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Hello all,
HELP!
I am stumped regarding my insturment panel lights, etc. I have a repair manual and learned (I think???) there is no fuse box. Anyway, I'm trying to get my panel lights working and believe I have to remove the headlight switch as if I understand correctly, the headlight and panel lights are connected with a common switch with two knobs??? and have fuses (circuit breakers as the repair manual refers to them) on the switch itself. I cannot determing how to remove these switches and was unable to find the info in the repair manual or on-line (probably not looking in the right places). All other interior and exterior lights work including the emergency brake light on the dash, the brake lights, and the turn signals.
Are there instructions somewhere, or a video, or something?
One other thing I noticed - I tried putting the bulb in the dome light as there wasn't one in there from when I got the car about a month ago. It works but I can't get it to shut off. It has door switches for the front doors only and they appear to be operative. I tried turning the panel light switch as sometimes this turns the dome light on and off but not sure about 1959 controls. Of course the switch on the light itself doesn't change anything either. Any ideas?
Once I get all the lights working properly, the power steering valve setting to not self steer in one direction or the other, the heater hooked up, and a wheel alignment, everything should be 100%.
Thanks!
Fred
"It's delightful, it's delovely, it's DeSoto"
Hi Fred -
I don't have a 59 Firesweep, but I do have a 59 Dodge, which is similar.
To remove the headlight switch, it's one of two procedures: The knob pulls off the switch directly. Then there's a nut behind the knob that you remove. The other possible method is that there is a tiny allen screw in the knob. You have to use the correct allen wrench to remove it. Be sure to lube the screw with WD40 or PB Blast first.
Dome light: I assume you have a 4dr sedan here. Locate the switches on the front door A-posts. It sounds like the yellow wire that fits into the switches is touching the car body, which completes the circuit and lights up the dome light. Check each switch to verify that is not the case.
Ron
Thanks Ron,
I did look for an Allen screw but didn't see any. How do the knobs pull off. Do I just pull straight out? Or do I have turn? Or is there a little button that should be pressed in to release the knob/stem on the switch itself on the back side of the dash? I am familiar with this method from other cars but this DeSoto has not got much working room back there. My knobs work the lights by turning and not by pulling out.
The dome light seems much more simple. I like that. I'll let you know how things work out.
Regards,
Fred
"It's delightful, it's delovely, it's DeSoto"
If they do just pull off, it would be straight out with a little resistance. Don't force anything, as I am just relating to what I know from my 59 Dodge and 58 Plymouth.
Ron
Thanks Ron,
Upon closer inspection, I did find the knobs on the headlight switch do have Allen screws and now all I have to do is find the right wrench. Since I have no panel lights at all, can you suggest what to look for once I have the switch removed? Is there anything obvious that I might be able to see? For all I know, I might need a new switch assembly.
As for the dome light, hopefully I have an easy fix on it. After checking both door switches and found them to be OK, I discovered the bulb I was trying to install is a 1057 and not a 1004 that it calls for. I just assumed (and you know what that means) the bulb in the ashtray the previous owner had left in there was for the dome light. He had removed that and the trunk light bulb as well as disconnected the clock so they wouldn't be a drain on the battery during storage and while in transit.
If any other posters out there have ideas, I'm open.
Thanks again,
Fred
"It's delightful, it's delovely, it's DeSoto"
If none of the dash lights come on, then it's an issue with the rheostat on the headlight switch. Determine which wire powers the dash lights and connect to a power source it to see if the lights come on. Or it may be disconnected from the switch for some reason. I hope you are working with the shop manual, which has a schematic, along with the color codes of the wires.
The owner's manual and possibly the shop manual have listings of the correct bulbs for the lights.
Ron
Thanks again Ron,
I do have two repair manuals and the owner manual. There are schematics and bulb charts. Should be good to go from here.
Best regards,
Fred
"It's delightful, it's delovely, it's DeSoto"
Got the dome light working-amazing what the correct 1004 bulb does. Now for the dreaded panel lights.
The Kelsey-Hayes wire wheels arrived today and I'll have them mounted at the same time the alignment is done. Since the tires that came on the car are new Goodyear 800x14 reproduction units, I will be using them on the wires. These match the unused factory original spare.
Fred
"It's delightful, it's delovely, it's DeSoto"
Hey, Fred-
The rheostat for the dash lights is to the right of the headlight switch and left of the wiper switch. With the headlight switch in the parking light or on position, you should get 12 volts to the rheostat. Going by memory, the wire from the rheostat to the dash lights is orange. You can hook this to a known good power source to see if you get dash lights.
The internal workings of the rheostat are likely dirty, causing poor connection and your lighting problem. Testing the lights will let you narrow down where the connection problem is so that it can be resolved.
It's been a while since I had to lay on my back and spend quality time with the back of my instrument panel. Hope this info helps out.
As far as a fuse box, you are correct that there is none. In line fuses are employed.
Glenn Colburn
Yeah, I hear ya. I might remove my front seat to keep from having to be a contortionist - I just don't bend like I used to 50 or 60 years ago.
Thanks for the info and I'm sure it will be very useful. I'm just trying to build up to getting at it and git 'er done!
"It's delightful, it's delovely, it's DeSoto"