Symptoms
- Parking lights stay lit even after turning the key off and removing it
- Switch appears to be in the off position but lights remain on
- Battery drains overnight from lights being left on
- Turning the switch through positions doesn't change anything
Likely causes
- CommonHeadlight switch stuck or wornAn aging switch can fail to fully disengage the parking light circuit.
- CommonStuck relay keeping the circuit energizedA relay that doesn't release can keep parking lights powered even with the switch off.
- PossibleWiring short bypassing the switchA short circuit can send power to the lights regardless of switch position.
What to do
- Try cycling the headlight switch through all its positions multiple times to see if it eventually disengages.
- Check the relevant relay (parking light or headlight relay in the engine bay fuse box) and try swapping it with an identical one.
- If lights won't turn off and you need to leave the car, pull the relevant fuse temporarily to prevent battery drain.
- Avoid leaving the fuse pulled long-term as a permanent fix, since you'll lose parking lights entirely.
- Check for signs of a stuck switch, like unusual resistance or a switch that doesn't click properly.
- Have a shop inspect the switch and wiring if relay swapping doesn't solve it.
- Get the underlying cause fixed rather than repeatedly pulling the fuse, since this is only a temporary workaround.
- Charge or jump the battery if it has already drained from the lights staying on.
Tools and parts
- Fuse puller or pliers
Headlight switchSearch: “headlight switch for [your car make model year]”
Parking light relaySearch: “parking light relay for [your car make model year]”
When to call a pro
If pulling the relevant fuse is the only way to stop the drain, have a shop diagnose the stuck switch or relay soon rather than relying on that as a long-term fix.
Safety
Generally low risk
Generally low risk for a careful person. Stop if anything looks different from what this guide describes.