misshaley

OK, It's time to ask for help. The running lights on our 63 have not worked since we got her last summer. The headlights work fine, brights fine, Brake lights fine, turn signals, right and left fine, but no running lights. So... I replaced the headlight switch...no difference. New tail lights... new problem (will discuss later) but no running lights.
Any suggestions?

knight37128

Don't drive at night.

richbopp

Well that sure was a lot of help. misshaley, just sit back and relax, as you see, the problems been solved. &

knight37128

Do you have voltage to the tail lights?

Find the last place that you do.

40+ year old wiring has been known to go bad.

67vetteal

Working from old memory; Do your Instrument Lights work? Generally speaking, this was The Generals normal way to put electric to the tail lamps. Instruments and tail lights were placed on the same circuit so you would know something was wrong when you didn't see your instruments at night. Check the fuse. Then the bulkhead connector on the firewall. A cheap trouble lamp from your local supply house will be your best friend. Al W.

Tampa Jerry

I agree with the above. Try seeing if you have power to the lights with a test light. Check and clean all grounds. Lastly, check the fit of the bulbs in the new light sockets. I purchased a set of four lights made by Trim Parts and all the sockets had to be adjusted (bent) to fit the bulbs. Jerry

66jack

Do you have the correct bulbs in there?

jack

michaeliss

If it is the same as later C2's, there is a plug under dash that runs to the back of the car to power the lights. Check the plug for the rear harness plugged in all the way or for bent connectors. The license plate, brake, turn signal and running lights are all from the harness to the back. Next check the grounds since fiberglass is not conductive there is a wire that grounds all the lights housing.

JohnZ

63's are different - the taillights aren't on the same fuse as the instrument lights. They're all by themselves on the second fuse from the bottom, and there's nothing else on that circuit. Check for power on both ends of the fuse. They're fed by an 18-ga. black wire from its own terminal on the headlight switch to the fuse block, and an 18-ga. black wire goes from the fuse block to the body harness connector just above the driver's side kickpad.

misshaley

The instrument lights do not work. We replaced fuses earlier, no help. The bulbs are fine because the brake lights work and the turn signals work. Will check the connections at the firewall this eve. Keep the solutions coming. Thanks guys!

Mallett zo6

as dumb as it may sound, check the ground wires to make sure they are connected to the tail lights, sometimes, I have seen one or two not connected and they don't work.

JohnZ

Check the 18-ga. black wire in the body harness connector above the kickpad for power (on both sides of the connector); if you don't see power there, the open circuit is between there and the headlight switch. If you see power there, it's between there and the taillights. Your taillight grounds should be fine, or the brake lights and turn signals wouldn't work. That circuit doesn't go through the fuse block into the multiple connectors on the engine side - it enters from the headlight switch at the top, and exits at the top to the body connector above the kickpad.