'59 Plymouth Forum

Art Schlachter wrote:Dick, I am working on my dash lights, clock light and stop lights on rear of my car. All the lights on my dash work except for the dash illumination and clock illumination. I am suspicious that the problem is with the headlight switch, so I ordered a new switch off E-bay, plus I also have an extra headlight switch from a junked MOPAR that I have never tried. In the attachments above one photo shows both the New Switch and the one from a junked MOPAR. The other photo shows the present headlight switch that is mounted in the dash. I pulled the headlight switch from the dash but haven’t disconnected any of the wiring – it is just hanging from the wires. (I also dropped the emergency or parking brank handle assy down to give me better access to headlight switch) There are two things that I noticed with the new switch that appears to be slightly different from the original under the dash. (Ignore the extra “used” headlight switch and just look at the new switch verses the orginal headlight switch show in the other photo.)

1) On the new switch there is an obvious yellow wire (w/connector) attached to the back side of new switch that isn’t on the old switch. There is a photo of this wire as it connects to the switch. What could this be for ???

2) It appears that all the wire connectors on the new switch match the original switch on the car except for one strange twist. All these connectors on the new switch are a “mirror” image to that of the original headlight switch. To demonstrate what I am referring to, take a look
at the location of the threaded screw on the new switch and then look at the location on the original switch that is still in my car. The threaded screws are on opposite sides of the bakelite housing of the switches. The same can be said for each of the other blade
connector terminals.

Have you experienced anything like this when restoring your plymouth convertible ? I am tempted to go ahead and try the new switch except I am puzzled by the yellow wire. I wonder if it relates to the rheostat that brightens and dims the dash lights. What would I hook it to?

Dick Koch wrote:Art - The extra yellow wire with the connector is not needed for your car. Just hook up your wires same as on the old one and you should be OK. It doesn't matter which side the main post is on. I am going to forward your email to Dan and ask him to post your question and pictures on the 59 site so you can get the expertise of others and a better answer than mine. I think the switch you have is for a Chrysler or Imperial. I have one like that and l always wondered what that extra wire was for.

schlaaj wrote: ↑Wed Nov 08, 2017 5:10 pm While I was at it I replace instrument bulbs with green super bright leds. What a difference it makes in dash illumination.