1952 Ford Customline parking lights don't turn off

N

nikishin

Junior Member
I have a '52 Customline, and sometimes, the parking lights don't go off. The switch is in all the way. Anyone know what can cause this?
Thanks
 
They are getting power from somewhere, obvisously. Perhaps your switch is bad, or power is getting to them from the headlight wiring, etc.
It's just a matter of tracking it down.
I'm guessing that your switch is bad. Try unhooking it, to see if they go out.
MIKE :) (mikeburch)
 
The headlight switch is always "hot". You may have a bad switch or you have old wiring with bad insulation and the parking light wire is touching the hot wire.
 
Sounds like you may be due for new wiring harnesses. Your curerent wiring is 63 years old.
 
nikishin said:
I was wanting to keep as much of the original parts and wiring as possible for now.
Click to expand...

It's easy for us to spend your $$$ :eek: but if you find a short & or while you are checking you hear the insulation cracking when the wires are moved around ,you may want to rethink it.
If nothing else disconnect the battery when not driving.
 
As others have said, you most likely have an issue with switch or wiring. The next time they stay on reach behind the dash and wiggle/tap the switch. If they go out or blink you have a bad switch. You can take the wire feeding the parking lights off the switch and put in a toggle switch with a wire from a power source just make sure you add a fuse incase you have a dead short. Be aware that the switch will probably fail completely sooner or later. Disconnecting the battery when parked is a must......Mark
 
A new harness is cheap fire insurance. It would be a shame for you to lose the car to fire over a small amount of money. Do what they've said, replace headlamp switch and disconnect the battery when the car is not in use.
 
It's nice that you want to keep your car original, but would you drive on 63 year old tires? Your wiring falls into the same category as tires, belts, hoses, etc. A wiring fire is very expensive. You can replace the wiring for the cost of having to use a tow truck.
 
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Thanks for the tips. I found that the wires have rubbed through the insulation. I would buy a new wiring kit, but I don't have a job so consequently, no money to do so. Thanks again
 
Put some heat shrink on them or just tape them or a rubber sleeve for temporary until you can replace the wires. Lots of temporary fixes for this one.
 
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