C3 Tech/Performance V8 Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine, Basic Tech and Maintenance for the C3 Corvette
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Lights will not turn off.

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Aug 27, 2010 | 04:00 PM
  #1  
Zell76's Avatar
Zell76
Thread Starter
Intermediate
 
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
Default Lights will not turn off.

I have a 1976 Corvette. When I connect the battery, my rear lights and parking lights come on. My headlamp switch is push in the off position. I have a new rear harness, and it is installed properly. I am not sure what I need to look for. I also have a few wires that are not connected to anything, and I am not sure what to connect them to. I have 2 wiring diagrams, and those wires are not on there. The first wires are near the windshield wiper motor. Both are hot when the battery is connected. There is nothing else there to connect to so I am stumped. It looks like both ends are male, and the wires are yellow and black. The other pair of wires are ground wires because they have no current in any situation. I connected one to the fuel gauge, and I got that gauge to work. Even though the ground for the fuel gauge is the mounting surface. The other wire comes out next to the key warn buzzer. I am not sure if I have to mount it to something in particular, buit I do not see anything that is missing a wire. If anyone can help I would appreciate it.
Reply
Old Aug 27, 2010 | 09:57 PM
  #2  
leskinner's Avatar
leskinner
Instructor
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 242
Likes: 4
From: deland fl
Default

Hi Zell-
I had the same problem in my '75 with the parking lights not turning off. It was inside the headlight switch. There was a small piece of plastic broken off the "contact slider" which prevented it from going all the way forward, staying in the park light position. Replaced the switch and problem went away.
Enjoy
Larry
Reply
Old Aug 28, 2010 | 09:13 AM
  #3  
Zell76's Avatar
Zell76
Thread Starter
Intermediate
 
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
Default

Larry, thanks for the reply. I am not sure how to tell if the slider is forward all of the way. When I slide it back there are 2 distinct clicks. I was assuming cllick 1 is parking lights, and click 2 is regular lights. When I pull it back to click 1 the side marker lights come on, and my headlights turn on with click 2. That is in addition to the rear lights and parking lights coming on. I am really confused about all of this.
Reply
Old Aug 28, 2010 | 09:30 AM
  #4  
...Roger...'s Avatar
...Roger...
Race Director
 
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,528
Likes: 53
From: Dayton, Ohio
Default

Unplug the switch,if the lights go off it must be the switch.
Reply
Old Aug 28, 2010 | 10:46 AM
  #5  
Zell76's Avatar
Zell76
Thread Starter
Intermediate
 
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
Default

Roger, thanks for the reply. I unplugged the switch, and the lights remained in the same position. Another issue that could be related or unrelated is when I turn my lights to the on position, the interior lights behind the gauges do not turn on. I tried to twist the **** and everything. Along with the parking lights turning on, the turn signal lights are on as well. It is not a flash, it is steady. Electrical problems make me ill, but I appreciate everyones help.
Reply
Old Aug 28, 2010 | 11:12 AM
  #6  
Project80's Avatar
Project80
Racer
 
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 428
Likes: 0
Default

Originally Posted by Zell76
Roger, thanks for the reply. I unplugged the switch, and the lights remained in the same position. Another issue that could be related or unrelated is when I turn my lights to the on position, the interior lights behind the gauges do not turn on. I tried to twist the **** and everything. Along with the parking lights turning on, the turn signal lights are on as well. It is not a flash, it is steady. Electrical problems make me ill, but I appreciate everyones help.
Try pulling the fuse for the lights, if they go out then the problem is after the box. It's not much, but its a start.
Reply
Old Aug 29, 2010 | 09:20 AM
  #7  
Zell76's Avatar
Zell76
Thread Starter
Intermediate
 
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
Default

I found the problem guys. It is the turn signal switch. My turn signals stay on all the time, but I have a new switch. The problem is this adapter they gave me. When i connect the switch to the harness, it works fine, but it doesn't fit right. When I use the adapter they gave me, it doesn't work right, but it fits right. I have no idea what to do now. I may used some electrical taped engineering.
Reply
Old Aug 29, 2010 | 11:05 AM
  #8  
Willcox Corvette's Avatar
0Willcox Corvette
Former Vendor
 
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
Likes: 1,851
From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Default

Originally Posted by Zell76
I found the problem guys. It is the turn signal switch. My turn signals stay on all the time, but I have a new switch. The problem is this adapter they gave me. When i connect the switch to the harness, it works fine, but it doesn't fit right. When I use the adapter they gave me, it doesn't work right, but it fits right. I have no idea what to do now. I may used some electrical taped engineering.
If you have the old switch, push the terminals out and do the same on the new switch. Just be sure to get the right wires in the old connector.

The actual terminals have a backwards tang on them that hold them from pushing out when installed. I have a tool for this, but a tiny screw driver will work just as well. You'll see it on the bottom terminal just barely sticking out. If you insert the tiny screw driver in the end of the terminal and on top it will push the tang and allow you to pull the wire out.

Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Lights will not turn off.

Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-1

Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-3

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

 Brett Foote
story-7

Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-8

10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

 Michael S. Palmer




All times are GMT -4. The time now is 02:13 AM.

story-0
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-2
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-3
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

Slideshow: Ranking the top 10 Corvette engines by torque output.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:58:09


VIEW MORE
story-5
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

Slideshow: A Corvette pace car nearly matching IndyCar speeds sounds exaggerated, until you look at the numbers.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-04 20:03:36


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

Among a rather large group of them.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:56:44


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

Slideshow: the top 10 things Corvette owners want in the C9 Corvette

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-30 12:41:15


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

Slideshow: 10 Important Corvette 'firsts' that every fan should know.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 17:02:16


VIEW MORE
story-9
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

Slideshow: Should you buy a 2020-2026 Corvette or wait for 2027?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-22 10:08:58


VIEW MORE