Parking Lights/Dash lights won't shut off

tattooman · Post by **tattooman** » Fri Feb 04, 2005 7:16 pm

Okay brother motorheads, here's one for y'all. I have a '70 D200 that I'm working on and have run into one I can't figure out. When I pull out the headlight switch one notch, the parking lights and dash lights come on.... The second notch turns on the headlights.. (so far so good) push it in one notch and the headlights go out.... push it all the way in (the off position) and poof.... the parking lights and dash lights stay lit. I figured it was a bad headlight switch and replaced it with a new one, but it didn't make a difference. Funny thing is that if I disconnect the battery then connect it again, the problem corrects itself and the lights are off.... until I turn on the headligh switch again! Then the same thing happens, everything works as it should but the last push on the headlight switch to turn everything off, leaves the parking lights and dash lights on. Any ideas? I've lost my "Mopar Magic Spell" book and don't know where to start (other than the obvious connections to the lights, etc.) Thanks Aaron (tattooman)

Jeffc · Post by **Jeffc** » Sat Feb 05, 2005 3:08 pm

It has to be the switch, spray down the switch with
WD and see if it helps, something inside the switch is
hanging up and not releasing when switched off.

Gilesie · Post by **Gilesie** » Tue Feb 15, 2005 12:27 pm

It almost sounds like a crook relay.

Hoss · Post by **Hoss** » Tue Feb 22, 2005 2:04 am

I have a hard time seeing a second headlight switch having the same problem. Now the park lamps are powered by the headlight switch with a dark green wire this wire passes through the firewall with a plug that is rectangular and I believe is located by the master cyl. area. In this plug are the 3 wires for the park/turn lamps (Drk green for power,yellow for turn/hazard,and light green for turn/hazard) the dark blue ammeter hot wire from the battery, the orange start control wire from the ign switch to the relay and the red power and black ground wire for the headlights. I would check this plug for corrosion or the dreaded green grodies that like to grow there. Be carefull as the corrosion can cause the wire to be brittel at the plug and then you'll be looking for another harness to replace the damaged one.
I do not recall a relay for the park lamp or head lamp system for these years of trucks nor do I see it in the wiring scematic. Hope it helps
Ken

Gilesie · Post by **Gilesie** » Tue Feb 22, 2005 3:59 am

what happens if you only turn on the park lights then turn off do they turn off?

What is the wiring loom condition like?

And the best one has your truck had a big boom box fitted somehow connected to the lighting cct.

Regards Rod

scoutski · Post by **scoutski** » Tue Feb 22, 2005 6:21 am

Very interesting! It sounds like somthing other than the switch is completing the circuit. Check for a frayed wire in the park light harness. Somewhere it is making contact with a hot wire, but the resistance is overcome only when the switch is activated. Disconnecting the battery lets it cool enough to maintain enough resistance to remain off untill energized again.

Bill

tattooman · Post by **tattooman** » Tue Feb 22, 2005 4:17 pm

Thanks to Ken "Hoss" for his detective work.... The problem was a short in the junction block under the hood. TATTOOMAN

Daddiojoe · Post by **Daddiojoe** » Tue Feb 22, 2005 7:14 pm

Tattooman--

What exactly do you mean by junction block? I've got a similar problem and have replaced the bulkhead connectors.

Also, I'm curious about your handle. Are you a tattooer or tattooed?

Joe

Sweptline.ORG

Parking Lights/Dash lights won't shut off

Parking Lights/Dash lights won't shut off

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