trickydicky43richard Posted December 17, 2015 Share Posted December 17, 2015 Hello '39 Chrysler experts, What is the function of the tiny overdrive dash light above the instrument cluster, what colour should it be and when should it be on,I.E when O/d is engaged or disengaged......or ?????Thanks,Rich Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reg Evans Posted December 17, 2015 Share Posted December 17, 2015 Sounds like you are referring to the high beam indicator light. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trickydicky43richard Posted December 17, 2015 Author Share Posted December 17, 2015 Might be, thats why I'm asking, any other opinions, R Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JACK M Posted December 17, 2015 Share Posted December 17, 2015 It should illuminate when the headlights are on and are in the high beam mode.I don't remember any of these cars having an indicator for overdrive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trickydicky43richard Posted December 17, 2015 Author Share Posted December 17, 2015 (edited) Thanks Jack, But both my workshop manuals mention an overdrive indicator light, so where and what is it ?? Also in my work shop manual supplement there is a wiring diagram on page 59 also listing an Overdrive indicator lamp.Can somebody come to my rescue, the little "jewelled" lamp I am talking about is above dash instrument cluster in dash proper,Richard Edited December 17, 2015 by trickydicky43richard (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JACK M Posted December 18, 2015 Share Posted December 18, 2015 Hmm, Well, if you have a wiring diagram then I am wrong. Learn something everyday. I suppose that the few ODs I have owned may either not have had an indicator or it didn't work.If you have the correct wiring diagram then you should have your answer. I recently went thru trying to figure out where the hi beam indicator should be on a car I am building. It seems that the 46 thru 48 Chrysler dash's will interchange. However on the 46 there is a hi beam indicator as you describe. On the 48 that fitting is not on the dash and the cluster has two idiot lights which are evenly spaced and are both red but one is for hi beam and the other is for turn signals, one indicator for both turns.Consequently if I am to wire the turn signals one light for either side then there is no provision for a high beam indicator. I didn't note this dilemma until the dash was installed and I am making a wiring harness. I ended up using one of those small lights that came on the front fenders od some 60s and 70s Mopars and mounted it under the dash. Had I used the 46 dash instead of the 48 I would not have had this problem. Haven't driven the thing yet, hope its not to bright. Anyway good luck with yours, fun stuff ain't it !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty_OToole Posted December 18, 2015 Share Posted December 18, 2015 Does the manual include a wiring diagram? That will tell you if the lamp should be on when the OD is engaged or disengaged. My vote is for engaged but have never owned a 39 Chrysler with OD. You should be able to find the hi beam indicator by turning on the lights and clicking the dimmer switch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hchris Posted December 19, 2015 Share Posted December 19, 2015 (edited) Looking at the master shop manual, the light should illuminate when the o/d switch activates the o/d solenoid; power to the light comes directly from the o/d solenoid. Sadly none of this answers your original question as to where the indicator is located on the dash. Edited December 19, 2015 by hchris (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Narve N Posted December 19, 2015 Share Posted December 19, 2015 On my current 40 there is a tiny red light displayed when the O/D is disengaged. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trickydicky43richard Posted December 31, 2015 Author Share Posted December 31, 2015 Another Aussie owner of a rare 39 Chrysler assures me the little "jewelled" light above the dash gauge panel is a high beam indicator and not an O/D indicator??R Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Narve N Posted January 8, 2016 Share Posted January 8, 2016 Enclosed is from 40, but I reckon 39 is identical. Any car would have a high-beam indicator, but O/D equipped ones would also have another light identicating O/D in or out (out/disengaged on my car) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trickydicky43richard Posted January 24, 2016 Author Share Posted January 24, 2016 Narv N the 39 is different to all year models either side, seems Chrysler were not good at common body or dash/instrument or gloveboxes etc.R Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
countrytravler Posted January 25, 2016 Share Posted January 25, 2016 I know that U.S. built Chry and Desoto with OD does not come equipped with a OD light up till 38. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cpwalter Posted February 22, 2016 Share Posted February 22, 2016 1939 was the first year that electronics were added to the OD that allowed for this convenience. Previously it was all a manual operation. Checking with a friend about the dash light. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Loney Posted February 23, 2016 Share Posted February 23, 2016 Regarding the 1939 Chrysler I offer the following information...The light on the dashboard with a silver ring around it is the overdrive kick down indicator and not the high beam indicator. The kick down light would illuminate when the accelerator pedal was depressed causing the "Cruise and climb" transmission to downshift out of O/D for greater acceleration or hill climbing ability. Many people have confused this light with the high beam indicator based on its location on the dash however the high beam indicator is actually located in the headlight knob itself...If you look at the knob, it appears that there is a little hole in it, this is where the light is located. Both the kick down and the high beam lights are orange in color. The non O/D cars do not have this kick down light but only a chrome/silver button (without the lens) just as the 6 cylinder cars don't have the spark control knob located above the starter button. Hope this helps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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