Re: 55 c pillar courtesy lights

Posted by HH56 On 2017/11/12 19:59:34

Should be the single filament 2 contact bulb for the interior quarters. The sockets are in parallel. Postwar Packards used the ground side for switching. Power is on one bulb contact all the time and ground is provided to the other via the door switches or via the headlight switch if knob is turned to the left to activate that portion of the switch.

On the 55 there are two sets of door switches at each door. A switch on each side is in parallel so either door operate the interior courtesy lights and map light and is also in parallel with the headlight switch portion so that switch can turn them on if the doors are closed. The other pair of door switches operates the outside courtesy lights located behind the door on the fender.

55 had two ordinary single terminal grounding switches but in 56 the switch changed to a single but special double terminal switch. Does your car have both switches at each door?