Re: dome light repairs

Posted by BH On 2014/1/7 13:15:47

The switch under discussion is for sedans bodies only - not used on hardtops.

Given your problem with the dome/reading lamps and the inoperative trunk compartment light, I wonder if the rear cigar lighters work. If you've studied the wiring diagrams in the shop manual, you may have noticed that each of those circiuts has a red feed wire, and they all come together in one splice. Yet, I'm not so sure that's the culprit. Trunk light might even be a completely separate issue.

You see, Packard's approach to courtesy lighting is a bit different than what you may have experienced with other brands and in later model years.

Normally, in sedan bodies, the dome/reading lamp is turned on by a switch in either REAR door hinge pillar or the sliding switch on the center pillar (above the beltline). However, in hardtop bodies, the dome/reading lamp is turned on by a switch in either FRONT door hinge pillar but ALSO by (by turning) the headlamp switch. Those switches also turn on the instrument panel map/courtesy lamp. The courtesy lamps have a constant hot-feed; the switches complete the path to ground.

So, I'd start with checking the position/operation of the headlamp switch. Then, try disconnecting the tan wire that runs from the headlamp switch back to another splice with the dome/reading lamps, and perhaps re-installing the bulbs. Notice that a separate tan wire from the same point on the headlamp switch and leads to a splice with the circuits for the front door jamb switches and the instrument panel light.

Please report back, here, with your findings.

Of course, I'm assuming that a correctly rated fuse is installed for these circuits.