RE: IML: 1968 Crown Convert - dashboard lighting and headlights

The interior light control is indeed operated by the same control as is the dash illumination, however the mechanism and electrical circuit is completely independent. Thus, your noting that your interior lights come on with the knob sheds no light at all (pun intended) on the lack of dash lights. The cure for this is still as recommended in the previous discussions. If the sore thumb exercise does not bring them back to life, then yes, the control has probably failed and needs to be repaired or replaced, but save yourself an awful lot of work and try the exercise routine before you dive into removing the control!

As for changing the headlight bulbs, yes, there is a ring that is held on with three tiny sheet metal screws for each bulb (you have to remove the 4 large chrome Phillips screws holding the chrome bezel that completes the grillwork over the headlights to get at the retaining screws. Do NOT touch the two Phillips head beam adjusting screws – they are for aiming the headlights and should not be disturbed unless your lights are aimed wrong.

Do loosen (don’t remove!) the three ring retaining screws, then rotate the ring about ¼ inch counterclockwise so the larger openings in the flange line up with the 3 screw heads, then the ring will fall off in your hands, followed by the headlight bulb, which will now dangle from the umbilical cord on its backside. Just plug in the new bulb and put things back where they were, and tighten the 3 small screws to hold the bulb retainer in after you rotate it back clockwise to the small end of the slotted holes. Now, reinstall the chrome bezels and “Bob’s yer uncle” as we used to say.

Dick Benjamin

From: mailing-list-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:mailing-list-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Crestonave@xxxxxxx
Sent: Saturday, August 26, 2006 1:09 PM
To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: IML: 1968 Crown Convert - dashboard lighting and headlights

Greetings and Salutations:

Thanks to those who responded to my request for help re the non-illumination of my instrument panel on my 1968 Crown Convert. After further review it appears that the panel knob does work because it does turn the rear interior lights (slightly above seat level) on and off. So I guess I'm gonna proceed to pull the instrument cluster to see what else is going on in there. I'm sure I'll be back for more advice, hopefully not in a panic.

Here's a really dumb new question. Couple of years ago I bought the Chrysler/Imperial service manual figuring that it would answer many routine questions about things I'd like to deal with on the car. Yeah, right! I'm confused as to how to get the headlights out so I can replace the sealed beams. I can see what I believe are the adjustment/aiming screws. a retaining ring and other sheet-metal type screws. The heads of the sheet metal screws point toward the grille. Do I have to remove these and what the heck to I use to remove them with. Can someone talk me through this?

Thanks so much!

Tom (Lawn Guyland, New York)

1968 Crown convert & 1960 New Yorker Coupe