The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay '59 Apache parking lights

I was working on the lights and ran into a question I cannot answer. Do the parking lights stay on in the front in both headlight switch positions? On Jessica's truck the rears stay on, but the fronts go out when the headlight switch is pulled out completely (headlight position), but they will stay on in the mid (parking light position) Is this how the switch should function or do I need a new switch?

Thanks in advance for your time.

The switch is funtioning properly, the parking lights are supposed to only be on in the mid position, and off when the headlamps are on.

Long Box,
Thanks for the quick reply.Looks like I will be replacing the switch any way.While playing with it I realized sometimes the taillights would not come on till I jiggled the switch and for $14 I guess it worth it.

VI - if you want the park lights to be 'always on' [running lights], it's a simple wire addition, here, from tech tips

Bill

Squeeze,
Thanks for the tip . Once I get the new switch I will add the jumper to make the lights stay on with the headlights. Additionally I swapped the single element lamp holders in front for dual element (1157) so the turn-signals will work there as well.

huh, that's a suprise, I thought by 59 they all had the dual element sockets even if they didn't come with factory signals

Bill

Jessica's '59 has the aftermarket switch on the column and holes in the tops of the front fenders where the signals were located. The parking lights which I assume were from this truck were only single element lamps with single pin sockets. I guess the lights could have been from an older donor, but I am not sure.

Hmm... strange. My 1958 has the two wire pigtail already in the front parking light with the 1157 bulb. Only one wire was used for the parking lamp, but could easily add turn signals to it.

This is interesting. My '59 Apache panel had factory turn signals, and I always thought they were standard after '57 or so....! Maybe not?

signals didn't become standard until in the 60's, they were an available option after 54

Bill

They became an option with the '54 models. They were available as an accessory before that and used separate lamps. I too thought anything '54 and after would have dual sockets but my '59 GMC Fleet option doesn't.