electrical gremlin got me scratchin my head

I have a restored 1966 el camino. The problem is sometimes the interior lights and tail lights will cease to illuminate. Obviously this is noticed at night. When this occurs, the only lights that do operate are the head lights.
It seems to be random event. Sometimes the lights work normally. When I restored the car, I did not replace wiring harness as it looked in great condition throughout. I checked the ground to the rear harness assembly and it is connected and tight. I figure its a short or bad ground but no evidence of either. Any ideas? thanks in advance for any help.

Hmmm, could be an Elky thing.**)

I have a '69 El Camino that I have restored, complete with a painless wiring kit, and my tail lights do not currently work. But the rear side markers do work as does the brake lights.:confused::confused:

I am thinking that it must be a grounding issue or maybe my construction of the splices or:confused:

Good luck flanker, let me know if you come up with an answer and I will do the same!

Headlight switch..

Check the dash insert to dash grounds, thats what did it on my '68 El Camino.

Pat

Fuse block first, then switch. Probably not ground if they all quit at the same time.

If you do a little reading on the net about Auto Electrical problems, and speak to a couple of the rewire kit Co's, 99.9 % of most electrical problems are faulity Grounds or Ground based. It is always the Place to Start.

RS

Thanks for the replies. I'm not familiar with the dash inserts. Do they come off the fuse block?

Check to be sure the fuse block is not cracked and therefore loosing connection.

Do your dash lights go out at the same time? Older Chevys (and maybe newer or other cars) the dash, interior and tail lites are on the same circut. Check to be sure the wires going to that fuse on the fuse block has a good connection.

Bug

Since you didnt replace the harness, you may want to check wires that are hidden. I had a buddy who had probelms with a wire that would run the battery down. We traced it to the wire that went to the dome light on the haedliner. The wire was old and had cracked and the bare part of the cracked wire would rub the steel roof and you couldnt see it unless you removed the headliner.

I'll say it again........

Headlight switch

&& I'll just about bet if you pull it you'll see a burned terminal on the switch which is causing your problems. Seen this happen way too many times on GM cars/trucks....joe


To remove the headlight switch knob, reach up under your dash & push the button on the switch & pull the knob out. You may have to pull it out part way before pushing the button but it will come out & then remove the nut holding the switch in.

http://www.trifive.com/forums/headlightswitch.jpg

Thanks for all of the replies. I pulled the headlight switch out and it looks fine, is new too. But i will change it anyways. There was some of the connector up on the interior light that was exposed that could had been shorting on the chassis. So i wrapped it liberally with shrink wrap.
Hope this helps. Yall been great.