Parking lights remain on

[richard]

Two questions. Regardless if I am shutting off the head lights or fog lights, all the parking lights remain on? Fortunately I have a battery disconnect switch which kills all the power. While I'm on a roll, the dash lights do not come on. Any suggestions?

[billwill]

Presumably a wiring fault behind the dashboard, probably an earthing failure as that is the most common fault.

Did this just happen recently or has it always been like that?

What was the most recent change made just before you noticed this fault?

[stugilmour]

Two questions. Regardless if I am shutting off the head lights or fog lights, all the parking lights remain on? Fortunately I have a battery disconnect switch which kills all the power. While I'm on a roll, the dash lights do not come on. Any suggestions?

Richard, is yours a Federal car with flat style rocker switches? If so, the side lights stay on until the spring loaded rocker is pushed at the top after the headlight vacuum switch knob is pushed in. If the side lights are remaining on after doing the above, the side light relay is remaining energized. This is probably caused by miss-alignment of the side light micro-switch located in the vacuum switch. If this is the fault, It can be rectified without complete dash removal, but a is a bit hard to describe. Try vigorously moving the headlight vacuum switch a bit and push the rocker switch to 'off' again and see if the side lights go out. To get the sidelights off, you should be able to remove the red wire(s) from the side light relay located on the side of the heater box, but of course they will no longer work.

HTH. Let us know how it works out or if you need more info. I posted a diagram of the Federal side light circuit, and can probably find it if you need it.

Ignore the above reply if your car is not the Federal style; it is a different circuit in some models.

Dash lights only come on when the side lights are on and side/interior switch in either middle or lower 'on' position. If not coming on, my guess would be supply wire (red) from side light switch to panel/interior switch has come off, but this is just a guess.