The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay Headlight operation?

I'm working on a '53 3800 pickup. Original wiring mostly gone long ago. I have put in a new wiring harness, and new headlight switch. The way i have it wired, when you pull out the headlight switch to the first poistion the headlights are on, taillights are on, and front parking lights off. 2nd position leaves the taillights on, shuts the headlights off, and turns the front parking lights on. Is this correct?

I rewired my 55.1 a few years ago and it wasn't set up like that originally. I am working off memory, but 1st pull out position is tail lamps front and back, if equipped. 2nd pull out position is headlamps without front running lamps.

Good luck

You should have park and tail lights on first step, park, tail, headlamps on second step if it uses a more modern switch. The older switch may only have headlight and tail light on second step shutting off park lamps, seems odd though.

Yes

No - From a 1953 Chevrolet Truck Operators Manual. See snap shot below.

Dan beat me to it as I was just getting my extra owners manual out.

Thank you. Seems like if I switch the position of the parking lights and headlights on the switch my operation will match the manual. Thanks!

If this is right thats what I said and what the OP said.
when the switch is pulled out to the 1st On. park lamps and taillights On.
when the switch is pulled out to the last position the headlamps and taillights are lighted.
Never are the headlamps and park lamps on at the same time. Thats what the owner's manual says.

Guitplayer - His first post shows basically the opposite of what the owners manual said:


Your response to his first post said:


Your latest reply states the order of switch position and light function differently than his originally reported condition:


Which is why I replied "NO..." after your "Yes" reply

I think we've established the correct switch position and light functions. Up to Pa Farmer to get his wiring corrected to achieve the same function on his truck, which he seems to have figured out how to do.

Pa Farmer - Let us know how the rewiring goes please.

oh, I saw that backwards then.

Actually, this thread is a good reminder for me to check my headlight switch for I NEVER drive my truck at night. Does it still work? Hmmmmm

A friend of mine got a ticket about 50 years ago for driving at dusk with his parking lights on. (no headlights) . The cop told him that parking lights were only to be used when parked.

Just googled what the purpose of parking lights are and yes to what Leo says

"The main purpose of parking lights is to increase the visibility of a parked vehicle, making it easier for other drivers to see and avoid it, especially in low-light conditions. They are used when the vehicle is stationary, serving as a safety feature to alert others to the presence of a parked or stationary car"

depends on what you call them at the time. Running lights, Fog lights. Parking....
chances are the ticket was written at near dark/dusk when the driver needed to have his headlamps on.

Right. Dude got a ticket for driving without his headlights on, not for driving with his parking lights on.

Those parking lights go out when you turn the headlights on.