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Lighting/Ignition issue

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lilstix

Freshman Member
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Hello all,

I was reading a couple of wiring post on the boards today and hoped that all the wiring gurus out there might be able to assist me.

I have a 76 B with and issue that involves the lighting/ignition (I think).

the problem is that whenever I have the key in the on position the parking lights are lit irregardless if the switch is on or not. Working the switch turns on and off the headlights and the dimmer/high beam function works propertly and the car starts and runs fine. The problem occurs when I try to shut the car off with the headlights on. If I turn the ignition off with the headlights on the car continues to run until I turn the headlight switch off.

Is this just a bad switch which always leaves the parking lights on when the ignition is hot and backfeeds the ignition circut when the lights are on and the key is off, or does this problem hint of a more serious wiring issue with the ignition switch itself.

Any thoughts you all may have would be most appreciated
 
I'd be looking for harness issues... I doubt its due to a control.

Look carefully for evidence of melted wiring.
 
Also, look for a wire on the wrong terminal of the fuse block.
 
I just went through a similar situation where I would be driving with my headlights on, turn on my signals and the headlights would go off. I took out the high beam/ signal switch and found the whole thing covered with a sheen of oil (or something) a good cleaning solved the problem
 
I also had similar electrical problems. I removed the light switch and cleaned the contacts at the base and the copper slider inside the switch. In addition, I also cleaned the turn-signal switch (just spray contact cleaner inside the switch and blow with compressed air several times, cleaned the fuse box and changed the fuses and it solved the lights problems.
 
Contacts inside those "rocker" switches are notorious for crudding up. Be surgeon-like and do what YB did. Disassemble it and clean the contact surfaces.
 
Lilstix, Just keep one thing in mind, as a lot of us forget at times, your car is 34 years old and the wiring, connectors and switches need to be cleaned up so all the contacts are in top shape. Bad grounds in the system from years of neglect will also drive you up the wall with electrical problems. Just a couple of thoughts to put in your memory banks. PJ
 
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