# Why did they move the location of the headlight dimmer switch? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 11, 2015, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-they-move-the-location-of-the-headlight-dimmer-switch/709563 "2015-01-11T19:25:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2015, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-they-move-the-location-of-the-headlight-dimmer-switch/709563/21 "2015-01-11T23:36:02Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > Anyone ever have a car where the horn was on the signal light stalk? How freaking stupid was THAT?:eek: Renault Dauphine, not only the horn on the end of the stalk on the right side , but you twisted it to select city or country horn. ---
**Author:** ![mind\_the\_gap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ea666f/32.png) [@mind\_the\_gap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mind_the_gap)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2015, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-they-move-the-location-of-the-headlight-dimmer-switch/709563/22 "2015-01-11T23:57:21Z")
My '60’s American cars had the dimmer switch on the floor. My '69 MGC-GT had it on the stalk. One big difference was that the one on the floor was wired directly into the lights, the stalk ones have a relay to switch the higher current that headlights typically draw. The floor types were fairly heavy duty switches, so the wiring could be more direct. As I recall, my VW bus and Ghia both had floor mounted switches. As others have mentioned, I think the stalk mounted ones were a European preference that made its way over here as “furrin” cars became more accepted and emulated. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2015, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-they-move-the-location-of-the-headlight-dimmer-switch/709563/23 "2015-01-12T00:15:52Z")
> [@mind\_the\_gap](#): > > My '60’s American cars had the dimmer switch on the floor. My '69 MGC-GT had it on the stalk. My '66 MGB has it on the floor. ---
**Author:** ![brad\_d](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@brad\_d](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brad_d)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2015, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-they-move-the-location-of-the-headlight-dimmer-switch/709563/24 "2015-01-12T00:26:58Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > Never, ever heard it called the dimmer switch in 50 years of driving. I’m not sure I’ve ever heard it called anything else. It is perhaps a bit backwards, but in my circles it’s widely used to the point of near-exclusivity. ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2015, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-they-move-the-location-of-the-headlight-dimmer-switch/709563/25 "2015-01-12T00:32:02Z")
> [@brad\_d](#): > > I’m not sure I’ve ever heard it called anything else. It is perhaps a bit backwards, but in my circles it’s widely used to the point of near-exclusivity. This. ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2015, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-they-move-the-location-of-the-headlight-dimmer-switch/709563/26 "2015-01-12T00:39:09Z")
> [@handsomeharry](#): > > This. O’Reilly Auto Parts and AutoZone both call them that. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2015, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-they-move-the-location-of-the-headlight-dimmer-switch/709563/27 "2015-01-12T00:55:25Z")
Yea, I used to have a car with the push-button switch on the floorboard. Stomp on it once w/ your left foot, and the brights come on. Stomp on it again and the brights go off. I liked it, but I can understand why they did away with it. For one thing, I would assume it means holes must be punched or drilled in the floorboard. Thus this area would be susceptible to rusting/corrosion. Secondly, there’s already a bundle of wires going to/through the steering column. It wouldn’t increase costs that much by adding a few more wires. ---
**Author:** ![rsat3acr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a3d4f5/32.png) [@rsat3acr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rsat3acr)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2015, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-they-move-the-location-of-the-headlight-dimmer-switch/709563/28 "2015-01-12T01:04:23Z")
> [@kayT](#): > > Does anyone (besides **Keeve** ) call it anything but dimmer switch? Yes, when I took drivers ed in 1974 that is what it was called. Just because it is called that doesn’t mean one drives with the brights on. Similar to many folks calling it a hot water heater v. a water heater. ---
**Author:** ![Kansas\_Beekeeper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@Kansas\_Beekeeper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kansas_Beekeeper)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2015, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-they-move-the-location-of-the-headlight-dimmer-switch/709563/29 "2015-01-12T01:13:19Z")
I remember the floor mounted switches as not being very reliable, once the floor board started to rust or if the switch got lots of water/snow/mud on them. On one battered old car I owned, I remember hitting the dimmer switch on the floor, and the headlights went out completely. The switches weren’t hard to replace (during daylight when the car wasn’t moving.) ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2015, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-they-move-the-location-of-the-headlight-dimmer-switch/709563/30 "2015-01-12T01:13:25Z")
The first car I had with a stalk dimmer was a '66 VW bug. There was definitely a relay there, as only a smallish button on the back of the turn signal lever moved when using it. Good thing it wasn’t in the floor, as they rusted out and I had to replace them. I did have a dimmer switch rust out through the floor in a '70 Maverick. So far, the only car I owned with a faulty stalk dimmer was an '88 Ford Festiva. According to its wiring diagrams, there was no relay, and the stalk switch (really located in the steering column) directly switched between the beams. Drove that car for eight years and never fixed that. ---
**Author:** ![barath\_s](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/90ced4/32.png) [@barath\_s](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/barath_s)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2015, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-they-move-the-location-of-the-headlight-dimmer-switch/709563/31 "2015-01-12T01:43:02Z")
I remember a dip/dim switch from childhood and wondering where it disappeared. The thread reminded me to look it up. Apparently the UK required it for a while in the '80s. [Ref](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daytime_running_lamp#United_Kingdom) and it remained on many cars (like VW Polo) even after the EU [squashed](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automotive_lighting#Dim-dip_lamps)the requirement. The intent was to provide a ‘night-time town’ light that was less bright than the regular and per some [folks](http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=28778), it was achieved by running the lights at a lower voltage. ---
**Author:** ![DingoelGringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9d8465/32.png) [@DingoelGringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DingoelGringo)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2015, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-they-move-the-location-of-the-headlight-dimmer-switch/709563/32 "2015-01-12T01:44:38Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > When I learned to drive in the late 70’s, every car had the headlight dimmer switch on the floor near the “dead pedal” area. > > sometime in the 80’s it got moved to the steering column, usually on the signal light bar. > > WHY?😕 > What was the logic of this? Started with Japanese imports. Those Japanese people weren’t tall enuff to reach the floor where the dimmer switch was! ---
**Author:** ![DingoelGringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9d8465/32.png) [@DingoelGringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DingoelGringo)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2015, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-they-move-the-location-of-the-headlight-dimmer-switch/709563/33 "2015-01-12T01:51:28Z")
> [@kayT](#): > > Does anyone (besides **Keeve** ) call it anything but dimmer switch? Nope, nobody. Never heard of any other name for it in English. In Spanish we say baja luz. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2015, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-they-move-the-location-of-the-headlight-dimmer-switch/709563/34 "2015-01-12T02:14:18Z")
With automatics being the rule, the average American driver these days has no idea his left foot exists or is any good for anything? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2015, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-they-move-the-location-of-the-headlight-dimmer-switch/709563/35 "2015-01-12T02:20:37Z")
> [@kopek](#): > > With automatics being the rule, the average American driver these days has no idea his left foot exists or is any good for anything? They know it exists. They rest it on the footrest, which is the pedal next to the accelerator. ---
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2015, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-they-move-the-location-of-the-headlight-dimmer-switch/709563/36 "2015-01-12T02:31:26Z")
There are so many drivers in NJ at pretty much all times of day that it is very rare to find myself on a dark stretch of road long enough to turn on the bright lights. It has been several months since the last time I used them. I miss driving on lonely roads. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2015, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-they-move-the-location-of-the-headlight-dimmer-switch/709563/37 "2015-01-12T02:35:27Z")
> [@kopek](#): > > With automatics being the rule, the average American driver these days has no idea his left foot exists or is any good for anything? > [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > They know it exists. They rest it on the footrest, which is the pedal next to the accelerator. give me a break. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2015, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-they-move-the-location-of-the-headlight-dimmer-switch/709563/38 "2015-01-12T02:41:41Z")
> [@Keeve](#): > > On the one hand, I confess to never paying much attention to what it is called. If you had asked me yesterday, I probably would have said “the high beam switch”. For me (and I presume most people) the default setting is where it gives less light, and the main use of this switch is to temporarily use the high beams. Thus, I am surprised to hear it being named for reverse of its usual function. Same for me. The only thing I can ever remember hearing called a “dimmer switch” is a light switch (usually for a light fixture in a room) that you can turn to vary the brightness of the light. ---
**Author:** ![Heracles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heracles/32/487_2.png) [@Heracles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heracles)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2015, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-they-move-the-location-of-the-headlight-dimmer-switch/709563/39 "2015-01-12T02:56:03Z")
> [@johnpost](#): > > the floor switch rusted through. In my dad’s 1977 Dodge Monaco, the floor switch didn’t rust but it got stuck from all the accumulated de-icing salt on the floor. More specifically, when he pressed to turn the high beams on, he often could not turn them off. Around here at least, you’re not supposed to drive in the city with your high beams on. ---
**Author:** ![Nametag](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nametag/32/406_2.png) [@Nametag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nametag)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2015, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-they-move-the-location-of-the-headlight-dimmer-switch/709563/40 "2015-01-12T03:05:11Z")
I hate the stalk-mounted switches. They not only replaced the floor-mounted dimmer switches, but also the dash-mounted light switches on the old cars I learned on. I spent the next 30 years turning off my headlights when I’d make a turn. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-they-move-the-location-of-the-headlight-dimmer-switch/709563.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-they-move-the-location-of-the-headlight-dimmer-switch/709563.md?page=3)