Side light toggle switch nearly caught fire!

[Harry53]

Hello!

I just bought a 1967 P6 2000TC and after a few days of driving it I encountered an issue,

I was driving it at night and could smell burning, and the side/park light toggle switch was scorching hot! Its internals must have melted and it no longer 'toggles' and is limp. The spade connectors to the switch were slightly burnt but are ok. I put a new toggle switch in (not a genuine rover part) with 3 terminals and connected the live to the centre terminal and the other two to the others. After doing this, only the side lights on the right of the car work, and the headlights do not work at all! The full beam still works. What has gone wrong? Can anyone help me? Thank you guys!

[harveyp6]

The switch melting could have blown some fuses, so I'd look there first. (Although I can't remember offhand how the lighting is fused with the Series 1 fusebox.)

[Harry53]

I've looked at the fuses and they all look fine any other ideas? Thanks!

[harveyp6]

If you've actually tested the fuses and they haven't blown, then as you've fitted a non standard switch I'd move there next, either the switch isn't doing what you think it's doing, or the wiring to it is incorrect.

[Harry53]

Ok I'll check that, thanks!

[Dave3066]

Circuit diagram if that helps



30 is the sidelight switch

Dave

[testrider]

The side and tail lamps are wired independently and you only have one side connected at once with that new switch. Also as far as I could tell whilst faffing with the lights on my '67 200TC the other day the lights don't have a fuse at all.

[Harry53]

Thanks everyone, I put an 8 terminal switch in and its all working again now, granted the parking lights dont work, but there pointless anyway! Cheers!

[chrisyork]

Hi Harry

Well done with your replacement switch. intrigued as to why didn't you use a correct P6 switch. They are still available new (from Holden's) and second hand one's are pretty common on Ebay and from the P6 specialists.

Chris