Packard Forum Index » V-8 (1955-56)

My 1956 400 has me scratching my head again. The exterior lights come on when a door is opened, but the interior lights don't. I figure it's a blown fuse, but I have no idea where to look for it. Is there a fuse block in this car? (I've looked but can't find one.) Or is it a problem of searching for an individual inline fuse somewhere?

As always, any help appreciated.

Steve in Indiana

55-56 cars do have a somewhat limited fuse block located above the steering column under the dash as well as a few more inline holders most of which are in the engine compt. The 56 interior courtesy lights and a couple of other items are fed from the body feed fuse in that fuse block.

Note that some of the fuses are the old SFE type and depending on the amperage rating are different and specific in length so need to be the same to fit in the fuseblock. I don't remember the length of the body feed fuse but if it is shorter than the modern 3AG fuse standard, NAPA has a good selection of SFE fuses but you will need to buy them by the box of typically 5 fuses.

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HH56: Thanks. I looked in that area, but must have missed the fuse block. I'll check again tomorrow.

I bought a lot of the old SFE fuses at auctions back in the 70's and still have most of them. I think I may have the one Packard used.

Appreciate the help!

Found the fuse block, should have seen it first time I looked. Now the interior lights appear to be working, but I only find two on the sides above the back seat and one above the radio just under the lip of the padded dash. I guess I was expecting to find a couple under the sides of the dash like in my 23rd Series Deluxe Eight. I looked, but didn't see any. Are there any other interior lights besides those three?

Nope. The center map light in front took the place of the two underdash courtesy lights and on a hardtop there are two quarter lights in the back instead of the single lamp over the rear window on sedans. For manual operation with doors closed, turning the headlight switch all the way to the left turns them all on in the 400 whereas in a sedan the headlight switch would turn the front on and a pillar switch would turn the rear light on.

OK and thanks again. Guess I've got them all working. Time to obsess over something else!