Parking Lights

[CorSVXette]

Hi Guys. I am a SVX newbie. I just purcahsed a 1995. My question is this: are the parking lights supposed to come on when you turn on the lights from the switch on the steering column? I can only get the parking lights to come on if I use the switch on the dashboard. I have other problems but I want to tackle one at a time. Thank you.
Paul

[dcarrb]

Greetings. The parking light switch on the dash is only for turning on the lights when the car isn't running.

dcb

[Hocrest]

Yes the parking lights should come on when you turn the headlight switch on the turn signal stalk. The first click is parking lights, the second is headlights and parking lights. Lights turned on with this switch will shut off when you turn the car off.

Do your parking lights stay off even when you turn on your headlights?

I would suspect the "P" switch on the dash that turns the parking lights on even when the car is off. When that switch is removed, it affects the normal use of the parking lights. I'm wondering if there is a loose wire or dirty contact??

Use a screwdriver to gently pry that switch out of the dash and check for loose wires. Spray some electrical contact cleaner into the switch and work it on/off many times.

If that doesn't solve it then there is another wiring issue somewhere Is there an aftermarket alarm system installed?

[svxcess]

Do your turn signals work? Just trying to see if you have power going to the lights through the turn signal stalk.
.

[CorSVXette]

Wow! You guys are fast!. To answer some of your questions: The parking lights will stay on with the car off as long as I leave the dashboard switch on. I believe there is an aftermarket alarm on the car because it only locks the doors and kills the ignition. It does not make any sound. It does not sound if you hit the glass or open the door. The turn signals work fine and the headlight comes on in the second position, also the button on the end also works( the one that dims the dashboard lights). So right now in order to have taillights on at night, I need to turn on the parking light switch on the dash. and then I need to remember to turn them off or I will be dead.

[Hocrest]

I'd do the easiest things first, clean that switch out. If that doesn't do it, the next suspect is the wiring for the aftermarket alarm. I've seen some real butcher install jobs

[CorSVXette]

Thanks. This forum ROCKS!

[svxcess]

I don't know why your tail lights don't come on with your headlights. I too would also suspect a bad alarm install. An alarm that makes no noise is not a deterrent. Is there a horn or siren hooked up to it?


Check for blown fuses.

Tail light fuse is a 10A fuse. It is a 5th fuse from the left in the top row. This fuse panel is found under the instrument panel on the drivers side.

The lighting fuse is located in the main fuse box in the engine compartment. It is a 20A fuse on the extreme left side, marked as LIGHT SW, directly above the HAZARD fuse.

These diagrams are in your owner's manual.

.

[CorSVXette]

There is no horn or siren hooked up to the alarm. I guess I may have to get a new alarm. Any suggestions? in respect to the fuses, is there a sprecial fuse for the lights that are controled by the switch on the steering column because my tail lights do come on but only with the parking light switch that is located on the dashboard. in reguards to the owners manual, the one I got with the car says 1994. my car is a 95. is there a difference?

[svxcess]

That #5 fuse is the only one I know of for the tail lights.

The 1994 and 1995 manuals are exactly the same as far as features, controls, specs, etc.

Do you know who installed the alarm or what kind it is? With a make and model, you should be able to download a wiring diagram to see that to look for.

I have the feeling that there was something miswired. Most alarms are designed to have the parking lights flash when arming and disarming the system, even if the horn doesn't chirp, to show its status

I can't imagine any competent installer would not hook up the horn or siren that came with the alarm. The idea is to deter someone BEFORE they break into your car, not AFTER they get all the way in, just to find out they can't start it, get angry, and trash your interior.


Is the alarm fused? What happens with your lights if you disconnect it completely? (Like working on a light switch in your house. Turning off the light switch is not the same as removing power to it by flipping the circuit breaker)

If the fuses are fine, and the parking light switch is okay, you may have some electrical troubleshooting ahead of you. Many here with parts cars can probably supply you with a parking switch assembly just in case. Is your interior gray or beige?

Lots of questions to get to the bottom of this.

.

[CorSVXette]

The lights "DO" flash when I arm and disarm the alarm. So I guess whoever put the alarm in did set it up to have the parking lights flash when I set the alarm. My interior is Gray. I don't know who installed it or what brand it is. The remote is so worn that I cannot read anything that is inprinted on it.

[CorSVXette]

While I am waiting for delivery of a parking light switch to see if that is the problem, can anyone recommend a good alarm system in case I have to install a new one? I should get one with a siren anyway.

[SVXdc]

(Paul sent me a PM yesterday saying that this problem was still not fixed)

OK, I've studied the SVX wiring diagrams.

Given all of the things that Paul says work, I can say fairly confidently that all of the fuses and the "Tail & Illumination" relay are still good.

The problem is either:

• The parking light switch (the one on the dash, not the knob on the stalk) has failed (it's effectively a 3-terminal, SPDT switch, and the "off" position no longer has continuity), or

• The Brown/Red wire, between FB-33 and the parking light switch, is severed. This may be where the aftermarket alarm tapped in so it can flash the parking lights. Since the alarm is still able to flash the lights, it must still be connected to the B/R wire on the side going towards the parking lights switch.

The more likely culprit is the switch. Spray some contact cleaner inside the switch and press it a bunch of times. It might revive itself.

One more test to try: With the parking lights switch off, when you arm and disarm the alarm, do the dash illumination lights also flash? With the parking lights switch on, does the alarm flash the dash lights?

The parking lights switch should only illuminate the exterior lights, not the dash lights.

If the switch is working, when it's in the "off" position, an alarm will flash both the exterior parking lights and the dash illumination lights.

[CorSVXette]

Originally Posted by SVXdc

(Paul sent me a PM yesterday saying that this problem was still not fixed)

OK, I've studied the SVX wiring diagrams.

Given all of the things that Paul says work, I can say fairly confidently that all of the fuses and the "Tail & Illumination" relay are still good.

The problem is either:

• The parking light switch (the one on the dash, not the knob on the stalk) has failed (it's effectively a 3-terminal, SPDT switch, and the "off" position no longer has continuity), or

• The Brown/Red wire, between FB-33 and the parking light switch, is severed. This may be where the aftermarket alarm tapped in so it can flash the parking lights. Since the alarm is still able to flash the lights, it must still be connected to the B/R wire on the side going towards the parking lights switch.

The more likely culprit is the switch. Spray some contact cleaner inside the switch and press it a bunch of times. It might revive itself.

One more test to try: With the parking lights switch off, when you arm and disarm the alarm, do the dash illumination lights also flash? With the parking lights switch on, does the alarm flash the dash lights?

The parking lights switch should only illuminate the exterior lights, not the dash lights.

If the switch is working, when it's in the "off" position, an alarm will flash both the exterior parking lights and the dash illumination lights.

OK Here is what I tried so far. I armed and disarmed the alarm with the parking light switch off and with the parking light switch on and both times the interior dash lights 'DID NOT" flash. Could that be a faulty switch? My next time out there I will change the switch.

[CorSVXette]

OK I tried to change the switch but could not get to the White plug on the end of the switch. Is there an easy way to get to it? What do I have to remove to get to it?