You want original? FYI, the reproduction guys list 58-63 as the same, so Chevy, Corvette will likely be the same, maybe also other GM's from the same years.
Don
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63 Parisienne sport coupe (The Big GTO), black, maroon interior, 409 4 speed; former owner of a 59 El Camino, 63 Corvette SWC, 62 Chev Bel Air SC. 1963- Pontiac top selling car in Canada
Mahone Bay, NS Still not old enough to need an automatic
You're welcome, that's why we get paid the big bucks.
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63 Parisienne sport coupe (The Big GTO), black, maroon interior, 409 4 speed; former owner of a 59 El Camino, 63 Corvette SWC, 62 Chev Bel Air SC. 1963- Pontiac top selling car in Canada
Mahone Bay, NS Still not old enough to need an automatic
Found this one in the search, I too am looking for a headlight switch for a 59 Parisienne but the ones I have found on most other GMs look different. This one has 6 pins on the side and single plug. The only one similar I can find is a 59/60 caddy but no one seems to have them in stock.
The headlights work on low beam but the high beam won't turn on. I have no dash lights and 0 voltage at the LPS terminal on the fuse box regardless of the switch position. I was hoping it was just the switch but now, based on the scarcity, I may have got my hopes up for nothing. Now I'm hoping one of you fine folks can lead me in the right direction.
The old vehicles have a button on the floor under the parking brake. Press it and it changes from high to low beam and vice versa. No stupid questions.
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63 Parisienne sport coupe (The Big GTO), black, maroon interior, 409 4 speed; former owner of a 59 El Camino, 63 Corvette SWC, 62 Chev Bel Air SC. 1963- Pontiac top selling car in Canada
Mahone Bay, NS Still not old enough to need an automatic
63 Parisienne sport coupe (The Big GTO), black, maroon interior, 409 4 speed; former owner of a 59 El Camino, 63 Corvette SWC, 62 Chev Bel Air SC. 1963- Pontiac top selling car in Canada
Mahone Bay, NS Still not old enough to need an automatic
63 Parisienne sport coupe (The Big GTO), black, maroon interior, 409 4 speed; former owner of a 59 El Camino, 63 Corvette SWC, 62 Chev Bel Air SC. 1963- Pontiac top selling car in Canada
Mahone Bay, NS Still not old enough to need an automatic
The old vehicles have a button on the floor under the parking brake. Press it and it changes from high to low beam and vice versa. No stupid questions.
Yes, don't ever be scared to ask a question here because you think it's stupid or you are embarrassed. Any comments making fun of a technical question will be removed by the moderators. Fire away with any questions!
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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles
1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars
That's definitely a different switch than the one I have. That's the one that pops up in most of my searches. I think it's a stock column and wiring harness but I can't be sure.
It would have a much different connector on the harness. Looks like 8 males on the one I posted, only 6 visible on yours.
-- Edited by DonSSDD on Wednesday 21st of June 2023 11:00:01 AM
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63 Parisienne sport coupe (The Big GTO), black, maroon interior, 409 4 speed; former owner of a 59 El Camino, 63 Corvette SWC, 62 Chev Bel Air SC. 1963- Pontiac top selling car in Canada
Mahone Bay, NS Still not old enough to need an automatic
Charles who posted above seemed to be saying my comment that the Chevy and Pontiac are the same switch but I was starting to wonder.
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63 Parisienne sport coupe (The Big GTO), black, maroon interior, 409 4 speed; former owner of a 59 El Camino, 63 Corvette SWC, 62 Chev Bel Air SC. 1963- Pontiac top selling car in Canada
Mahone Bay, NS Still not old enough to need an automatic
Okay, got home and tried it out and the dimmer switch is operational. It even turns on a red warming light above the speedometer. I suppose this means the switch is the issue?
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"If they don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy" - Red Green
Hmm, so it sounds like it's working if it does that.
In case you don't know how the 4 lamp system works on your 59, on low beam you should have just the outer lights on. On high beam, all 4 lights should be on. However, what also happens when the inner lights some on when you switch to high beam is the floor mounted dimmer switch sends power to not just the inner lamps but also to a different (brighter filament) in the outer lamps.
If the red light comes on with every other press on the floor mounted switch, it does sound like the switch is working. Your two inner lights never come on?
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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles
1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars
Yes, inner high beam lamps turn on when the button is pressed. I think I must have been stepping on the button inadvertent from time to time as the red light doesn't always show when I have the lights on. My issue now is the dash lights don't work and no voltage at the LPS terminal so I inagine it's the main switch itseIf. I see someone charging $180 US to rebuild them on ebay but I was hoping someone migt have one, or at least know where to get one ?
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"If they don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy" - Red Green
Yes, inner high beam lamps turn on when the button is pressed. I think I must have been stepping on the button inadvertent from time to time as the red light doesn't always show when I have the lights on. My issue now is the dash lights don't work and no voltage at the LPS terminal so I inagine it's the main switch itseIf. I see someone charging $180 US to rebuild them on ebay but I was hoping someone migt have one, or at least know where to get one ?
Have you verified all the fuses are good, using a test light? I would do that first. Then what if you would take a fused live wire and power the LPS wire to see if the dash lamps work?
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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles
1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars
Tested all the fuses with a ohm meter and everything looks good. I suspected the tabs might be corroded so I cleaned them up. I will try running some power to the dash light circuit. Is there a bench test for the variable resister in the headlight switch?
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"If they don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy" - Red Green
Dont cut anything, maybe someone put a us dash harness in it? The plastic headlight plug can be switched, you can remove from the connector each wire end with a small screwdriver , they have a small clip on the side. But you need to have the wiring schematic to plug them into the correct place on the correct headlight female plug.
Post a picture of your present female headlight switch showing the wire colours. Also, post a pic of your fuse box and a picture of your firewall plugs on the engine side, just below the brake master cylinder. Id like to see if it is the same as a 59 Chevy or something else.
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63 Parisienne sport coupe (The Big GTO), black, maroon interior, 409 4 speed; former owner of a 59 El Camino, 63 Corvette SWC, 62 Chev Bel Air SC. 1963- Pontiac top selling car in Canada
Mahone Bay, NS Still not old enough to need an automatic
The 59 had a generator, is that what you have or do you have an alternator? An alternator is a frequent change, more power than a generator, but it would require a wiring change from stock. Power steering on the 59 was via a pump on the rear of the generator.
I have a 1961 shop manual, Ill post some info from that.
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63 Parisienne sport coupe (The Big GTO), black, maroon interior, 409 4 speed; former owner of a 59 El Camino, 63 Corvette SWC, 62 Chev Bel Air SC. 1963- Pontiac top selling car in Canada
Mahone Bay, NS Still not old enough to need an automatic