56 Courtesy Lights- John Hinkley- Others

[John N.]

My courtesy lights work when the doors open but not when you turn the headlight switch to the left (doors closed). How do I trouble shoot this?
Thanks

[Gary C.]

Re: 56 Courtesy Lights- John Hinkley- Others

John,

On the light switch, the courtesy light terminal is at the very back (green wire connected IIRC?), which is opposite the radio light connection.

Turn the switch to courtesy light position and there should be 12volts present on that terminal.

Gary
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[Bill M.]

Re: 56 Courtesy Lights- John Hinkley- Others

John:

I have a '59 switch sitting around. Maybe the '56 works the same...

The door switches and the headlight switch provide a ground path for the courtesy light. Any one closed will light the light. Sounds like your headlight switch isn't grounding the light.

There is a copper leg at the front of the switch that contacts the switch mounting bracket (grounds the light) when the switch is turned all the way to the left.

Here it is open:



Here it is closed:



The terminal on the '59 switch that connects to the copper arm is the one to the far right and back. That terminal connects to a white wire running to the ground side of the courtesy light.

Bill

[Gary C.]

Re: 56 Courtesy Lights- John Hinkley- Others

John,

As usual Bill's correct. Obviously, I was not thinking. Light switch terminal wire is Orange. The light switch courtesy light position provides the ground to operate the courtesy lights. To test remove the orange wire at the light switch and ground it. Courtesy lights should light. If not, there's a open wire connection somewhere.

The wiring diagram, if I've read it correctly shows the light switch ground also provides a ground to brake switch.

Good luck. See ya in Joplin.

Gary
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[John H.]

Re: 56 Courtesy Lights- John Hinkley- Others

'53-'57 headlight switches work differently than '58-up switches; '58-up switches are grounded through their attachment to the cluster, and have no discrete ground wire.

'53-'57 switches attach to the fiberglass lower instrument panel (no ground potential), and have to have a discrete ground connection in order for the courtesy lights to operate from the headlight switch. There should be a black wire with a white plastic female connector on it, at the instrument panel end of the switch, that plugs onto a terminal opposite the gray wire that feeds the dash lights.