You could add a relay that operates when the headlights are on that applies power to the parking lights.

 

The previous owner of my car ('65) was attempting to do this when I bought the car. I say attempting because he never got it to actually work, I found out because he never wired correctly.

Anyways, he used (and this would work, I just chose to pull it all out) a 30A relay, using the power for the headlights (from the headlight switch to the bulbs) as the trigger circuit. On the power circuit he ran wires to the headlights and to the parking lights.

Those relays are a dime a dozen, you can get them at a good electronics store, good auto parts store, or online at partsexpress. Personally, I don't think it's worth tearing into the stock wiring to do such a mod, but if the wiring is festering anyways, go for it.

-Chris

 

In California it's illegal to drive with your parking lights on.

 

Not trying to be a smartass, but that's why they're called parking lights. They are to illuminate your car when its parked so others can see it in the dark. Used to be a law in England that you had to leave them on all night. That's why British cars had them on only the street side of the car.

 

I'm just guessing on this, I haven't looked at the wiring for this.

It's probably an issue of overloading the switch/wires. Take a look at some modern cars with fog lights (like a 90-93 Mustang GT), many of them turn the fog lights off when the high beams are on. This is because the draw of both of them combined would overload the switch and wiring.

 

Think about what you wrote. All modern cars use the parking lights as running lights/ ie: marker lights. If it is illegal in CA to drive with them on, then how can the cars pass state inspection if the lights stay on with the headlights.

Or are you saying with the parking lights only?

 

It's probably also because the fog lights and high-beams would blind oncoming drivers.

 

The official use of 'fog' lights is when you are driving in the fog. you don't drive with you high beams in the 'fog'. you use fog lights to see low and close to the car. High beams are for lighting up a large area in front and to the sides of you. if you can turn on the high beams, you dont need to have you 'fog' lights on.
thats why that portion is wired that way
surveyboy

 

You mean like this?

http://12.98.57.19/vmf/wiring.jpg

It's simple. You just need to jumper two wires at the light switch. Remember, the rear lights work with park AND headlights, no reason the front yellow ones shouldn't stay on also. Looking at the switch wiring, there is a black wire on the left that needs to be jumpered or connected to a black/green wire in the center of the switch. I did this with a wire on the work bench, but plan to add a small switch so I can connect/disconnect whenever I need to.
I'll try to take a photo and post it later of the light switch connections.

 

The reason the high beams and fog lights are not on at the same time is because it is against the law (at least for new car builders to build them that way). Fog lights are made to cut through and under the fog; turning on the high beams would only reflect all that fog back at you, so it makes sense not to have them both on at the same time. Of course, everyone uses fog lights all the time, and probably wouldn't know how to drive in fog.

 

Actually you are correct and also it is illegal to run with fog and bright lights at the same time...

 

In TX it's illegal to drive with ONLY your parking lights on. On my truck the partking lights stay on with the headlights (it's stock and it's perfectly legal).

 

To answer the question in regards to the '65-'67 Mustangs (and all other American cars until the end of the '67 model year), why bother? There is no advantage for the turn signal lights to be on when the headlights are on.

Then in '68, the Feds instigated a sweeping law mandating collapsable steering columns, high back front seats, shoulder belts, and... side marker lights (although I have no idea how Ford got away with a simple reflector on the rear flanks of the '68s). Now it makes sense for the turn signal lights to be on the same time the headlights were on.

Many cars shared the front turn indicator as the side marker light as well (not vintage-Mustangs, though). It is cheaper to produce one type of headlight switch which fits many different car models (and maybe even makes as well) rather than have different headlight switches for different models.

This is what I thought, anyway. But the '68 Mustang had to be different. The ones I've seen with their headlights on had the side marker lit but the front turn signals unlit. I'd have to see how they're wired to see if they use the same headlight switch as a '65-'67, have their own switch, or have a '69+ switch but wired differently. My hunch is '68s use the '65-'67 headlight switch but their wiring harness is configured to light the front side marker lights when the headlights are on.

Am I the only one who thought it was normal for a vintage car to have the front turn signal lights off when the headlights are on? Must be a sign of Old Fartom - LOL.

Regards,

Dean T

 

I like the fact that the parking lights turn off when the lights turn on... That way, my tri-bar halogens don't look stupid next to regular incandescent lights.

Mmmm.. tri-bar parking lights....

 

I'm with you Dean. That's the way it's always been. Therefore it is.

 

In regards to my post... I was just wondering for cosmetic reasons. No real advantage. I was not refering to fog lights.. i have no idea how they came up. But you know how many newer cars have the little parking lights on.. i though it might look kewl on mustangs.

 

Somehow, I can't imagine Tri-bars ever looking stupid (could the parking lights be seen when they're on *G*)?

I've been toying with the idea of gutting the stock turn signal body for the chrome part and stuffing a bright projector beam unit in place of the turnsignal/parking lamp.
Sure the turn signals would be a bit bright...

And before I get beaned over the head for being rigid, if some one wants to have their parkinglights on with the headlights on a pre'69 that's cool too. I was presenting the Ford Bean counter point of view.

Regards,

Dean T

 

The first time this came up I whipped out my handy 67 wiring diagram. I never noticed the parking light thing before. On my car the feed wire to the front park lights goes into the headlight switch near the taillight feed. It would seem simple enough to clip the park light wire and tap it into the taillight feed wire. Then your park lights would behave the same as every other vehicle made after 69. I would imagine 65+66 headlight switches are wired very like the 67.

 

Were high back seats required in 68? Mine didn't come with them, nor did most 68's as I know it. Any thoughts?

Thespazardman