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Wed Mar 21, 2012 12:55 pm

Pulled the 91 westy out of the garage today for the first trip of the year and learned upon the first stop that the parking lights would not shut off. I never switched the lights on when I started it and they weren't on all winter. Any ideas?

Wed Mar 21, 2012 1:36 pm

I'm betting that you have the headlights turned on. They automatically shut off when the ignition is killed and just leave the parking lights on.

Try rocking the switch back to the inside, towards the instrument cluster. ;)

Wed Mar 21, 2012 3:00 pm

Lights are off for sure. Pulled the fuse for now. Possible switch issue?

Wed Mar 21, 2012 3:26 pm

I have this issue as well on my 87 - well sort of. Mine are on whenever the engine is on, sort of like parking running lights lol. The dash cluster lights as well. Haven't gotten around to troubleshooting as there have been other more pressing matters with the van so I'll be keeping an eye here and maybe find a place to start. Please post what you find if you figure it out!

Mon Mar 26, 2012 12:58 pm

OK - does anyone have any ideas on where to start or what I should look at? I've got some time now and would like to see if I can get this corrected. As noted above, with key on and light switch off, I have both front parking lights/turn signals and the dash cluster lights always on.

Mon Mar 26, 2012 1:04 pm

Try changing your ignition switch. It can be the cause of many electrical gremlins.

Mon Mar 26, 2012 1:06 pm

Not quite the same but I have to remember NOT TO PARK in reverse or my rear lights stay engaged and drain my battery. Wired incorrectly(someone told me that it's the wiring in the engine compartment, and inadvertently someone wired it to the transmission), so hope to improve the wiring ultimately.

Mon Mar 26, 2012 1:08 pm

Did you try simply disconnecting the switch, after removing the dash cluster cover? Should only take a couple minutes to try.

Mon Mar 26, 2012 3:35 pm

JN99 wrote: OK - does anyone have any ideas on where to start or what I should look at? I've got some time now and would like to see if I can get this corrected. As noted above, with key on and light switch off, I have both front parking lights/turn signals and the dash cluster lights always on.

In all three positions, or do things change?

What happens with the key off?

Tue Mar 27, 2012 5:19 pm

Jake de Villiers wrote: In all three positions, or do things change?

What happens with the key off?

Once the key is moved to the auxiliary position the dash cluster lights and parking lights come on and that's how they stay with the key fully on. It's not a big deal I suppose but I wondered if it could have been intentionally wired that way and could easily be put back or was/is a common problem with an easy fix.

Someone mentioned the ignition switch, which I haven't yet tried disconnecting but I'm not sure what good that's going to do or what it will tell me. I have to think that will definitely turn them off since it's the ignition switch that's essentially turning them on.

Fri Mar 30, 2012 9:15 am

Ok, so any advice/direction on what else to look for/at? I'm going to take a deeper dive and will be doing some lights replacement and troubleshooting this weekend.

I'm still not sure I follow the logic regarding disconnecting the ignition switch. Since that is what essentially turns the lights on, what does that mean? Since it turns them on doesn't it stand to reason disconnecting it will definitely turn them off? Could it be a PO changed up the wiring or do I have a bum ignition switch?

Fri Mar 30, 2012 11:00 am

JN99 wrote: I'm still not sure I follow the logic regarding disconnecting the ignition switch.

I think the "try disconnecting the switch" post was in reference to the headlight switch, not the ignition switch. :wink: (Remember to put the fuse back in.)

Were the lights stuck on prior to storage, or did it just start doing this? It is possible that someone did some re-wiring in order to have DRLs, but if this a brand new issue, the headlight switch could be faulty.

Fri Mar 30, 2012 5:51 pm

Check the grounds for the headlights. There are two brown wires into one spade. Mine looked good, but when I cut it ti make into two separate grounds, there was corrosion at the end. Crimp or solder new spades onto those - even if this does not solve your problem, it is worth doing.

My lights were funky before this, blue hi-beam light staying on, I think the parking lights too. Try it.

Fri Mar 30, 2012 11:52 pm

if you have a eurpoean van the signal lights will be on when the turn signal lever is left in the left or right indicator blink position. confused me for an hour when i got my doka.

t

Wed May 02, 2012 10:00 am

So I looked a little closer and was incorrect about which lights are not shutting off. Its actually the brake lights that stay on. If I pull the fuse and replace it, all is well again. Upon the next start, they seem to work fine for a short time but always end up staying on at some point. Could this be the brake switch?