Re: '55 dashboard light harness
Posted by HH56 On 2014/8/5 17:24:40
The dash lights get power from the tail light terminal on headlight switch via a short jumper wire connecting to the rheostat wiper. The rheostat assy is on knob side of ceramic. Goes thru rheostat and then on to dash bulbs. I believe those are all 18 ga black wires. Courtesy lights also have their manual on/off switch as a second function of turning the headlight switch knob. That contact connects courtesy lamp bulbs to ground and is on the side of ceramic toward the engine.
If the lights are connected properly and powered but still no dash light, oxidation and corrosion on the wiper assy and a minuscule surface area on the connections via rivets from terminals to rheostat seem to be a persistent problem with old long sitting switches. The least bit of extra resistance anywhere in the circuit seems to kill the lights. Typically corrosion sets in on the plate the wiper slides against and between the tiny lip of peened over rivet and the terminal.
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If the lights are connected properly and powered but still no dash light, oxidation and corrosion on the wiper assy and a minuscule surface area on the connections via rivets from terminals to rheostat seem to be a persistent problem with old long sitting switches. The least bit of extra resistance anywhere in the circuit seems to kill the lights. Typically corrosion sets in on the plate the wiper slides against and between the tiny lip of peened over rivet and the terminal.
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