The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay No key switch light on Classic Parts wiring harness...

Well, I just realized that Classic Parts did not include a key switch lamp socket in their replacement wiring harness. Wonder why? At first, I thought I simply forgot about it and looked for 20 minutes or more under the dash to no avail. So, I pulled my original harness out from storage and found it had six lamp sockets. Classic Parts harness only has five.

I suppose I could splice one of the original sockets into the one of the lighting wires, but wonder why Classic Parts left this off?!?!?!?!

What's the part number of the harness?

Are the wires labeled or colored?

Did you find the high beam socket?

Classic Parts part number is 52-024. The high beam wire color is red whereas the instrument lighting wires are gray. So, yes, I found the high beam socket (was including the high beam when I mentioned 6 sockets on my original harness).

I called Classic and they told me that the key switch light is not needed and thus not included in the harness. who are they to decide that (other than who builds the harness so I guess they can do what they want). Nowhere in the description of the harness do they mention no switch lamp socket is included. They don't even sell a loose socket so I can splice it in. I will have to salvage one of the originals.

So, what does the ignition switch lamp provide...a glow around the key cylinder so you can find it by pull the light switch to parking lamp position? Or, is it best to not use it at all?

It does light up the switch. On cold mornings it helps me find the switch to put the key in while I have gloves on.

I agree
you can see it light up the outline of the key switch in the begining of this video.
...link...

comes in handy
easy to splice one in.
It should be disclosed that it not included

not all years had that light and some years that had the provision on the switch housing still didn't have it, no big deal to add it if the housing allows .... just another reason to never throw away any original parts

Bill

Thanks for the video link. And, wow, you added turn signal indicators. Wish I would have thought of that when rebuilding the gauges.

I have that same part number harnessing the garage

It has 6 sockets
But was purchased A few years ago

I been diagnosed with O.M B.D.

Old man blinker disease

The indicators help a little

I rewired my ignition switch light to come on when the key is turned on. This was done to let me know that I left it on before I get out of the truck (key in ignition, switch on). Its not because I'm old, its because I'm stupid. (My mom had me tested.)

Interesting idea, but I don't see how that works during daylight hours as I cannot imagine that you can see the light on a bright sunny day.

Last evening, I salvaged an original lamp socket from the original wiring harness and replaced the wire pigtail with a brand new one. Now I just need to splice it in. Now that I think about it, I am going to salvage all the original lamp sockets to have as spares. I like the original all metal sockets as compared to the plastic sockets on the Classic Parts harness. I am somewhat afraid the plastic sockets may melt eventually.

Do those plastic sockets have a separate ground wire?

No, they do not. The internal lamp socket is metal with tabs that engage the instrument cluster housing. The plastic is a "jacket" used to hold it all together.

the old set had 6 metal sockets
good question to ask for the next guy buying from them

Too bad we don't have a rep on here from Classic Parts. That is a really poor answer that you got. It tells me that they don't care about what they are selling you.

I am not always good at reading wiring diagrams, but here are two:

1951 truck - looks like five instrument panel leads/lights/sockets
1953 truck leads/lights/sockets

The 1954 diagram also shows 5 instrument panel lights. In all cases, the diagrams show one of the lights was for the Ignition SW Light? Am I reading those diagrams incorrectly?

the 6th is the high beam

...assembly manual pic...

The upper beam light is on a different circuit from the instrument lights/sockets.

Yes, there should also be an upper beam light socket, plus five instrument light sockets.

his harness came with 4 instrument and 1 high beam

classic parts counter person said they eliminated the ignition light.

Works just fine. The ignition switch is low enough not to be washed out by daylight.

Well, I have to eat crow. I found the sixth lamp socket yesterday evening while wiring up something else. It was so obvious I cant believe I did not see it. It was actually hanging down from below the dash...I spent all my time looking up under the dash that I did not see it. I skipped the first one believe it or not.

So, my apologies for blaming Classic Parts and my ignorance. DOH!

It is a brave man who admits he was wrong. Thanks for posting when you found it.

I agree. I takes a big dog to weigh a ton.

Hey, you were probably bent out of shape from all of the contortions which you had to endure to hook that stuff up.

good it was there and you found it .... the lesson for other folks here is to lay out the new harness on the floor before going to town on it and see how it's all laid out and that you know where everything goes, there may be some part you don't understand right off, and you may find there's something you need from the old harness .... look before you leap

Bill

You might want to look closely at the sockets they gave you in the kit - stick a lamp in them and feel how well it fits. I have seen new harnesses with the sockets of such poor quality that the lamps will fall out if you drive on a gravel road etc. I complained and was told it is the lamps fault! they're all made in taiwan and not up to our dimensions!
I salvage any old dash light sockets and replace the contact pin with the pigtail, spring and isolater and reuse the housing. can't beat OEM quality.