Fried Light Switch?

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

Front Range 4x4

Front Range 4x4

10 Year 15 Year 20 Year
Joined
Oct 1, 2005
Threads
158
Messages
2,817
Location
Colorado
I've been chasing wiring issues and have about finished. Just need to add in a Corona tail light which is kind of close to the early 55 style under the plate. Now the question: I found the troublesome shorts but when I went to turn off the lights noticed the switch was hot. Took a look and the rheostat was glowing. I don't have dash lights but everything else is fine. Is this switch fried? Can I bypass the rheostat or do I have to find a replacement?

Yeah, this isn't my strength. :rolleyes:
 
red cruiser said:
I've been chasing wiring issues and have about finished. Just need to add in a Corona tail light which is kind of close to the early 55 style under the plate. Now the question: I found the troublesome shorts but when I went to turn off the lights noticed the switch was hot. Took a look and the rheostat was glowing. I don't have dash lights but everything else is fine. Is this switch fried? Can I bypass the rheostat or do I have to find a replacement?

Yeah, this isn't my strength. :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

I am a little slow here...Tail light switch? Brake? ( i am guessing?) Flasher? Headlight? and it was the headlight switch that was hot?

edit : Duh sorry, taillight added now switch hot?
 
Last edited:
What '55 light switch has a rheostat? A rheostat is a variable resistor and in a lighting circuit it would allow you to change the light intensity. I do not know of any circuit like that in the '55 unless there is a dome light rheostat but I can't recall that.

If it is a rheostat it can mean either the load is of VERY low resistance and you are flowing ALOT of current or there is only a small amount of the windings on the rheostat that are actually making contact thus giving you a hot area.

If it's a regular light switch I'd start by cleaning the contacts good, they may be burned from 30+ years of use.
 
Yes, this is the light switch. Rheostat? Maybe I'm wording this wrong but it has what looks like a coil of wires and a connector that slides over the coils as you turn the headlight knob. Isn't that a rheostat? Isn't it stock? Isn't dash light brightness adjustable?

The glowing ended (fried?) when I turned the knob away from the glowing spot.

As I said, this isn't my strongest area.
 
Eric Ellis said:
taillight added now switch hot?
Click to expand...

No, I don't think there's any relationship. I found the short and when re-installing the light switch noticed it was hot and saw the glowing. I'm guessing that if I left it alone it would have burned out but I turned the knob which stopped the glowing and presumably current flowing through the switch.

Since the tail lights and dash are on the same circuit and the tail lights are working but dash lights aren't I'm suspecting the switch itself since glowing red hot parts usually isn't good sign.
 
There is a rheostat in the light switch. If you twist the knob your dash lights are supposed to dim. If I try to dim mine, the fuse blows. So I know mine's messed up too. You could probably by-pass the rheostat by hard-wiring the dash lights into the marker light circuit...
 
Pighead said:
There is a rheostat in the light switch. If you twist the knob your dash lights are supposed to dim. If I try to dim mine, the fuse blows. So I know mine's messed up too. You could probably by-pass the rheostat by hard-wiring the dash lights into the marker light circuit...
Click to expand...

Thanks Pighead, I didn't think it was a non-stock switch. I'm barely competent at electrical stuff but feeling pretty good about resolving almost everything. Can you explain how I'd go about hard wiring the dash lights into the marker circuit?

Oh, I don't have marker lights (69 vintage) but I suppose the headlight or tail light circuit would work, right?

TIA!
 
You have marker lights...both fender aprons and the grill...
I guess I'd find the wire that goes from the switch to the dashlights. Cut it off the switch, then find a wire that goes hot when you pull the switch out and tap into that.
Then turn it on and see if it smokes or blows the fuse. If not, done. If so, try something else...
 
Pighead said:
You have marker lights...both fender aprons and the grill...
I guess I'd find the wire that goes from the switch to the dashlights. Cut it off the switch, then find a wire that goes hot when you pull the switch out and tap into that.
Then turn it on and see if it smokes or blows the fuse. If not, done. If so, try something else...
Click to expand...

No marker lights on the aprons, just single wire turn signals and none on the grill.

I just took a quick look, it looks like one side of the rheostat has a green wire and the other a blue w/white. I'll consult the FSM but I'm thinking I may just be able to jump those.
 
Pighead said:
There is a rheostat in the light switch. If you twist the knob your dash lights are supposed to dim.
Click to expand...

I'll need to try that! I didn't know that was there! Is that for all years of '55's?
 
Don't know about all years...give it a try and report back.
 
Pighead said:
Don't know about all years...give it a try and report back.
Click to expand...

So, this is the switch?

Have one of these apart here if looking at will help. But it sounds like you are going to just rewire.
coolfj40_1993_29021868.gif
 
Last edited:
Hmmm....that looks sorta like mine, but it's a CCOT switch? then it's probably made in China instead of Japan.
 
Cool! I was just out to the store with the '55 and since it's now rainy season here in Guatemala I had the lights on. I tried turning the switch and the dash lights dimmed!! I didn't even know that was there.
 
$34.87 on the electrical page. Nice new knob and everything.

Edit: OEM
 
Last edited:
Since we are on the subject

I was wondering if anyone has seen the light switch relocated. Mine has been like this since I owned it. I'm thinkint they did it to get the switch away from any moisture from a leaking window gasket. Looks different from the OEM.
lightswitch.webp
 
Rich; have not seen one relocated but it would easier to work on:hillbilly:.....you might look at the top; it might have a small bulb....some of these were lighted :)

Lou
 
Now THAT looks just like my lightswitch, just in a different location. You also usually move the lightswitch when installing a rollcage...
Did you guys also know that there is a lightbulb inside the pullknob that is supposed to light up when the lights are on? Except for Ige's, she put an LED in her's.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Back
Top Bottom