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Light Switch? Maybe? Wtf?

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by TonyM, Oct 11, 2021.

  1. Oct 11, 2021
    TonyM

    TonyM Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Middle Tennessee
    Joined:
    Jul 30, 2017
    Messages:
    169
    1956 CJ5, F134, 6v electrical system with toe/floor starter. Stock jeep with no-add on's electrically. Fully rewired with a Walcks harness (no turn signals) about 2 years ago, plus new light switch, ignition switch, dimmer switch, bulbs... everything has worked since rewiring. Until the other night...

    My daughter and I went exploring Saturday evening in the "5", had the lights on the entire time, made a couple stops, all was well. We stop at Sonic to get some food and when I re-start the jeep (starts right up w/out hesitation) and turn the lights on, there are no lights. I fiddle with the switch, turning it on/off multiple times and then at one point they randomly turn on when I pull out the switch. Test the brights - everything is working as it should again.

    We drive home and once there I cannot replicate the problem. All headlights, marker lights, brake lights and even the instrument cluster lights do what they're supposed to do. I check all the connections from front to rear and under the dash and they are tight. The only thing I can think is that either there was some grit or debris in the switch or we somehow tripped the circuit breaker on the switch, which then reset itself. Again, no add-ons electrically...

    Any other ideas as to what else I should troubleshoot? And, just in case, who makes a better "stock" switch than what's offered at Walcks, Kaiser, etc?

    We were lucky as we'd stopped for food in a safe area and were less than a mile from home when the lights did their thing, but it might have been a different story if we'd been moving and had to drive farther to get home.
     
    Last edited: Oct 11, 2021
  2. Oct 11, 2021
    Walt Couch

    Walt Couch sidehill Cordele, Ga. 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    cordele, Ga.
    Joined:
    Mar 29, 2007
    Messages:
    5,908
    You may check the switch and make sure it is not fused but has a CB (circuit breaker). 6 Volt system. If they miss-boxed your switch and put a newer model switch with a lesser amperage CB that could be your problem. The breaker should be marked for amperage.
     
    Last edited: Oct 11, 2021
  3. Oct 11, 2021
    jackdog

    jackdog Member

    Finger Lakes NY
    Joined:
    Jul 16, 2013
    Messages:
    526
    Headlight relay or CB?
     
  4. Oct 11, 2021
    TonyM

    TonyM Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Middle Tennessee
    Joined:
    Jul 30, 2017
    Messages:
    169
    Guys - I you're right in that's it's a CB in the switch as it would have been in the stock NOS switches. Not a fuse. My mistake. Original post edited/updated to reflect circuit breaker rather than fuse.
     
    Last edited: Oct 11, 2021
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