Headlight and wiper stalk problems

I have an issue with both my windshield wipers and my headlights.. My low beams work fine, but when I push the headlight stalk forward it turns off all the headlights but turns on the high beam indicator light in the dash, when I pull the stalk to flash brights everything works correctly.. At the same time my windshield wipers work when I move the stalk, however all of the different speeds dont work, I only have one speed. All of the different stalk-speeds give me one constant slow speed, except the fastest setting which when I try and use the wipers just stop. The wipers also dont return to the base of the windshield, and anytime I turn off the wipers I have to correctly time turning them off so that the wipers sit at the bottom. Im hoping I dont need to replace both stalks because theyre like $200 each and this isnt THAT big of an issue and I've just been living with it for a couple of years now. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

Sounds like your switch is bad. Could be a grounding issue, but the headlight switch is really easy to replace. As for why that affects your wipers, that's an odd one... maybe they share a harness and the headlight switch has a short that effects the other side? Maybe just a coincidence that both switches are bad.

There are a few recent threads that talk about the headlight switch. It's pretty easy to replace. Hopefully the plug isn't burned out like this other guy. If just the switch is bad, there are only a few screws in the steering column.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/headlight-switch-removal-info-needed.247178/

 

I don't want to bring bad news but:

1. The only difference in connections between High and Flash setting is inside the light switch. So if high beam works in one position but doesn't in the other, that would be a not connecting contact inside the switch. I don't know if it is possible to repair the switch itself.

2. Wiper control including speed and timing is in the wiper stalk itself. It also controls the parking using extra wire between motor and the switch. So wipers will not continue to park if that wire is broken or has bad connection. High speed is also separate wire between the switch and the motor. So it is hard to exactly tell what is wrong: wiring/connectors, motor or the switch. It requires detail diagnostics to eliminate one cause after another.

 

Both switches can be tested with a multimeter. No need to replace them before confirming they are bad.

It's possible if you are the type of person that likes to dig deep and figure out how things work. There are 3 leaf spring type contacts inside the switch. It's possible to disassemble and bend the switches back to the correct position then carefully reassemble. Again, no reason to attempt this until you've confirmed the switch is bad using a multimeter and the specs in the repair manual.