Parking/running lights turning off in turns - '84

[aevansgatech]

Hey guys,

I have a strange issue that I can't resolve.

I have an '84, so unlike the prior models which have a 3 way switch for the lights (OFF, Parking, Headlights(all) ON) I have two switches. The headlights are controlled by twisting a stalk (OFF, middle position, Headlights ON). The headlights work perfectly.

My issue is with the round parking light switch mounted on the steering column. It also has 3 positions, but the result doesn't make sense.
1st position is OFF, that one clearly works.
2nd position turns on my parking lights (Turn signals light up, taillights, side markers)
3rd position turns everything OFF again!

The major issue I'm facing is the switch likes to flip from the 2nd to 3rd position while I'm turning. I know it must be related to the turn signal functionality that is responsible for "automatically" turning off the turn signal when completing a turn, but in my case it is turning off all my secondary lighting during turns!!

My question to those with the Pininfarina setup is what is the 3rd (fully right) switch position supposed to do and why would the turn signal cancelling function turn off everything, taillights and side markers included.

[spider2081]

I believe that is the way it is suppose to work. WWW.artique.com has an owners manual for a 1985 posted. You can read the steering column switch operation there.

[aevansgatech]

The problem is at night there's no way for me to keep my taillights on! Particularly at night it's not safe to keep moving the switch back to the "ON/middle" position.

[AFRetired]

Your taillights should be staying on when you turn your headlights on. that light switch on the top of the steering column is a PARKING lights only switch. IOW it turns off when you aren't parking anymore and start moving.

[Boris61]

My 84 did the exact same thing. The switch is supposed to turn on only left or right parking lights so one can turn only the ones at street side on when parked. It's a European thing. The round switch is not available for sale and is sealed. Some have cleaned and lubed to get it to work. I tried that to no avail. After several years of searching I bought a NOS replacement (had a crack and was probably left over from a repair in the 80s) and that fixed the problem. Rare and expensive, but now everything works and the tail lights and dash lights don't go off when I turn the wheel. I still never use the parking lights, though. Here's a link to pic of the part at Bayless' site. https://goo.gl/images/2qdeL9
Good luck.

[aevansgatech]

Thanks Boris and AF,

That would make sense if the round switch should normally be all the way to the right while driving. That's where the car "wants" it.

I guess my real problem is more so that the headlight switch doesn't turn on my taillights.

[aaalbedo]

I had an '83 and that switch on top of the steering column went bad; I just bypassed it and the stalk switch worked as normal. All I lost was the true parking light functionality that the top switch was intended to cancel as soon as the steering wheel turned.

lw

[Boris61]

Agreed, and that is the switch function I never use anyway. I was about to do the same when I found one. Just wanted everything to stay original if possible.