'67 parking lights on while headlights are on

[Robert B.]

While doing an operations check today I discovered that the parking lights on my '67 coupe stay on when the headlights are on. The owners manual suggests that they should go out while headlights are on. The parking lights on my other '67 are off when headlights are on. I assume this is correct, so would the headlight switch be the cause?

Bob

[William C.]

Re: '67 parking lights on while headlights are on

Bob..The parking should go off when the headlights are on. It's the switch that's the problem. I read that the repop switches are incorrect..Bill

[Vinnie P.]

Re: '67 parking lights on while headlights are on

Bob...it's been since 1997 since I had the same problem...took me a while to figure it out...however, you need to check the wiring diagram to the switch, IIRC, one of the wires was connected to the incorrect terminal, or there possibly could have been a jumper that kept the parking lights on when the headlights were turned on...once I followed the diagram and realized what was happening, it was an easy fix...but like I said, it's been since 1997 that I did it...Good luck
Vinnie

[Richard M.]

Re: '67 parking lights on while headlights are on

Yes Vinnie got it.........

A friend had the same issue on his '65. We discovered someone moved the PURPLE wire in the plug that connects to the light switch. PURPLE feeds the Park Lights. It should be connected to the terminal as shown on this diagram below (See LIGHT SWITCH on pg 1 near top center). I think someone connected your PURPLE terminal to the lug that has LIGHT BLUE(the headlight terminals) edit, not LIGHT BLUE, likely BROWN terminal(tail lights). Or they may have spliced it near the plug.

If they moved the PURPLE terminal, just remove it and reinstall in the correct slot on the plug. There's a small tab inside the terminal. Use a small pick tool and bend flat to remove. Re-bend the tab outward to reinstall in the correct slot.

http://www.keystonestatecorvetteclub.net/Documents/Corvette wiring diagrams/Chevy Corvette 1967.pdf

[Clem Z.]

Re: '67 parking lights on while headlights are on

the corvette club of western pa. did this back in the day so we would know fellow club members when we passed them on the road.

[Timothy B.]

Re: '67 parking lights on while headlights are on

The correct 1995149 headlight switch will operate with the parking lights off when the headlights are on. The new replacement GM switch will allow the parking light and headlights to operate at the sametime. I think it's a DOT regulation that started with 1968 but someone else may know better than I.

You need to find a correct headlight switch for your 67.

[Robert B.]

Re: '67 parking lights on while headlights are on

Thanks for the feedback - I suspect that the problem might be the jumper that's been installed between two of the spade connectors on this switch - anyone have a picture of a correct switch?

Here's what mine looks like:

Headlamp switch.jpg

[Richard M.]

Re: '67 parking lights on while headlights are on

Robert, I marked your photo with the color codes......

That link is for the brown feed for the tail lights. I suspect the purple wire may be going to one of those terminals marked BROWN. If the purple is on one of those, that is the issue. That would keep the park lights on whenever the tail lights are on. I seem to recall that's how we saw it on my friend's '65. We also found this doing a Operations test before the Regional in January. He never knew it was like that until we did the OPs. He would have failed it if we didn't notice it then.

Check the plug. The purple wire should go to the corresponding purple terminal that I marked on your photo. If it is on one of the Brown terminals, move it to PURPLE terminal on the switch.

Rich
p.s.

Switch Wiring Colors:
RED +12v Feed Input
LIGHT BLUE Headlights(to Foot Dimmer Switch & Telltale Headlight Bulb)
WHITE Courtesy Lights on (via Ground when knob rotated fully (ccw?))
DK GREEN Feed to fuse to Inst Lights
ORANGE Feed to Courtesy Lights/Stop Switch
BROWN Tail Lights
PURPLE Park Lights

====

[William C.]

Re: '67 parking lights on while headlights are on

Bob..If you check your wiring and it checks out ok per. Rich's instructions it's the switch. With the switch in the headlight on position there should be no continuity between the red lead terminal and the purple terminal on the switch..Bill

[Michael H.]

Re: '67 parking lights on while headlights are on

the corvette club of western pa. did this back in the day so we would know fellow club members when we passed them on the road.

Two of my buddies did this also in 1968 or 69.. One, a red/red 67 350 HP conv and the other a red/red 67 435 HP conv. They did it because the lamps on the new 68's were on when the headlamps were on and they thought it was cool.

I even remember the VIN of the 435 HP car as I wound up owning it later. It's probably still wired that way.

[Robert B.]

Re: '67 parking lights on while headlights are on

Robert, I marked your photo with the color codes......

That link is for the brown feed for the tail lights. I suspect the purple wire may be going to one of those terminals marked BROWN. If the purple is on one of those, that is the issue. That would keep the park lights on whenever the tail lights are on. I seem to recall that's how we saw it on my friend's '65. We also found this doing a Operations test before the Regional in January. He never knew it was like that until we did the OPs. He would have failed it if we didn't notice it then.

Check the plug. The purple wire should go to the corresponding purple terminal that I marked on your photo. If it is on one of the Brown terminals, move it to PURPLE terminal on the switch.

Rich
p.s.

Switch Wiring Colors:
RED +12v Feed Input
LIGHT BLUE Headlights(to Foot Dimmer Switch & Telltale Headlight Bulb)
WHITE Courtesy Lights on (via Ground when knob rotated fully (ccw?))
DK GREEN Feed to fuse to Inst Lights
ORANGE Feed to Courtesy Lights/Stop Switch
BROWN Tail Lights
PURPLE Park Lights

====

Rich, that is exactly what has happened - the purple wire has been moved to one of the "brown" terminals. I checked the switch and it does not have continuity between the red and purple terminals at any time. Now I just need to move that purple wire - the problem is just getting to it - there's not much slack in that harness.

Thanks,

Bob

[Richard M.]

Re: '67 parking lights on while headlights are on

Rich, that is exactly what has happened - the purple wire has been moved to one of the "brown" terminals. I checked the switch and it does not have continuity between the red and purple terminals at any time. Now I just need to move that purple wire - the problem is just getting to it - there's not much slack in that harness.

Thanks,

Bob

Bob,

Okay great you found it!

But......you should have continuity between RED and PURPLE terminals on the first detent pullout of the switch. That turns on the PARK & TAIL lights. If not, you have a bad switch. Maybe check it again?

Yes not much slack to get at the plug. You'll have to squeeze a small pick in there to push/release the tab.......from the front of the plug where there's a small rectangular opening. Once released, just carefully pull the tab back out a little bit and move it to the correct position. You should hear a little "click" when the tab catches.

Some pics in this thread may help.......https://www.forums.ncrs.org/showthre...420#post488420

Rich

[Robert B.]

Re: '67 parking lights on while headlights are on

Moved the purple wire to it's correct location, and all lights now operate properly. However just for the record, if one is trying to bench test the switch, it only provides continuity between the red power in terminal, and the light blue and purple terminal in any position. The connections between all of the rest of the lighting circuits must be made somewhere in the harness. I was going in circles trying to find out why I did could not get continuity between the power in terminal and the rest of the lighting circuits!!

Bob