Light Gremlins

Unknown

I went into my garage after supper this evening and found the parking lights on my Hudson were on. Wondering who was playing around, knowing my daughter and wife would not do it, I climbed behind the wheel and turned the light switch off. It was not on. I turned the switch on to the parking lights and they stayed on, turned one more notch and the headlights came on, went back and with the switch off the parking lights still stayed on.

Turned on the left turn signal and the left parking light went out. Turned on the right turn signal and the right parking light went out. Stepped on the brakes and the parking lights went out and stayed out.

My lights have been done for a couple of months with no problems and I suppose I will have to crawl under the dash with a test light and start tracing circuits. the only thing I noticed was that I had the ground terminal on the battery twisted finger tight and it was real loose when I went to disconnect it. Also I know the headlight switch is worn and sometimes it has a dead spot.

Any suggestions before I start chasing those elusive gremlins.

Unknown

Pat,



If the switch is worn, the only remedy is replacement. If the contacts are just oxidized, a good chemical cleaner can be had at your local electronic supply shop. While you're fiddling with the lights, you may want to consider installing an under hood relay. These cars were originally wired so all the current to the lights went through the headlight switch. By using a simple relay, the relay handles the current and the headlight switch basically turns it on and off. This takes the load off the switch and eliminates concerns with switch overheating and causing a fire.

Unknown

Dave53-7C wrote:

Pat,

If the switch is worn, the only remedy is replacement. If the contacts are just oxidized, a good chemical cleaner can be had at your local electronic supply shop. While you're fiddling with the lights, you may want to consider installing an under hood relay. These cars were originally wired so all the current to the lights went through the headlight switch. By using a simple relay, the relay handles the current and the headlight switch basically turns it on and off. This takes the load off the switch and eliminates concerns with switch overheating and causing a fire.

Dave:

I put in a relay when a made up the new wire harness. I know the switch is worn not dirty, I am just not sure that is my current problem.

[Deleted User]

Have you checked the grounds all through the system?

[Deleted User]

I had similar problems with my 1950 Commodore a few years ago. Almost none of the lights would work at all or at least were very dim, and it seemed that the ones that did work were not the ones that I had turned on. This turned out to be poor contact of the wire terminals. I carefully cleaned the terminals at the junctions, and this solved the problem. You might try this anyway. Dee

Unknown

Was it the parking lights on or the turn signal lights. If the signal lights seems to me like trouble in the turn signal switch. Lots of little contacts and stuff in these 7 wire switches.

Unknown

Billy K.TN. wrote:

Was it the parking lights on or the turn signal lights. If the signal lights seems to me like trouble in the turn signal switch. Lots of little contacts and stuff in these 7 wire switches.

Good point. I did not look to see which filament was lit. I should be able to get into it this weekend.

Unknown

Billy K.TN. wrote:

Was it the parking lights on or the turn signal lights. If the signal lights seems to me like trouble in the turn signal switch. Lots of little contacts and stuff in these 7 wire switches.

Good point. I did not look to see which filament was lit. I should be able to get into it this weekend.

Clutchguy

SRCraftsman2 wrote:

Good point. I did not look to see which filament was lit. I should be able to get into it this weekend.

Sounds like maybe you have been spending too much time in the garage!! LOL Pat,don't know about some of the other goofy stuff that is going on,BUT,with the key off,the brake pedal depressed[stop lights] and either direction signal[l or r] selected,the tail lights create feedback. The direction selected will be out [only with the key off and brake lights on] This is normal operation because of the way it is wired. BTW-nice article in C.C.

Unknown

Clutch guy wrote:

Sounds like maybe you have been spending too much time in the garage!! LOL Pat,don't know about some of the other goofy stuff that is going on,BUT,with the key off,the brake pedal depressed[stop lights] and either direction signal[l or r] selected,the tail lights create feedback. The direction selected will be out [only with the key off and brake lights on] This is normal operation because of the way it is wired. BTW-nice article in C.C.

I was not sure what you meant by the article in C.C., but I got my copy today and thank you.

Since pushing the brake pedal turned off the lights and the ignition switch was off I thought it may have had something to do with the brake lights. From past experiences with on again off again electrical problems I know they can cause head banging on the wall results.

Ol racer

Pat,

I think one of the earlier suggestions will cover your problem especially by isolating the individual circuts, Turn or Parking, to trace. If parking circut I would begin at the suspected bad switch since your wiring is all new.. (If a feedback might check behind your pigtails where wires are exposed thru the socket).



Lastly, I always install a 'Kill Switch' to shut down the electrical system plus it qualifys vehicle for anti theft Insurance discount...

Good Luck