Light issue

[tlwesch]

Hey I am suddenly having some issues with my lights. My tail lights are staying on at all times, even when I turn the car off. My headlights are suddenly not working, I tested them with a test light and I am getting power to one of the prongs. Should I be getting power to more than one?

Thanks for the help.

Sorry car is a 65 Coronet 500.
I disconnected the battery so it wouldn't drain. I also cleaned off the ground to the engine, just incase it wasn't getting good contact to almost 50 years of engine sludge.

 

[69roadr]

i would blame the light switch for the problem if it's just your taillights staying on. probably years of gunk accumulated inside the switch mechanism. if you're getting power to the headlights, i would assume a bad bulb. try switching them around to see if any of them work. are all 4 not working?

 

[tlwesch]

High beams are working and running lights are working. Can I clean out the switch or should I just buy a new one? 69roadr thank you for the response. Both headlights are out and they were working a few weeks ago. I will look at it again this weekend.

 

[HT413]

High beams are working and running lights are working. Can I clean out the switch or should I just buy a new one? 69roadr thank you for the response. Both headlights are out and they were working a few weeks ago. I will look at it again this weekend.

Any replacement switch you buy will just be a cheap chinese firestarter.

In my opinion, i'd degrease it then clean it with some salt and vinegar mixture, which is a very effective copper deoxidizer. Maybe a cup to a tablespoon or so. Then rinse the s$&t out of it to be sure the vinegar is gone then test it and run it.

 

[tlwesch]

Thanks for the help..I'll try and get that done over the weekend.

 

[tlwesch]

Ok guys....I hooked the battery back up. Lights didn't come on, I pull the car out turn it off and the lights stay on. I didn't even turn the lights on, but the tail lights are staying on - nothing else. I took a test light to the fuse panel and with no keys in the ignition I am getting power to the tail light fuse. Any suggestions on what to check next? I did look at the light switch(what a pain in the *** to get to) it looked good, not gunked up.

 

[440+6]

Brake light switch?

 

[HT413]

I agree, check the brake light switch, maybe it needs a little cleaning and lube or replace.

 

[Bruzilla]

Yep. You might be seeing the brake lights and mistaking them for parking lights.

As for the headlights, I would say now is an ideal time to upgrade to a relay setup that's running direct from the alternator. It'll make your headlights MUCH brighter and it's faster and cheaper than chasing down a bad wire.

 

[tlwesch]

Thanks I'll check the brake light switch.....However, why would I be getting power with the car off keys out....etc?

 

[HT413]

Thanks I'll check the brake light switch.....However, why would I be getting power with the car off keys out....etc?

Brake lights work with the car off. 440+6 nailed it, gotta be brake lights.

 

[tlwesch]

Ok I'll look at that this weekend. Trying to think how bright they were and this makes sense.... Keep you all posted.