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  View original topic: Front park lamp/headlamp question.
3foldfolly Tue Mar 27, 2012 6:51 pm

I have a 54 beetle. When I pull the headlamp switch to the first stop the tail lamps and running lamps in the front headlamp assys and dash illumination lamps come on as they should. When I pull the knob out fully to the second stop the head lamps come on as well but the running lamps (small bulbs in the bottom of the front headlamp assys) stay on. Is this normal for a 54? All the late 50's and early 60's bugs I've owned would turn off the running lamps when the headlamps turn on.

3foldfolly Wed Mar 28, 2012 8:55 pm

Nobody with a 54 who can tell me how theirs works?

janerick3 Thu Mar 29, 2012 5:08 am

There is a difference in early versus late oval headlight switches. The late oval switches have a Terminal 57 that functions as an isolated ground for the parking lights, so it grounds through the switch. When the headlights are turned on, the parking light circuit is opened inside the switch.

If your '54 has the original headlight switch, it may not have Terminal 57 on it. If that's the case, your parking lights will stay on, as you have to ground them to the body.



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