This is probably a stupid question, but all courtesy lights on my '70 442 convertible come on when the driver door is opened. This includes the front and rear lights. However, when the passenger door is opened, only the front lights come on. Is this normal?

 

It’s intended to give the driver the option to drive from the rear as opposed to drive from the front.😵‍💫

 

Look at a wiring diagram, that will tell you.

 

Hmm, I looked at a 70 442 wiring diagram and it shows the opposite of what you described.
I would say what you have is normal except backwards from the diagram.
Also, see with which door open your glove box light comes on,.

 

I looked at the diagram again
the left door switch operates the left side light only.
The right door switch operates the right side light and the rear seat lights.
Disregard the glove box light, I was tracking the wrong wire.
According to the diagram.

 

I think opening the glove box door activates the light, not either of the vehicle doors. That’s the way my car works.

 

The jamb switches are in parallel and work the same way.

OP's car is wired such that one jamb switch is not in the loop with the rear lighting and is wrong.

 

Thanks for your input. Electrical problems are a bitch for me. I guess I can live with this problem, but it bugs me. But here's another problem. Shouldn't the console door switch turn on the inside light when opened at any time? Does the inside light also power the center rear console light? My inside console light only comes on when the doors are opened. Door switch has no effect.

 

Sounds like your wiring is all boogered up, are your turn signals wired correctly?

 

The ORANGE wire is ALWAYS hot - it continuously provides 12 VDC regardless of its location(s). NOTE: The clock has no in-line switch - 12 VDC is continuously fed to the clock even with IGN off. NOTE: The cigar lighter itself operates as a NO (Normally Open) switch (SW) - 12 VDC is provided to the cigar lighter when the cigar lighter is pushed inwards. This closes the cigar lighter circuit which heats the cigar lighter element. Both the clock & the cigar lighter each have a separate dedicated ground. They are both independent of any white or white double black stripe wire. The glove box has a NO SW with its own independent ground (no connection to either a white wire or a white double black stripe wire). The glove box will not turn off or turn on any of the courtesy lamps - it is independent. It will only turn the glove box lamp ON/OFF.

Your car has no dome light. NOTE: The dome light of a non-convertible is displayed in the wiring diagram. Think outside the box. Note the ground circuit of the dome light - the ground circuit is fed via two distinct wires EITHER white OR white double black stripe. Notice the white wire for the dome light connection at the MAIN LAMP SWITCH. The MAIN LAMP SWITCH is a NO SW. When the MAIN LAMP SWITCH is turned to the right, the ground circuit is closed (completed) for each of the lamps on this circuit (dome light [you have none], all courtesy lamps & any map lamps contained on the dash panel EXCEPT the MAP LAMP SWITCH). The MAP LAMP SWITCH has its own independent ground. This MAP LAMP SWITCH will only turn on when the MAP LAMP SWITCH is turned to the on position (it has its own independent ground which resides outside of the white or the white double black stripe wires). I think it's this MAP LAMP SWITCH which is often connected incorrectly; but, let's move forward.

It's important to trace & note the white wire(s) and the white double black stripe wire(s). These are ground wires which complete the ground side circuitry for each of the lamps located on that circuit. The door jamb switches are NO switches. They each receive their ground when any of the door jamb switches are placed in the closed position (e.g. when any door is opened they should all turn on closing the circuit for all lamps in that circuit). They receive their ground from the metal located where each door jamb switch is mounted. When the LH door jamb switch is closed (door opened) it operates identically to the RH door jamb switch (as mentioned by Koda [above] - they are wired in parallel).

Finally, pay close attention to each door jamb switch in the wiring diagram and note this: You can close this complete circuit one of two ways: (1) Turning the MAIN LAMP SWITCH to the right (past the indent); or (2) opening any door. Doing so completes (closes) the circuit for all lamps on that circuit. Again, note the white wire and the white double black stripe wire for each door jamb switch. They all illuminate or none illuminate via either a door jamb switch or the MAIN LAMP SWITCH.

Best method to troubleshoot. Test each wire independently w/ a circuit light tester. Determine whether each lamp on that circuit is/is not OPEN/CLOSED or should be OPEN/CLOSED. This should lead you to determine which of the wires is incorrectly connected. Since all lamps illuminate when the LH driver's door opens (normal behavior), but only the RH front courtesy lamp illuminates when the RH passenger door opens, the most likely candidate is an incorrect connection of the RH door jamb switch.

 

Hoo Boy...thanks VC for the tips. i will try and trace the problem(s).but my eyes are old (Mac. Degeneration) . Plus, the chassis service manual I have does not have color coded wiring diagrams. Lot of good that does, right?

 

I don't believe the wiring diagram(s) changed between 1970 & 1971. True, 442 wiring diagram is black & white; however, I believe the wiring pursuant to your issue is not different between the 4-4-2 and other A-Bodies. I'll provide you with a couple wiring diagrams of each.

 

1971 Wiring Diagram

1970 Wiring Diagram

1970 Wiring Diagram

 

THANKS, Norm! This helps a lot. Still have to use a magnifying glass...

 

Understand. The best way to view most wiring diagrams is via a magnifying glass.

 

Norm had good writeup, however, the headlight **** is turned LEFT onto a detent to turn on the overhead etc lighting. Turning it to the right dims the instrumentation.

 

Try spraying some WD40 or electrical contact cleaner into both door jamb dome light switches. Then operate the switches thru a few cycles. Dirty contacts can cause issues like this.

Also remember the pin switch on driver door has three wires. Orange hot, white ground, and a third wire (usually pink) for the ignition switch warning buzzer. Passenger side and rear doors have only orange and white.

 

John - You're right - thanks for that. A morning of dyslexia for me, I suspect.

 

If I understand the OP's original question, the front door jamb switches for his '70 Vert are covered in the PIM, Sec 12, pg. 63.

From the manual, by opening EITHER front door, the following are activated (if available): courtesy lamps; map and dome lamps, and the electric seat back locks disengage.

Hope this helps....