The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay 41-46 Gauge Light Switch

I was lucky enough to find an NOS under dash 3 pole gauge light switch for my 42 1/2t. I can't find any wiring diagrams for the switch...I've got the interior under-dash light wired and working as well as the 3 in-gauge lights...My question is...should the in-gauge lights come on when you engage/pull out the headlight switch? if so how do you wire it?

no, that's why there's a seperate switch, took another few years before they got high tech enough to put them together ... but you could wire it so the power to the dash light switch comes from the headlight switch, so they're only functional when the headlights are on

Bill

As Bill mentioned, there is a small switch thats located on the bottom of the dash directly below and to the right of the ignition. Its just a simple 3 way switch thats about a 1/2" long and slides side to side, not a toggle. Middle being the off position, while to the left and right its used for either the dome light or the gauge lights.

Jeff

Not a dome light, a dash light. It's the light that is over your choke and throttle cable knobs. Your manual will show how to wire up the slide switch in order to power up the gauge lights. The gauge lights only light up when the headlight switch is pulled AND the pole switch is in the correct position. You may have an extra wire hanging around not doing anything. That might be the one you need. (use a big mirror for troubleshooting, save your back for the tough stuff!)

To make it work the way you want, run the hot wire from the headlight terminal of the main light switch.

I appreciate the responses...but I'm more confused...are the gauge lights (3 bulbs) supposed to work when the 3 pole switch is in the left-hand position AND the headlight switch is pulled ? or does it work in the left-hand position regardless of whether the headlight switch is pulled or not?
My switch and is currently wired so the gauge lights only go on when the switch is in the left hand position...is this correct?

The switch under the dash is strictly for the dash lights. It is not related at all to the headlight switch. What they are telling you is that you CAN wire it to your headlight switch to go on automatically when you turn the headlight switch on if you like. I do not recall how the switch is supposed to function since mine was never hooked back up as I have aftermarket gauges.