Parking light inside car

[svxistentialist]

To the right of my steering column are two switches, left one for heated mirrors, right one for parking lights.

My car is JDM, so when I switch off the ignition, it turns off all the lights. Except the parking lights if switched on. My problem is this; with the lights switched on at the column lever, all illuminated switches, radio etc are switched on, including the two mentioned above. However, when the ignition is off, all switches are unlit. I have many times had to go back and unlock the car and switch off the park lights, not realising they were in the "on" position. This is annoying.

What gives? Does your US switch stay illuminated when the ignition is off and the park lights are on??

Joe

[sfsvx]

I'll check this evening and post my findings if this hasn't been answered by then.

Or maybe even if it has.

BTW, my SVX is USM, and the headlights go off when the ignition is off. Perhaps that's standard on all SVXs.

[mohrds]

Yes, the "parking light" switch allows you to turn on the parking lights when the ignition is off. It is designed to allow you to have the parking lights on when you are, um... parked for lack of a better word.

The parking lights can be turned on with the turn signal stalk and they will go off with the ignition.

I have used my parking light switch once during my entire life with my SVX.

Doug

[Seraph]

I am not sure about the uses today with street lights at every other meter. However, there are laws (not sure about US or UK) but back in Burma, if there are no lights on the street and if you are parked for a few minutes, you are required to switch them on.

L

[sfsvx]

Originally posted by mohrds
Yes, the "parking light" switch allows you to turn on the parking lights when the ignition is off. It is designed to allow you to have the parking lights on when you are, um... parked for lack of a better word.

The parking lights can be turned on with the turn signal stalk and they will go off with the ignition.

I have used my parking light switch once during my entire life with my SVX.

Doug

Mine was activated accidentally and I had to walk home 'cause the battery went dead.

If only they'd used that space for a seat heater switch . . .

[LarryIII]

All Subarus have this parking light switch. I think it is a "Japanese thing". This switch is NOT wired thru the ignition switch so be careful.

[Earthworm]

From what I have noticed:

1. the column lever park lights illuminate the dash lights and will go off with the key.
2. the park lights switch do NOT illuminate the dash lights and stay on regardless of key position.

[sfsvx]

Originally posted by svxistentialist
What gives? Does your US switch stay illuminated when the ignition is off and the park lights are on??

Joe

On my US-spec SVX, the switch stays illuminated when the ignition is off and the parking lights are on.

The US 1992 owner's manual says:

Parking light switch
When you press this switch, it turns on the parking lights, front and rear side marker lights, tail lights and license plate light regardless of the position of the ignition switch. To turn off, press the switch again. Avoid leaving these lights on for a long time because that will run down the battery.

Gosh, that's helpful.

[svxistentialist]

That clears it up.

I notice there are indentations on both of these switches lower down. I suspect behind this indentation is a bulb, probably amber, that lights when the switch is in the "on" position, as opposed to illuminates green at night[further up the switch] when lights are on.

These bulbs must be blown in mine. Will pull out the switches and investigate.

Thanks for the info.

Joe

[sfsvx]

Originally posted by svxistentialist
That clears it up.

I notice there are indentations on both of these switches lower down. I suspect behind this indentation is a bulb, probably amber, that lights when the switch is in the "on" position, as opposed to illuminates green at night[further up the switch] when lights are on.

These bulbs must be blown in mine. Will pull out the switches and investigate.

Thanks for the info.

Joe

You are correct in all your points, Joe.