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

About the trunk light. A wire from the right tail lamp runs through a junction and on to the trunk lamp. This is a direct run. Now, I have the same question that you do. What about a switch. It should come on when the trunk lid is lifted, but how. There has to be some kind of a switch to break the circuit when the trunk lid is closed. Right now I just don't have the answer. I have a 1950 Packard that I am rewiring. This is a more complicated job than I anticipated.

Trunk light does not go on when you open the trunk.It will only go on if you have your parking lights or head lights on.

Quote:

There is an exploded photo of the lamp assy in post 4 of this thread, As you see, there is a mercury switch built into the socket assy that turns the lamp on and off when the lid is moved. As GTO mentioned, it is only operational when tail lights are on. In many of the assys, the contacts inside the switch have oxidized to the point it doesn't work. I don't know of any new direct install replacements available.

Some have had luck making some kind of commercial glass envelope mercury switch available at electronics stores work. That takes some ingenuity to mount and protect the glass. Those switches are low current so a possible issue. Mercury switches are being outlawed in more places so an alternative is a steel ball tilt switch also available at some electronics supply stores. Packard used those in later lamp assys but they also have oxidation problems.