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Technical => Electrical and Ignition Systems => Topic started by: CableguyJJS3 on 2013-04-08 19:29

Title: Headlights and parking lights
Post by: CableguyJJS3 on 2013-04-08 19:29
Ok, please forgive me if this is a dumb question, but I am baffled here. I'm working on repairing all the broken and burnt wiring in my 57 Ranchero and after tracing through broken switches and broken junction blocks I have a puzzle. I have a shop manual and a wiring book, but when I wire the headlight and parking lamp circuit according to the book, I lose the parking lights when I turn on the headlights. Now I have the turn signal switch laying on the bench as I'm missing a couple of springs still, but according to the books, the parking light circuit is one wire and goes directly and only to the P terminal on the headlight switch. Is this the way these are supposed to function?? Parking lights work when the headlight switch is in the parking light step of the switch then off when you pull the switch out to headlights?? Also if anyone has a spare headlight switch, I am in need of one. And I'd be really appreciative if anyone has their dash apart and has some good pics of the headlight and ignition switch and the wires connected, mine was all kinds of torn up when I got into it, and I'm just trying to put it back to original. Thanks. Jim
Title: Re: Headlights and parking lights
Post by: gasman826 on 2013-04-08 20:12
Working as designed.  Modern cars have the parking lights (marker lights) work with the headlights.  Parking lights were for parking. 
Title: Re: Headlights and parking lights
Post by: RICH MUISE on 2013-04-08 21:20
Jim...I should have a headlight switch. I'll throw it in the box with the harness. A pm was sent btw, if you hadn't seen it.
Rich
Title: Re: Headlights and parking lights
Post by: Ford Blue blood on 2013-04-08 23:14
As Gary said, all is good!
Title: Re: Headlights and parking lights
Post by: CableguyJJS3 on 2013-04-09 09:14
Well I certainly wouldn't have guessed that, but allrighty then. That explains why when testing on the headlight switch, power jumps from the P terminal across to the R? terminal when you pull the switch all the way out. Now a follow up question, now that I know that the front parking lights were not designed to work with the headlights on. Could I attach a jumper wire to the tail light circuit to light up the front marker lights to work with the headlights or is that to much draw on the system?? Thanks for the help with this guys, I appreciate it.  Jim

And thank you very much for the reply Rich, I sent a PM back.
Title: Re: Headlights and parking lights
Post by: Ford Blue blood on 2013-04-09 16:46
Yes...but disconnect from the "P" post and splice/connect to the rear light circuit.
Title: Re: Headlights and parking lights
Post by: gasman826 on 2013-04-09 17:26
That's what I did.
Title: Re: Headlights and parking lights
Post by: CableguyJJS3 on 2013-04-09 17:33
Works for me, thanks for the help guys.
Title: Re: Headlights and parking lights
Post by: wv 57s forever on 2013-04-11 17:27
why run them?
Title: Re: Headlights and parking lights
Post by: gasman826 on 2013-04-11 17:39
Cuss I can...and if a headlight fails, on coming traffic can see you're not a motorcycle.