94 Accord main beam lights won't stay on
 

Hi, can anyone please help me get my 94 Accord through its safety test tomorrow?

A couple of weeks ago, the main beam headlights stopped staying on. I can flash them no problem, but when I try and switch them on permanently I just hear the click and then they go back to low beam. Problem started during a heatwave.

I've had a look around, hopefully this problem hasn't already been covered here... It's kinda urgent.

1) Is the problem definitely in the switch?

2) Any suggestions as to what to look for? Fixable, or just buy a new one?

Also: how do I get the cover off the steering wheel column? I've undone 5 screws, still won't budge.

Thanks,

Stevo

(The car is late 94, as in 94-97 model)

Don't know much about your accord but here's some things to try:
0. If you have a multimeter you can skip a lot of this by checking the voltage on the different pins on your headlight harness while a friend operates the switch.
1. Check bulb connections, sometimes water gets into the harness and corrodes the contacts so badly they no longer make contact on one or more of the pins.
2. Try replacing a bulb.
3. It's next to impossible to tell if the problem is in the switch or the harness that leads to the switch however if by "they go back to low beam" you mean the switch returns to the low beam position you definitely have a bad switch. Also its more likely for the switch to fail than the wiring harness that connects to it as the switch is mechanical and gets lots of use and the harness gets very little weather or mechanical manipulation.

Do you have any custom lighting/electrical stuff on your accord?

Also I did some digging and I found what I believe to be the headlight circuit diagram for your car:
http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z.../th_accord.png

barring problems related to the bulb, I don't see how there could be a problem with any of the relays or fuses. basically its limited to either the switch or the wire that ties the high/low switch to the flash switch.