I'm installing a new headlight switch from NAPA. The part number is HL6568. It has a tab pointing forward toward the engine, while the one I'm replacing doesn't have one. Just ignore it? Is it a ground?

It is indeed a ground. You can safely ignore it as long as there's metal-to-metal contact betweent he switch and the dashboard.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

I replaced my switch because my gauge lights don't work, and the new one had this tab. I did not ground it (the tab), and my gauge lights still don't work. Could this be due to a bad ground? Its funny, all of my lights work except for the ones in the gauges and the one on the steering coulmn (gear selector) when I turn the lights on.

Sorry I jacked slantfin's origional post.

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'74 Duster 225 Super Six w/904
14" Cragar SS wheels

dusterguy225,
This may be an obvious question but , have you checked your fuses.

Dave

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81 Dodge D150
It looked easier in the book .

Yep, none of them were blown, but I replaced all of them anyway. I waited and checked them again, still none were bad. I then replaced all of the light bulbs. The lights worked when I got the car. The gauge lights went first, and the gear selector light worked for a long time, then that finally went.

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'74 Duster 225 Super Six w/904
14" Cragar SS wheels

dusterguy225,
The only other thing I can think of is , where the wire harness is plugged into the gauge console,I dont know how hard it is to take it out of your car . It is rather easy on my truck, but some of the pins that were attached to the back had pulled off of the circuit board.

Dave

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81 Dodge D150
It looked easier in the book .

Yup, trace and check the (usually orange) wires that feed the dash lights.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

Well, I swapped the switch, but still no taillights. I'll explore further when I get a little time. Planet Mercury retrograde.

I replaced my circut board, not too long ago. All the pins on both are there. I scratched the cral out of my nicely painted dash and steering coulumn.
Um, I will have to devote an entire weekend to that! All my wires have been bundeled together with electrical tape, and its quite a mess back there. Thanks previous owners!
I think the dome light and tail lights are on the same circut. If your dome light doesn't work, check you fuses (if you haven't already). If that doesn't work, check your connections.

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'74 Duster 225 Super Six w/904
14" Cragar SS wheels

Thanks for the ideas dusterguy, The fuse keeps blowing when I hook up the battery, no key. Now I'm thinking the interior lights in the rear panels might be the cause, they were all corroded and floating around loose. I did have the drivers door open when the fuse blew (tail light and dome fuse), so I'm going to do a test by hooking up the battery with a fresh fuse in place, and not open the doors, give it a minute, and then remove the battery ground. If the fuse is still OK, I'll be pretty sure it's the interior lights. Crude, but it should tell me something.

Update: With the interior rear panel lights detached at the front kick panel connector, fuse doesn't blow. I cleaned up the sockets and put in some new bulbs, but when I hooked up the connector, the fuse went. The two yellow wires in the connector may not be connecting right.

Disconnected passenger side light @ rear connector, made sure yellow wires were seating @ kick panel connector. Fuse blew again. I see I'm almost out of fuses so I'm leaving the kick panel connector disconnected for now.

My guess is you have a short somewhere.

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'74 Duster 225 Super Six w/904
14" Cragar SS wheels

I think it's between the kick panel connector and the driver's side rear interior light.

Well, you could just disable it for the time being, or take the panel off and try to find the short. I don't even use my dome lights very often.

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'74 Duster 225 Super Six w/904
14" Cragar SS wheels