Dash & Running lights stay on with ignition key.

Discussion in 'Trucks [ Eighteen Wheelers ]' started by Miss-Lou, Dec 19, 2016.

  1. Miss-Lou

    Miss-Lou Bobtail Member

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    Dec 19, 2016
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    Hello friends and thanks in advance to anyone with a possible solution to my problem. It's a 2000 Peterbilt 379, Cummins N14 Celect Plus. The instrument panel & running lights come on come on when you switch the ignition key to the right or left position. It's a push button starter and engine will start when key is in either position. The weird part is that all the gauges come on and the truck will start and run, (with the push button) when you switch the headlights or running lights on with the ingnition key off. Instrument panel Iights being the lights in the round gauges and running lights being both amber lights on sides of headlights and taillights. The marker lights where the blinker lights are on sides of sleeper stay off, but do come on when you flip the marker light switch on. Dash lights will not dim with the adjustable dimmer either. I bought this truck just under three years ago and it's been this way ever since I've had it. It used to be a Freight Systems Inc. truck. I'm thinking they may have wired the lights in with the ignition for safety purposes, but that's just my opinion. I'm just tired of the lights staying on all the time and the fact that someone could steal my truck just by flipping on the head or marker light switch.
     
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  3. Hulld

    Hulld Road Train Member

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    Oct 19, 2015
    Upstate NY
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    It sounds like to me someone has tried to create their own home brewed day time running lights.
    I am thinking that someone has run a jumper wire from the keyed ignition switch to the light switch.
    This would be why the lights come on with the key switch.
    Now the truck will start with light switch on because now power travels backwards from the light switch powering up the ignition system on the truck.
    I would pull the key switch and light switch and look for non oem wiring that someone may have added.
     
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