1971 Courtesy Rocker Switch

This will not help you very much but at least it is some feedback.

I have a brand new in the box courtesy switch that has Three switch positions. I have a used courtesy switch that only has two switch positions.

Bill Taylor’s diagrams at Panteraplace show the connections on the backside of the switches. But no information on how many positions they have

Larry

Thanks.  yes, I have Bill's diagram.  thanks for the feedback on the switch.  My switch appears to be a 2-position switch but something is broken inside and I am about to drill the rivets out to find the problem.  

FWIW. Not sure if mine is wired like stock but it works like

Depressed to the left = red door lights only, no dome when doors opened

Center location = red door lights and dome works when doors opened

Depressed to the right = dome light comes on with doors closed

Bill’s diagram looks pretty straight forward, but I don’t think mine works that way.

thanks for the feedback

As a close-out update for those that are interested, I sourced a new switch from Mike Mayberry.  The courtesy switch is a 3-position switch, left, middle, right.  By testing the terminals for the various combinations of connectivity in each position, you can achieve the results described above.  For me, Right activates the dome light when the doors are closed.  Middle actuates the door red markers when the doors open and left adds the dome light when the doors open.  I looked at pictures of several courtesy light switches on the web and every one had a different set of rear terminal combinations.  you just have to play with the combinations to make it work as intended for all 3 settings.  

OBTW, Hall is out of plastic switch bezels and I can find no other vendor that has them (or ever had them).  Hall is checking to see when they may get them back in stock.  I am in need of one for one other switch but if the wait becomes to long, will just buy another new switch.  

Hope it helps

PM sent

My recently acquired Jan 72 production has a 2 position switch. It may or may not be original to the car. Currently it only activates the courtesy light switch in the right position. I have power at the door switches and the red door lights also work, but the courtesy light  will not come on. Possibly I need the 3 position switch ? Would prefer the symbol style. Guess a call to the vendors to see what is available.

I just recently had a discussion with another owner about the courtesy switch. I am coming to believe that both a two position and three position switch was used in different years, but I have no confirmation of that.

in my used switch drawer I have examples of both.

Larry

PM Sent

The wiring diagram that SOBill did is correct.  There are 3 wires on the switch.  White/black wire which is hot from the fuse block which passes through the dome light (SOBill's diagram says this is a purple wire but in my car it is white/black).  A double purple wire set which is the door switches, and a black ground.  In order for the dome light to work when you open the doors, the white hot has to be connected to the purple  wire set.  When the door opens, the door switch produces the ground and voltage passes through the dome light which makes it light.  So if you want all 3 functions, yes, you need a 3 position switch and then play with the terminals to get the right 3 combinations of connectivity.  

Did you ever pull the center pin and rocker to see how the contacts inside work?

Just thought I would toss this in as information many folks aren’t aware of. I didn’t know this until a couple years ago

The black portion of the rocker switches can be removed without switch disassembly

The problem is grabbing it or getting underneath it to pull it straight off the mounting stud

Larry

Yes, I pulled apart my old switch.  It is a study in little parts, springs, and futility.  There is a thread on this site that walks you through the repair of said switches.  

Wilkinson only carries the 2 position switch. Anyone know where to source the 3 position symbol style ?

Jeff, did you ask if he has just the black symbol piece available separately ?

Larry

Is this the correct symbol for a courtesy switch?

Larry

Larry, He has both symbol and letter switches. And they are only 2 position. But I did not ask if he had just the cover.  And yes that is the courtesy light symbol I am looking for.

Steve has no bezels.  I bought my 3 - position switch from Mike Mayberry last week.

I am unaware that anyone ever sold the black knob only.  And only Hall has bezels but is Out of Stock.

@panterapatt posted:

The wiring diagram that SOBill did is correct.  There are 3 wires on the switch.  White/black wire which is hot from the fuse block which passes through the dome light (SOBill's diagram says this is a purple wire but in my car it is white/black).  A double purple wire set which is the door switches, and a black ground.  In order for the dome light to work when you open the doors, the white hot has to be connected to the purple  wire set.  When the door opens, the door switch produces the ground and voltage passes through the dome light which makes it light.  So if you want all 3 functions, yes, you need a 3 position switch and then play with the terminals to get the right 3 combinations of connectivity.  

Just received a new courtesy light switch(symbol) from Wikinson. It is a 3 position switch. By any chance do you have the wire position for the terminals you ended up with to have all 3 functions ?

Hot was on 1 and I think I used 6 and 8.   Will have to check later when home.  Your switch could be different however.  Need to take a multimeter and test what terminals are connected in each position and then apply the 3 wires to give the right result.  

There should not be a hot wire connected to this switch. To get the functions described earlier with a three position switch connect the two violet wires from the door lights to terminal1, connect the violet wire coming from the dome light to terminal 4 and connect the black ground wire to terminal 8.

NO, that is wrong.  The White/black wire is hot and when grounded lights the dome light by itself.  The violet wires when connected to the white/black wire simply connect the circuit through the doors and include the dome light.  That circuit grounds when one of the door switches is opened, creating the ground.  

I have exhaustively tested the circuit and promise you the white/black is hot.  On SOBills' diagram, he shows that wire as violet.  On my 71, it is White/black.

And OBTW, I now have two 3-position courtesy switches and their terminals and operation are DIFFERENT.  Hence my statement earlier to get a multi-meter and check which terminals have continuity in EACH switch position.  

Your two  three position switches may in fact be identical. I just installed a brand new light switch that looked correct but did not work correctly. Upon removal and testing, I found one terminal is apparently not internally connecting. The rivet attaching the terminal to the case is tight, but that terminal is not receiving power when it should.

I went through my junk drawer of spare switches and found two, three position courtesy switches that were both functioning correctly. I swapped out the black “courtesy “ rockers for “light” rockers and all is now good. Except for the brand new switch that is defective. ☹️☹️

I know of another owner that has also found brand new switches to be defective  

Larry

All of the wires on the switch will test as hot except the black ground as power goes through the bulbs. If you remove the bulbs I think your black/white wire will not have power.

Incorrect (at least on my car).  See the wiring diagram.  The "V" wire exiting the bulb of the dome light is white/black on my car.  It comes from the Fues block and sure looks hot to me, and was hot when tested.  When you ground that, the dome light lights up.  What isn't HOT about that?  Whatever at this point.  Mine works as it should in all 3 positions and I am moving on.

Larry - agree with you, the switches are all over the map in terms of which terminals they have, and whether they connect in a given position.  The only way to determine is to test a switch in all positions to see which lugs are connected.  From that you can map how to connect the device or lights properly to make the switch do what it is supposed to.  Simply attempting to stick wires on a numbered terminal will not produce the result unless you happen to get lucky.

Here is the diagram

That wiring diagram clearly shows that the grounds are switched, which is what I have always found.  Each of the three bulbs in the circuit are fed hot via the white/black wire.  The path to ground is completed via the door and rocker switches.  

John

And here is the diagram  modified to show wiring a 3 position switch.

@forestg posted:

There should not be a hot wire connected to this switch. To get the functions described earlier with a three position switch connect the two violet wires from the door lights to terminal1, connect the violet wire coming from the dome light to terminal 4 and connect the black ground wire to terminal 8.

I installed Wilkinson's 3 position switch. Different with a black/white instead of violet. Here is the wiring connections that worked on my early 72 production.

Terminal 1 2Violet wires. Terminal 2 Black/White. Terminal 8 black ground wire. Functions as position 1 always off. Position 2 door activated. Position 3 on with doors closed.