63 C2 Headlight Flasher

[Bob Wolf]

The headlight flasher remains on anytime the lights are turned on. It has been this way since purchased the car. I have rebuilt the headlights, replaced the forward light harness and checked the switches with a meter on the headlights and they operate properly. I suspect that someone before me made a connection under the dash to the light switch improperly. Any ideas of what to check?

[Timothy B.]

Re: 63 C2 Headlight Flasher

Bob,

I would check the bulb in the instrument cluster to make sure it's a GE #257 flasher bulb. Sounds like someone installed the wrong bulb.

[Timothy B.]

Re: 63 C2 Headlight Flasher

Bob,

I misread your post thinking the bulb would not flash and stayed lit all the time. If the bulb flashes and never goes off when the headlights are up, I would unplug the headlight harness from the firewall connection and see if the dash light goes out. If it stays on you have confirmed bubba the electrician has been under the dash. Tim

[Gerard F.]

Re: 63 C2 Headlight Flasher

Bob,

Did you check that the limit switches in the headlight pods open the circuit to the light on the instrument panel when the headlight pods are fully open. These switches are normally closed switches which provide the ground for the telltale light on the panel.

When the headlights are fully up, the ground for the telltale light is broken. Both limit switches must be open as they are wired in parallel.

If you pull the connector from both limit switches, or otherwise insure that the circuit through the limit switches is open when the headlights are up, and the telltale light is still on, then you have a grounding problem further up in the harness, or the bulb socket is somehow grounded.

The flashing mechanism is within the 257 bulb. If you have a 57 or other bulb there, it will stay steady on.

I think you need to chase the circuit back from the limit switches. I think the circuit works the same as my 67.

Jerry Fuccillo
#42179

[Bob Wolf]

Re: 63 C2 Headlight Flasher

I just unplugged the harness and the light is still on and flashes. Guess Bubba has been under the dash. Will have to figure out what he did! Thanks

[Bob Wolf]

Re: 63 C2 Headlight Flasher

Jerry:
Yes I check the limit switches they are fine. I must have a 257 in it as it does flash. The light still flashes when you unplug the harness but the brake light which also flashed does not flash now. Guess I will have to track it down and look for a ground. Thanks for the info.

[Timothy B.]

Re: 63 C2 Headlight Flasher

Bob,

I will have to look at my wiring schematic to see how the emergency brake tele tale light grounds. The headlight tele tale light grounds at the core support so by unhooking at the firewall you removed the ground so the bulb should go out. I am wondering if these two bulbs could be in the wrong sockets but I don't know if the wiring would allow. The switch that controls the emergency brake light is on the hand brake but be very careful because if you damage it the switch is hard to find $$$$.

[Stephen L.]

Re: 63 C2 Headlight Flasher

Is the correct socket in the headlite position? You may have an instrument panel illumination socket in that location which would come on anytime the lights are on and thus flash all the time the lights are on. Check your wiring diagram for the correct wire color

[Timothy B.]

Re: 63 C2 Headlight Flasher

Bob,

I just looked at my 1963 AIM in section 12 showing the electrical. From what I can tell it looks like the emergency brake flashing bulb would have a metal socket and ground into the instrument cluster so there may be a chance the headlight and emergency bulb sockets are in the wrong position in the instrument cluster. This may have been verified when you disconnected the front harness and one bulb went out. The headlight flasher bulb socket should be plastic. I hope this helps you out. Tim

[Bob Wolf]

Re: 63 C2 Headlight Flasher

Yes I believe they are. I will check.
Thanks,
Bob

[Bob Wolf]

Re: 63 C2 Headlight Flasher

Thanks for the info Tim I guess I will pull the gauge cluster and check the wiring. Per the manual it says to remove the steering wheel and column. Is that the easiest and best way?

[Timothy B.]

Re: 63 C2 Headlight Flasher

Bob, You may be able to get on your back and slide under the dash and look up with a flash light to detirmine if the sockets are correctly installed without removing the dash. Headlamp flasher socket is closest to drivers side.

If you need to remove the instrument cluster then remove the steering column but others have been able to get there hands there to work if it's just socket placement.

[Bob Wolf]

Re: 63 C2 Headlight Flasher

Thanks Tim!!!