Packard Forum Index » V-8 (1955-56)

Good morning all. My headlights and dash lights stopped working on a 1955 Model 500. Turn signals and parking & brake lights are all ok..

When the headlight switch is in the on position I hear a sort of click every 8 seconds. I'm thinking that this is the circuit breaker trying to reset.

I guess I'll start with the headlight switch and circuit breaker which I think is one unit. Any other ideas much appreciated. Best MC

Yes that's your circuit breaker. First of all do your lights work when the switch is halfway out, all the way out, or neither? Also, make sure the switch is rotated all the way to the left when doing this.

Here is your guide to where the short must be:

When switch is rotated full CCW:
- works when out but not halfway out: front running lights circuit
- works halfway out not all the way: headlights circuit
- works neither: rear running lights circuit

Circuit breaker trips when switch is in either pulled out position and rotated ONE "CLICK" from full CCW: short in map lights circuit

Circuit breaker trips when switch is in either pulled out position and rotated SECOND "CLICK" from full CCW: short in instrument lights circuit

Let us know which symptom you have and we can give some suggestions on the specific location of the problem. DO NOT start gearing into your wiring if you don't know what you're doing. Also, reference the schematics in the electrical section of the 55 service manual in the literature archive to your left.

The breaker is on the back of the headlight switch and is replaceable separately. Napa and most parts stores should have a stud mount type 1 self resetting breaker. In 55-6 it is rated at 20 amps. It is likely there is a short if the clicking starts happening immediately after you turn the lights on but the breakers do age and can lose capacity causing the same on/off symptom. Usually if age is the issue it starts happening after the lights have been on for a few minutes. Even if you find a short causing your problem it might still be worthwhile to change the breaker after you find the problem.

For shorts, the dimmer switch has often been found to be an issue with the breaker tripping so check it out and in addition check for shorts in wiring at two small holes in the fender where the cables going to the headlight buckets pass thru on either side of the engine compt. Also look in the trunk and particularly at the tail lights where wires enter the bulb sockets. The short section of loom that goes side to side is in a trough at the rear of the trunk floor. Sometimes objects have been moving around in the trunk and were forcibly slammed into the tail light housings crushing the wire and causing damage and sometimes small objects have fallen in the trough and the continual rubbing and vibration has worn and damaged a wire in the loom. There is also a wire going to the license plate lamps that could have a problem at its exit thru a small hole in the trough or could have been damaged under the car.

I want to thank you all for your replies. The quality of information and knowledge on here is GREAT- thanks MC

When I had problems with the headlamp breaker tripping on my 1955 a couple years ago, it turned out it was the headlamp wiring harnesses. They connect to a bus on each of the inner fenders just behind the radiator core support. From there, they traveled through the core support, and then through an access hole in the fender. Then they connect to the back of your headlamps.

These were originally made with cloth-covered wiring, so they did not weather their life inside the wheel well particularly well. Also, they are now roughly 70 years old and time has taken its toll, making the covering crispy.

In my case, the cloth had flaked away, and my wiring was shorting out directly against the inner fender.

Reproductions of these headlamp harnesses are available through Max Merritt if you find you need them. Good luck!