Light Switch Help
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Light Switch Help
Hello all, having some trouble with the operation of my light switch. For what's it's worth, my truck has been "upgraded" to have turn signals.
TM9-8030 outlines the use of the light switch and the various positions. I'll use this as my guide. For those following along with our home game I'll post a picture of the light switch from the manual.
Turn on Service headlights: lower right switch to position F and simultaneously move upper lever to position E. This works. Headlights come on and I can switch between high and low beam.
Turn off service headlights: upper switch to position C, and lower left switch to J. Nope. I have to move the lower left switch to position H, and then my panel (dash) lights and marker lights (which are now turn signals) come on.
This is about all I can do. I can't turn off all the lights on the truck. I can turn off some of the lights, but not all of them. Before I started playing with the light switch to assess the light situation, all lights were off. Also, my unlock switch doesn't seem to move anymore. It's stuck in the "lock" position.
What's going on here that I am not understanding?
TM9-8030 outlines the use of the light switch and the various positions. I'll use this as my guide. For those following along with our home game I'll post a picture of the light switch from the manual.
Turn on Service headlights: lower right switch to position F and simultaneously move upper lever to position E. This works. Headlights come on and I can switch between high and low beam.
Turn off service headlights: upper switch to position C, and lower left switch to J. Nope. I have to move the lower left switch to position H, and then my panel (dash) lights and marker lights (which are now turn signals) come on.
This is about all I can do. I can't turn off all the lights on the truck. I can turn off some of the lights, but not all of them. Before I started playing with the light switch to assess the light situation, all lights were off. Also, my unlock switch doesn't seem to move anymore. It's stuck in the "lock" position.
What's going on here that I am not understanding?
Re: Light Switch Help
Bad switch or two wires shorted together. H is park and the instrument and markers SHOULD be on if the top lever is at E only. Top lever straight up and NO lights should work.
"It may be ugly, but at least it is slow!"
Re: Light Switch Help
Well, get the lock working first. The switch itself is not user friendly to take apart.
C, J and G should be no lights anywhere
Use the unlock and go to D. Here the brake lights work, the turn signals if correctly done work in this position. This is your standard daytime public road driving switch position
Use the unlock to go to E, move J to K. standard position for public road driving at night. Brake lights (if you step on the brake), tail lights, headlights and turn signals and dash lights (on low) are all on.
Moving from K to H and the headlights go out, Brake lights still work, tail lights are on. in front the parking light comes on in the light housings.
Check all that, then we can worry about the blackout positions.
C, J and G should be no lights anywhere
Use the unlock and go to D. Here the brake lights work, the turn signals if correctly done work in this position. This is your standard daytime public road driving switch position
Use the unlock to go to E, move J to K. standard position for public road driving at night. Brake lights (if you step on the brake), tail lights, headlights and turn signals and dash lights (on low) are all on.
Moving from K to H and the headlights go out, Brake lights still work, tail lights are on. in front the parking light comes on in the light housings.
Check all that, then we can worry about the blackout positions.
Re: Light Switch Help
Is there some way to take the switch apart? Mine is not like the one in my original picture with the screws on the face. It seems to be a two part unit: an out case which has had some component pressed into it.
Re: Light Switch Help
A photo would help.ez8 wrote:Is there some way to take the switch apart? Mine is not like the one in my original picture with the screws on the face. It seems to be a two part unit: an out case which has had some component pressed into it.
'54 M37 wew
MVPA #16921
MVPA #16921
Re: Light Switch Help
I can do dat.06boblee wrote: A photo would help.
Re: Light Switch Help
The one in the manual, that you posted is the earliest of these "modern" military light switches. You could get them apart. The one you pictured below is a later version of the switch. Those,I have never had luck getting apart
Re: Light Switch Help
After couple days of careful analysis, I think I can get the switch apart if by using a BAH. However, that would render the rest of the unit inoperable.
Therefore, the remedy of this problem appears to be a cash injection to a parts supplier. If it turns out I can get this apart, I guess I'll have a spare!
Thanks for the help, all.
Therefore, the remedy of this problem appears to be a cash injection to a parts supplier. If it turns out I can get this apart, I guess I'll have a spare!
Thanks for the help, all.
Re: Light Switch Help
The switch is common and easily obtained. I eventually found a wiring diagram for the internals of the switch to use for troubleshooting. I found the one I had was bad and replaced it. I know how to open one of the swaged closed ones. Getting it sealed again is 'difficult'.
"It may be ugly, but at least it is slow!"
Re: Light Switch Help
You could try one of these,,
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- DSC00956 (Small).JPG (100.73 KiB) Viewed 1827 times
'54 M37 wew
MVPA #16921
MVPA #16921
Re: Light Switch Help
That looks too simple to operate.06boblee wrote:You could try one of these,,
I like when my hobbies frustrate me. It's a wonder I don't play golf.
Re: Light Switch Help
I think the pushbutton switch is cool. My current service army buddies tell me they are rather 'problematic' in use.
"It may be ugly, but at least it is slow!"
Re: Light Switch Help
Did you change the bulbs in the marker lights to dual filament bulbs and do they have three wires going to each light? If not then you will not have turn signals AND marker lights. You may want to go over the wiring again. Did you use the original equipment turn signal flasher unit mounted on the floor plus the one on the steering column?
1953 M37
1964 M151A1
1967 M416
1984 M1008
4/1952 M100
12/1952 M100 gone
1964 M151A1
1967 M416
1984 M1008
4/1952 M100
12/1952 M100 gone
Re: Light Switch Help
It was the light switch. I replaced it with a new one from Kaiser Willys and all functions performed as advertised.
Having never operated a three lever light switch before I wasn't sure what the feel was supposed to be, but comparing to the new one there is a definite difference. My old light switch didn't pop into the various positions - it would smoothly shift from one to the other. Makes me think that something internally has been worn down quite a bit. Doesn't matter, though. The new switch works like a dream.
Having never operated a three lever light switch before I wasn't sure what the feel was supposed to be, but comparing to the new one there is a definite difference. My old light switch didn't pop into the various positions - it would smoothly shift from one to the other. Makes me think that something internally has been worn down quite a bit. Doesn't matter, though. The new switch works like a dream.