Parking light question

Kisner · 10-23-2002, 10:35 AM

Finally got my 68 coupe back from the painter (awesome clear coat candyapple red) and am just about finished reassembling the exterior. However, after I got all the lights hooked up and tested them all, the parking lights go off when the headlights are turned on. Is this the way Ford designed the 68's (or 64-68's)? I know on newer cars the parking lights remain on. I have all new wiring from under the dash to the headlights and a new light switch and I know it's all hooked up correctly. Thanks for the advice.

PKRWUD · 10-23-2002, 04:36 PM

Do you have the harness grounded everywhere it's supposed to be?

6T9PONY · 10-23-2002, 07:56 PM

The parking lamps are supposed to remain on when you turn the headlights on. It's probably a ground somewhere, like Chris said.

J&MStang · 10-23-2002, 09:54 PM

My recollection is the marker lights go out when the headlights are turned on. It's a function of the headlight switch; grounds have nothing to do with it unless your lights are not working at all or are flickering.

gofastmercury · 10-23-2002, 10:39 PM

Both my 67 ranchero and my 66 comet turn the park lights out when the haedlights come on. I always thought this was normal, so I never looked into it.

PKRWUD · 10-25-2002, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by J&MStang
My recollection is the marker lights go out when the headlights are turned on. It's a function of the headlight switch; grounds have nothing to do with it unless your lights are not working at all or are flickering.

you may be correct as far as the intent, but grounds have everything to do with light failures. it is very common, especially in a vehicle where the grounds for multiple lamps meet at a central point, for one to "lend" it's ground to another that has a poor connection. Admittedly, this usually results in one brighter than normal lamp, and one duller than normal lamp, but when one is a headlight, and the other is a parking lamp, it's entirely possible.

BTW, FYI, next time you see a car with one overly bright headlight, and one barely lit headlight, you can save the day by correcting the ground for the bright headlight. It will be the one with the bad ground.

Take care,
~Chris

Kisner · 10-25-2002, 03:58 PM

I re-checked everything, including all grounds. Appears everything is hooked up properly. Any other 68 Mustang owners out there that can definitively answer this question? Only other 68 owner I know of is GearHead999. This will puzzle me forever until I found out. Thanks for the answers so far.

10-23-2002, 10:35 AM	#1
Kisner Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2000 Posts: 290	Parking light question Finally got my 68 coupe back from the painter (awesome clear coat candyapple red) and am just about finished reassembling the exterior. However, after I got all the lights hooked up and tested them all, the parking lights go off when the headlights are turned on. Is this the way Ford designed the 68's (or 64-68's)? I know on newer cars the parking lights remain on. I have all new wiring from under the dash to the headlights and a new light switch and I know it's all hooked up correctly. Thanks for the advice.

10-23-2002, 04:36 PM	#2
PKRWUD Junior Member Join Date: Mar 1999 Location: Ventura, California Posts: 8,981	Do you have the harness grounded everywhere it's supposed to be? __________________ Webmaster: Rice Haters Club Jim Porter Racing Peckerwoods Pit Stop Support Your Local RED & WHITE!

10-23-2002, 10:39 PM	#5
gofastmercury Registered Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: calgary alberta canada Posts: 366	Both my 67 ranchero and my 66 comet turn the park lights out when the haedlights come on. I always thought this was normal, so I never looked into it. __________________ 93LXcopcarSOLD14.3@96 @ 4500ft 2.02 60ft on street tires. my 67 ranchero NOT A 390 ANY MORE! 460! 3.70's cast manifolds, comp cams 262H, performer, 750DP 100K out of 79 F250 NEW(oct20/02)14.58@95mph 2.3 60 ft corrects to:13.86@100 66 merc comet351w, isky roller 600 lift 268/260@.050, vic jr. 700DP, 5000stall, 4.56's c-4, 3400lbs with driver 12.3@110 @ 4000ft 1.69 60 ft corrects to:11.69@115

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Check Engine Light Question.	5ohCOUPE	Windsor Power	8	12-25-2002 12:20 AM
parking brake question	82 GT	Windsor Power	3	03-12-2002 12:33 AM
Fog light bulb question	84LX89GT	Blue Oval Lounge	12	11-04-2001 10:53 PM
LIGHT QUESTION?	vande97	Windsor Power	3	04-09-2001 03:15 PM
Old Question Needs Answered Again - Low Coolant Light	xspeed02	Windsor Power	2	04-07-2001 10:28 PM

10-23-2002, 07:56 PM	#3
6T9PONY All about the Windsor. Join Date: Feb 2000 Posts: 2,052	The parking lamps are supposed to remain on when you turn the headlights on. It's probably a ground somewhere, like Chris said.

10-23-2002, 09:54 PM	#4
J&MStang Registered Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Moore, OK Posts: 25	My recollection is the marker lights go out when the headlights are turned on. It's a function of the headlight switch; grounds have nothing to do with it unless your lights are not working at all or are flickering.

10-25-2002, 03:58 PM	#7
Kisner Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2000 Posts: 290	I re-checked everything, including all grounds. Appears everything is hooked up properly. Any other 68 Mustang owners out there that can definitively answer this question? Only other 68 owner I know of is GearHead999. This will puzzle me forever until I found out. Thanks for the answers so far.