Not So PAINLESS wiring--- Headlight Problem

[70_K20_SanDiego]

Well,

I finally got everything wired, plumbed and bolted together. And she fired up! Yahoooo! 3 years in the making...

Everything on the new Painless harness seems to be working, EXCEPT when I pull the Light switch ( Brand new) to the Headlight position, my running lites go out. No fuses blow... and I was very careful with connecting the right wires. Anyone else had a problem like this? Grounds for the lights and running lites are right back to the battery terminal and not the chassis, so I think I have very good connection to ground.

The Painless website doesn't have much in the way of FAQs or Troubleshooting so, I thought I would see if anyone out there has any ideas.

Thanks,

[68w/sbc406]

is your head light switch good?

[70_K20_SanDiego]

Yep, Brand New. Cali Surfer just reported a similar problem and he even replaced his original switch with a new one and had the exact same problem.

[gmc67swb]

My '67 GMC is the same way. If you pull the switch half way out the park lights are on. If you pull the switch all the way out park lights go out headlights come on. Far as I know that's the way they're supposed to be. Maybe the switches have varied from one year to another.

[LUV2XCLR8]

Originally Posted by gmc67swb

My '67 GMC is the same way. If you pull the switch half way out the park lights are on. If you pull the switch all the way out park lights go out headlights come on. Far as I know that's the way they're supposed to be.

THIS HAS BEEN BROUGHT UP BEFORE, THE HEADLIGHTS AND THE PARKING
LIGHTS UP FRONT WILL NOT BE ON TOGETHER, JUST LIKE STATED ABOVE

[hobby67stepside]

If you want the park lights on with headligts wire them to the headlight terminal on the switch and hope the electrical draw is not too much. Otherwise leave the park lights for what they are designed - parking.

[lost wages]

lol. i thought the same thing when i did my painless harness, its normal.

[70_K20_SanDiego]

Thanks for your responses! However for the life of me, I cannot believe that the running lights (side markers, front amber, and rear running lites should go out when your lights are on. Am I nuts or is there something that is missing here?

[BobbyK]

My 71 Blazer all the lights are on when headlights are on,side markers,front directionals,rear tail lights.
When light switch is pulled out 1/2 way all lights go on except headlights.

I rewired my truck with a factory replacement harness and not a Painless unit.

ALL the lights should be on when the headlights are on.

[cali_surfer]

I'm in the same boat as 70_K20_SanDiego. When I pull my switch all the lights go out except the headlights....... meaning parking lights (which always came on with headlights), dash lights, sidemarkers. The kicker is now the horn doesn't work and the dome light wont come on. I'm going to try to troubleshoot tomorrow, finally get some free time. I bought a new hi/lo floor switch, even if it isn't part of the problem sure won't hurt getting a new one in there.

[Chevy4Life]

It should be 67's only that the parking lights don't stay on with the headlights, and there are no side markers on the 67. I'm not sure if the difference is in the wiring or the switch, but maybe you have a 67 switch???

[ddsmith]

I can not speak of experience I have with a painless harness but I did modify the 1966 C30 to have the parking lights on whenever the headlights are on with the original harness. Just determine which terminal is hot on the headlight switch when in the half out and the full out position. You should have a spade terminal on the headlight switch that will allow easy correction. It may require breaking the wire out of it's original position in the plug and moving it to a different position. Good luck.

[69 Short Fleet]

My pickup is the same as BobbyK (on with headlights) and its a stock harness. Chevyforlife makes a good point with the 67 switch also.

[Harold Shepard]

It should be all light when the switch is full out- park lights and headlights at least in the stock configuation.

[Vince Putt]

There was a change to the headlight switch in operation with two circuits being hot with the head lights in the "on" position and on early version of switch had only one circuit hot. Go to a a local parts house and buy a later switch and you'll be working the way you want. The switches look identical but they are electrically different internally.

Did you get the switch from painless?

Is it a factory style switch or an aftermarket?

PM me and I'll pull a wiring diagram and help you ohm out the switch.

[LUV2XCLR8]

Oops, I Thought You Meant The Front Bumper/grill Parking Lights
Only, And I Was Using My Old 67 As A Example, That Explains It.

[70_K20_SanDiego]

I bought a new switch from Rick's when I redid the entire system. I guess I can go back and try my old switch and see if Vince is right.

But shouldnt the 67 rear running lights still be on with the headlight switch pulled all the way out?

I am going down to the shop and try it.

Thanks for everyones help! I ll let you know.

Dale

[cali_surfer]

What classifies the switch as being "early" or "late"? What years are we talking about here?

[68w/sbc406]

they were saying that 67 is different from 68-72. in 68 they made it a law that you have to have reflectors on the side of cars/trucks thats why the change to reflectors, maybe thats why the head light switch changed too? but my 68 has all lights on with head lights

[cali_surfer]

Well......... I figured out my problems!! I had two problems. #1.... shorted-out horn. Took me awhile to figure this out, but me and a buddy were going thru everything and verbalizing the problems. The horn was fried and I could hear the relay click off and on. This was solidified by the blown horn fuse. Fixed it for now by unhooking lead to horn and then putting in new fuse, need to get a new horn now. Problem #2....... I installed a keyless entry system about a year and a half ago. Long story short, I had to tie into the light circuit to get my lights to blink on and off when I hit the remote control. Well, to make both the front and back lights blink, I tapped into two circuits without isolating them from eachother..... with a painless kit taillights and parking lights are two different circuits. This explained why my dash lights would go out with the switch. Anyway, I dont want to go on too long, but I'm back to normal again. For the record, with a Painless harness and an aftermarket headlight switch for a '69 pickup, the front running lights DO NOT come on when the headlights are on.

[68C15]

I checked my 68 GMC today. all lights work when pulled all the way

[70_K20_SanDiego]

Well Cali Surfer, and all,

I did solve my problem too. I had kept my old headlight harness and they went to the side marker lights also. I wired everything the same way it was wired before (only one wire for the Side marker and Parking light. I did have 2 other wires from the Painless kit, that I wrapped up and stowed away, thinking that they were for another year or model.... Well, I cut the line to the side markers and tapped them into the 2 extra wires that were there, and VIOLA! Well, I thank everyone for their help and I think I will call Painless to let them know to add this to their instructions so others will not have to scratch their heads.

Dale