Rep Power: 0

I have a 53 mile commute. My shift ends at 11 p.m. so I'm driving quite a distance at night.

A couple of months ago, occasionally, my low beams would fail when switching from hi-beams. They simply wouldn't come on. Eventually, they failed altogether. Hi beams still worked but no lows.

I just replaced the switch and everything seemed fine......for a couple of days. Now the problem has returned intermittently, with some strange symptoms. If I turn on the low beams and drive home using only them, no problem. If, however, I use the highs for any significant duration (perhaps one or two miles) the lows are almost certain to refuse to come back on. If I have the lights on low and just constantly switch back and forth between highs and lows the lows will light every time.

Just arriving home, I parked in the driveway to play with the switch to see if, when the lows failed, there was anything that I could do to revive them. So, parked, I turned on the hi beams and sat for what would be the equivalent of a couple of miles, perhaps 2 minutes. I switched to lows and they worked fine. Hmmmm. Back to highs for a few more minutes then back to lows. Again, they worked fine.

I realize that there's a possibility that I just got a bum switch (O'Reillys). But they're going to balk about the return of a $50 electrical item unless I give convincing testimony regarding how I reached the conclusion that the switch is faulty.

Any theories?

 
Rep Power: 223

My first guess would be a faulty switch. Looking up the part on the O'Reilly website I see two reviews, of which one is a one star due to receiving a faulty switch.

I would recommend picking up an OEM one from the junkyard or just buying it new. Would want your vehicle info to confirm but I think part number is 35255-S5A-A02. Would cost you about the same, $50.

 
Rep Power: 132

I'd second an OEM Honda Combination Light Switch replacement. I am on my second switch and have had good luck for years now but my symptoms was the switch went all loosey goosey.