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  View original topic: Parking light question
Envious Thu Sep 02, 2004 8:08 pm

When I turn my parking lights on, both tail lights and the license plate light come on. So far, so good. At the front, though, neither of the turn signals light up, just the passenger headlight, which on my car, is yellow.

Sound right? I would have guessed that the front turn signals would light up. I checked the wiring harness connections at the fuse block and they matched my Bentley but something seems odd.

I appreciate any help.

R.Rabbit Thu Sep 02, 2004 8:25 pm

Do your front signals work? If not check your grounds. If so it may be the wire at the back of the headlight switch is not conneted/loose/broken. Use your Bentley to trace the wires to the relay and switch and back the the fuse block. Also there should be 2 wires going into the back of the signals, unless you have euro headlights then your parking light is in the headlight bucket like an early type I or II.

Envious Thu Sep 02, 2004 8:34 pm

My front signals both work but there's only 1 wire to each and only 1 terminal on each socket.

speed holes Thu Sep 02, 2004 8:40 pm

I'm pretty sure that early euro cars had running lights built into the headlight assembly, the front signals are only used as turn signals.

60DoubleTurd Thu Sep 02, 2004 8:49 pm

Your side markers should come on with your parking lights. Mine do and my car is Canadian too. I also think that front signals were signals only for cars that came with side markers.

Envious Thu Sep 02, 2004 8:53 pm

I've been checking, cleaning connections, and replacing bulbs all over the car getting it ready for safety. I completely forgot about the side markers!! Now I've got to go back out to the garage. My neighbours think I'm an idiot.

EverettB Thu Sep 02, 2004 10:53 pm

If you have a car that originally came with bulb ("Euro") headlights, then the front turn signals only have 1 connection, which is turn signals only. The parking lights are in the headlights so only those come on.

If you have a sealed beam car, your car will have 2 connections at the front turn signals lights, one for parking lights and one for turn signals.

The side markers only have 1 connection. They are either side marker lights (red/white lenses) or turn signal lights (yellow lenses). They don't come on with the parking lights.

My Canadian-spec. '63 has dual filament front turn signals, sealed beam headlights, and yellow side markers. Here's the breakdown:
Parking lights:
Front turn signals on (low wattage)
Rear parking lights on
Full headlights:
Front turn signals on (low wattage)
Rear parking lights on
Headlights on

ho_mgnt Fri Sep 03, 2004 7:32 am

I could use a little help myself. These lights are driving me insane!

I have a 65 notch. Looks to have sealed beam headlights. The front wrap arount turn signals have dual filament bulbs with 3 connections. My side markers have only 1 connection.

When I turn on the parking lights, only my rears turn on. Should the front wrap arounds turn on as well? My signals up front work just fine.

Thanks in advance!

Envious Mon Sep 27, 2004 6:58 am

I figured out the side marker lights by accident the other day....then I read the owners manual :D

I must have hit the turn signal lever when I was working on the car the other day because all of a sudden the left side marker light was on. Didn't know what made it come on so I couldn't shut it off. It turned off only when the ignition was on at which point the left turn signals started up.

The side markers are only used as parking lights!! They only work when the ignition is off and when you put on the left or right turn signal. The left or right side marker comes on accordingly. I checked back through the wiring and it all made sense. I flipped through the owners glove box manual and it described the same.

You learn something new every day.



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