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Strange Parking lamp behavior/ rebuilt switch

Discussion in '308/328' started by wcelliot, Nov 23, 2008.

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  1. wcelliot

    wcelliot Formula Junior

    May 7, 2004
    577
    Maryland, USA
    Full Name:
    Bill
    #1 wcelliot, Nov 23, 2008
    Last edited: Nov 23, 2008
    Back in the summer I replaced the headlamp switch, steering wheel, and door panels. With the exception of the passenger side window switch (which never worked... despite the fact it has been replaced and appears to let the driver's side switch work the passenger window just fine), everything seemed to work fine.

    This monring (about 30 degrees here) we went out for a Sunday drive trough the countryside. When we stopped at a bakery, another customer told me I'd left my lights on... strange since I hadn't turned them on at all... but he was right and the parking lights were on. The headlamp switch was off and no matter what position I had it in, the parking lampes stayed on. I started the car, took the headlight switch through all of its possible positions. Everything worked normally and when the switch was off, so were the parking lights. I stopped the engine and everything seemed fine.

    Next stop, we got out of the car and the lights were on again. I turned the ignition on but before I started the car, my wife said "they're off!"... turning the ignition on turned the parking lamps off but when I turned it off they came back on. I did this several times with the ehadlight swithc in different positions... the lights always stayed on when the ignition was turned off. I restarted the car, took the headlights through the same exercise as I did at the bakery, and when I turned the ignition off, they stayed off.

    They stayed off normally on the next and last stops as well.

    Now I can't even work up theoretically what could cause such behavior... any ideas where to start looking? (I would assume the rebuilt switch, but can't come up with what could possibly malfunction and cause this...)

    Edit: subject is '78 308GTB

    Thanks!
    Bill
     
  2. Paul_308

    Paul_308 Formula 3

    Mar 12, 2004
    2,345
    #2 Paul_308, Nov 23, 2008
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Referring to my simplified diagram of the parking light circuit (hint hint) the parking lights get voltage from left fuses E & F which is powered by the 'exterior lights' relay. The relay coil is gets 12v from the bat bus terminal block which gets power from the battery. But other side of coil must be grounded by the parking light switch on the stalk. So, parking lights can go one independently of ignition switch but yours are dependand upon switch position, so it can't happen, what did you get at the bakery?

    Rather than work out the possible iterations of switch anomoly, you have obviously connected the stalk switch in some strange fashion. Use my partial diagram below to work out what is reversed. I assume you are familiar with a voltmeter and your stalk switch wiring. Come back if you get stuck. Also, do the headlights and high beam flasher work properly?



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  3. wcelliot

    wcelliot Formula Junior

    May 7, 2004
    577
    Maryland, USA
    Full Name:
    Bill
    #3 wcelliot, Nov 25, 2008
    Last edited: Nov 25, 2008
    Thanks much for the great diagram... that will help.

    The switch was "plug and play" so unless it got assembled incorrectly when rebuilt, it pretty much has to be installed correctly... but having your diagram will make troubleshooting a lot easier.

    The really strange part here is the intermittent nature of the behavior... how cycling the switch can change the behavior. That would lead me to think it's possibly a grounding or relay issue...

    Everything (headlamps, parking lamps) works completely normally with the ignition switch on...

    Thanks again!

    Bill
     

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