Parking Lights with Headlights on

[Bodied67]

Hello all, got a question that has me absolutely stumped, looking for some help and advice, if this has been gone over i apologize in advance.

Got myself a 1969 c10, 68 nose on it, all new painless wiring harness throughout the whole truck (previous owner install). When i pull the lights on, first "click" will turn on only my tail lights and rear corner lights, nothing up front. Second "click" will turn my headlights on and keep everything on in the rear as well but still nothing from my front or corner amber lights. When i engage blinkers or hazards everything works as intended but they do not stay on once disengaged.

Is this normal? I figured they would stay on the second i pull the light switch on to any position the same as my rears but they only work when using blinkers and hazards. Is there any way i can remedy this to have them on at all times to match the rears? To my knowledge everything seems to be connected correctly....where do i go from here?

[Getter-Done]

There is a Wiring difference between the 67/68 and 69 truck you have.

The main difference is The 67-68 switch has 8 terminals, while the 69-72 switch has 7 terminals.


What harness did you use for the Front lights?

Which Headlight switch do you have?

['68OrangeSunshine]

I've had both Model Years 1967 and 1968. The '67 is normal when the Parking Lights go out and the Headlights come on at the 2nd click of the Headlight knob.
By a 1968 Federal safety mandate Model Year '68 [and later] had the Running Lights stay on when the Headlights were energized.
If a '68 operates like the '67, then someone may have put in the wrong Headlight Switch, and technically [by 1968 law] it's illegal.

If a '69 operates like a '67, then the PO screwed up the install.
From what I've heard, ''Painless'' Wiring Harnesses Ain't Painless.

[Getter-Done]

I have some Side Reflectors in my swap meet stuff.

They are not in very good shape.
They do not have the Provision to put a Bulb in it.

My point of posting this is that the side lights did not (totally) happen till 1969.

Here's the 1st thread I found on the subject.

Link: https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...8+side+markers

[Bodied67]

Ill have to take the switch out and see which one is installed in the truck because I'm truly not sure. All the wiring under the hood is connected as needed, perhaps the previous owner did something wrong under the dash.

[Bodied67]

Loose connection at the purple wire in switch was causing me to get nothing up front. Easy fix.

Now that that's fixed, curious if there is a way to get the front parking lights to stay on WITH the headlights?

[Bodied67]

Here’s the switch and wiring block making the connection..

[dmjlambert]

Put the pictured plug and headlight switch back together. Pull the switch to the first click out, the parking light position.

Test the front parking light bulbs using jumper wires and battery, or remove them and plug them in the tail light sockets and test them there.

Test all fuses. Do you have glass fuses? If so, turn ignition key to on position, then use a multimeter with negative lead connected to a good ground, and touch positive lead to both sides of all fuses, you should get 12V, except possibly on the PNL LTS fuse which is depending on turning the rheostat position on the headlight switch for dimming the instrument cluster lights.

Most problems are bulbs or fuses. Only if you know those are good proceed to next steps.

Use a multimeter to measure for 12V at the purple wire connector at the headlight switch, you can touch the probe to the metal of the connector through the back of the connector while it is attached to the headlight switch. Connect the negative lead of the multimeter to a good ground.

If you got 12V there at the purple wire, remove the firewall connector in the engine compartment and verify the lower right (as you are standing in front of the truck looking toward the connector) has the 2 purple wires that go to the front parking lights. Test that position on the firewall connector for 12V. If you get 12V there, inspect the plug to make sure it doesn't have bent terminals and plug the connector back in and trace and inspect the purple wires going to the front of the truck and verify the purple wires go to the parking lights, and the connectors at the radiator support are plugged in. Remove a parking light bulb and check for 12V on one of the 2 terminals at the bottom of the bulb socket.

Test the front turn signals that are in the parking lights (with the hazard lights on or ignition key in on position and turn signal lever switched to right or left turn and let us know how that goes.

[Bodied67]

I got a PM saying that if i pull the purple wire and plug it into the empty spot next to the brown wire that should keep the front parking lights on whenever the switch is engaged because that post is bussed to the taillights? Any input/thoughts on that?

[dmjlambert]

You can see right there on the picture of the switch you posted those 2 terminals are bussed together, so yes that can be something to try and it seems it would be easy to try. Here is a thread where VetteVet and ray_mcavoy talk about the pinouts of the switch and it seems you have a pre-68 switch with wiring harness to match where the parking lights are off while headlights are on. Since you have no parking lights in front with the switch pulled out to the first click, it seems something is wrong with the switch or wiring, so troubleshooting may still be necessary. https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...40#post5188940

[72c20customcamper]

Originally Posted by Getter-Done

I have some Side Reflectors in my swap meet stuff.

They are not in very good shape.
They do not have the Provision to put a Bulb in it.

My point of posting this is that the side lights did not (totally) happen till 1969.

Here's the 1st thread I found on the subject.

Link: https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...8+side+markers

These were on my 68 no provision for a bulb

[tim_mc]

This thread had me double-check the behavior of my '67 with new AAW Classic Update harness 510333 and included AAW headlight switch. 1st click is running lights. 2nd click is running lights + headlights. No purple wire, so it's updated.

[Bodied67]

Switched the wires. Boom. Works as I had hoped

[tim_mc]

Looks good lit up!

[Getter-Done]

Glad you got it wired like you like it.