1956 Service Manual Body Section error

[J. Gomez]

Anyone with a 1956 Service Manual please see attachment below. 

I notice this critical error under the body Section in Fig 14-157 for the body circuit diagram. The dome light shown for the 6237 has the switch connecting the +12V (red) directly to the black wiring from both the door switches.   

I’ve look around the Serviceman for 1956 and found no mention of this error or correction for the diagram not sure if this was caught under the later years Serviceman.

I believe the dome light switch has two function, 1- connects the door switch to light the lamp when either door is open and 2- it connects a ground to the lamp via the switch.

I’m not 100% if this is accurate could someone with a coupe validate. I could make the corrections for this page and posted (if possible) or send a copy of the full page to anyone.

[Kurt Kjelgaard]

I don’t know much about the -56, but from what I can see from the attached picture it looks like the left roof rail lamp has the same connection/ switch as the dome lamp. The right roof rail lamp is connected the same way but does not show a switch. The picture is blurred, but it looks like there are diodes in series with the switch/lamps (except there is no switch for the right lamp - could be a mistake) Maybe that explains the way they are wired?

[cadman56]

I have made two complete wiring harnesses for a 56 coupe.  What I truly believe is the door switches and the headlight switch connect the circuit to ground.  The switches are in  what we call in parallel downstream of the lights and the lights are in series upstream of the switches.  Power to the dome lights is taken from the power circuit to the cigar lighters, hence the dot where the wires cross on the wiring diagram.   
I think the wiring diagram  confuses the issue because it shows lights from different models types in the same diagram.

On a side note, are any of you experience a very slow response on the forum when clicking on the different links?

[J. Gomez]

Kurt,

Sorry my scan copy came a bit blur on the left side and I had to compress the original down to fit the attachment limitation on the forum.

I don’t know much about the -56, but from what I can see from the attached picture it looks like the left roof rail lamp has the same connection/ switch as the dome lamp. The right roof rail lamp is connected the same way but does not show a switch.

The drawing represent the wiring for all the applicable dome lights on each of the models. The one you notice (which I also missed good catch    ) are for the 6237D, 6237S and the 6239D which they have one on each side and the switch on the left controls both.

That one is also showing the switch incorrectly at the dome shorting the +12V and the ground from the door switches.

Next on the list to correct, thanks.   

The picture is blurred, but it looks like there are diodes in series with the switch/lamps (except there is no switch for the right lamp - could be a mistake) Maybe that explains the way they are wired?

Sorry there are no diodes on any of the wiring on the ’56. 

[J. Gomez]

Larry,

Not sure I understand “headlight switch connect the circuit to ground”  , there is no ground from or to on the headlight switch itself. The main connection at the headlight is +12V to feed all the lights depending on which position is place.

Power to the dome lights is taken from the power circuit to the cigar lighters, hence the dot where the wires cross on the wiring diagram.   

Correct the “dot” represent an electrical connection at the line while an open-line (on older drawings) or a bridge (in newer drawings) represent there is no connection across the two lines.

The main +12V for the dome light and the cigarette lighter in this drawing is feed by the main +12V body feed which is always hot. 

I think the wiring diagram  confuses the issue because it shows lights from different models types in the same diagram.

I do agree it will be confusing to anyone new trying to read and understand an electrical diagram since as you point out it shows all the wiring scenarios for all models.   

On a side note, are any of you experience a very slow response on the forum when clicking on the different links?

Not from my side.

[cadman56]

I have spare headlight switches.  I will have to look at them again.  I have always understood all the switches completed the grounds for the lights.  I could've been wrong there  sure don;t know it all.

[J. Gomez]

sure don;t know it all.

Larry,

Same here 

Here is the diagram for the headlight switch the "red" battery is switched across the switch to the other terminals. The only one that is not part of the switch function is the "orange" this one is feed directly from the "red" via the CB at the headlight switch for the break and map light(s). 

HTH

[Saturnin15]

Does the map light suppsed to lite when you open the doors or it’s supposed to lite only with the switch?

[Roger Zimmermann]

The map light is coming on when opening a front door.

I have always understood all the switches completed the grounds for the lights.  I could've been wrong there  sure don;t know it all.

In fact, the "other" end of the lamp(s) is connected to the ground. the switch is just closing the positive circuit.