierra Madre sells ivory-colored plastic jobs in a couple of shaft diameters iirc.

My fog lights have 30 watt bulbs, at 12 Volts thats about 5 amps for both. I contemplated a relay but 5 amps can be handled by a small switch, I got mine from SMC for under 20 bucks, the correct knob is another issue.  Check Stoddard.

Just a lateral thought, I pulled my fog light bulbs and replaced them with LEDs. Much lower current draw. Pros and cons if you're going for a show presentation.

I wish I could find an LED replacement they are orange 20S 30 watt bulbs

If anyone has a replacement for those 30 watt wonders, these guys will:

https://www.superbrightleds.co...e-replacement-bulbs/

Otherwise, I would look on Amazon for an LED replacement but be careful in your search - Some of those offered aren’t really all that bright.

Gordon,

Thanks but no joy. BA 20 S single pole in amber is a rare beast, I found a couple of NOS  Osram on Samba but no led. Cheers.

There are some yellow LED single pole BA20s on fleabay. The first one only draws 2 watts and supposedly uses Cree LEDs (US). Both are slow  boat from China.

1PC Yellow BA20S 5730 12 LED Bosch Car Light Vintage Bulb Front Rear Lamp 6V 12V | eBay

2 X LED BULB 12V BA20S B11 AMBER CAR OLD SCHOOL VINTAGE REAR FRONT LIGHT LAMP | eBay

Thank you