Packard Forum Index » Post-War (1946-54)

My 23 Series 1950 Touring Sedan has a light in the trunk, mounted on the inside of the lid. I want to make it work. However I cannot find the switch. Does anyone know what the switch looks like on a Packard accessory trunk light? I expected to see a switch on the lamp itself or possibly mounted to the edge of the trunk opening.

I thought some of those lights used a mercury switch or something equivalent?

Fred, I think if you unscrew the retaining screws and shake the light vigorously, you will hear a ball rattling back and forth. Don't try to disassemble it - just shake it for a while and then ground the assembly while holding it so the bulb faces down. Soemtimes the ball gets a little rust on it from sitting so long and you need to shake it to break the rust off. It is meant to light when you open the trunk and turn off when you close the trunk.

This one is on ebay now and is probably in great working order.
cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Packard-40s-50s- ... 5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

Ahh yes a ball switch. I knew it was some kind of position/angle based switch.

The trunk light for 1948-50 cars is wired into the circuit for the tail lights and does not have a separate switch. It is turned on from the headlight switch.

BDeB,
Are you referring to the license plate light or the light that is inside the trunk?

The one on ebay is listed under Accessories for 1951-1953 in the parts book. There is no listing for 22nd or 23rd series.
BDeB has more expertise than me in this series and I bow to superior knowledge.

The trunck light which I removed from my 1947 Custom Super has a mercury switch. The switch is all in the assembly with the bulb. I took it apart expecting to see some sort of ball but instead there is a clear plastic ( I don't think it is glass) tube with metal ends. The mercury floats within the tube and makes or breaks contact depending on position of the light. The light wire has a spring loaded connector which presses the conatct against one end of the tube and the other end of the tube is the contact for the bulb. It appeared to be wired up into the harness but on my super clipper I connected it to the licence plate light wire. It is for sure a factory light. I can atke a photo if needed but it appears identical to the one pictured in the '48 Accessory book.

Isn't it spelled trunk??