59 Apache dome light
 

All-

My dome light stays on all the time in my 59 Chevy Apache. I took the headlight switch apart and cleaned it but still does same. It looks like there are two little things that almost look like points that should open up to stop power to going to the light wire but they never move. Anyone know about these switches or had the same issue?

Thanks - Bob

Re: 59 Apache dome light
 

Bob, those contacts don't open unless too much current is being drawn through the light switch.

There are two wires going to the dome light from the light switch, one has power on it all of the time and the other is the ground for the light. There is a copper strap under the nylon cam on the front of the light switch. When you turn the switch knob fully counter clockwise it pushes the strap down against the frame of the switch and grounds it. That is what turns on the dome light. Check to see if that copper strap has broken and is contacting the frame of the light switch. If it's good then it's possible that the ground wire to the light is shorted somewhere. Both wires go up the A pillar, back over the door, and then to the light.

Re: 59 Apache dome light
 

Thanks for the explanation, I have never taken time to figure out how the dome worked.

Re: 59 Apache dome light
 

Russell- Thanks for the info. I saw how the switch works inside and the tab looks ok. When I unscrew the entire light housing front the cab the light goes off which means it is losing the ground when I do that. Maybe my issue is in the light housing and not the switch?? I need to do a little testing (this can't be too hard...power and ground) :) Should the hot wire coming from the light that attached to the switch be hot at all times and then the ground is what completes the current in this setup (the wire is always hot).

thanks -

Re: 59 Apache dome light
 

this might help

Re: 59 Apache dome light
 

"Should the hot wire coming from the light that attached to the switch be hot at all times and then the ground is what completes the current in this setup (the wire is always hot)."

Yes, it's hot all of the time. The hot wire to the dome light connects to the light switch to a double tab that is also the brake light connector. I have an EZWire harness in my truck now so my dome light power comes from the fuse panel but I still use the original ground wire from the switch.

Re: 59 Apache dome light
 

Yeah, I still have not tackled the dome light after the rewire. Uggg
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