Moving shifter causes lights to go out??

[new to this]

All of the "parts houses" say they have never heard of this and do not have a clue where to get started. They all agree that it is NOT the neutral safety switch.

1966 Convertible- Cruise-O-Matic Transmission - with cruise control. Cruise is not working, nor is it a concern right know.

If the gearshift is moved just the slightest direction, the voltage regulator "clicks" and the lights go out. Headlights, map lights, if the door is open even the "door ajar" light goes out. I can put my finger on the voltage regulator housing and feel it clicking. It does not seem to matter where the gearshift is (L-D1-D2-N-R-P) moving it just slightly causes the click and the lights go out. Wiggling causes the lights to flash on and off.

I have also noticed that the light around the ignition switch flashes on-off as I drive.

Surely, I cannot be the only one that has ever had this problem.

[rhinoman]

Have you replaced the voltage regulator as a first step?

[boaterbob]

Do your lights go out only? With the car running does it stay running when this happens?

[new to this]

The voltage regulator has NOT been replaced. I can if you think that is a positive step. They are inexpensive enough.

The car continues to run. Just the lights go out.

[boaterbob]

I would unplug the harness at the bottom of the steering coluum and see what happens when you move the lever. You may have some shorted wires going though the coluum.

[new to this]

Replaced the voltage regulator - same symptoms. I think John Draxler from T-Bird ranch has offered the solution.

I was outside the car and moving the shift lever by hand (reaching underneath the brake booster) and noticed sparks from the transmission linkage. When I got the sparks, the voltage regulator clicked and the lights went out. John's thought was a bad ground from either the battery to chassis or chassis to motor.

I took some jumper cables from battery negative to chassis bolt and another cable from battery ground to engine block. This seems to have fixed it.

I will clean and verify for good ground connections in the daylight tomorrow and let everyone know the results after some "drive tests" tomorrow night.

[new to this]

Removed the engine block ground. Cleaned block and connector with wire brush. Removed ground on inner passenger side fender. Cleaned fender and connector. Added a wire from battery negative to the underside of the passenger side support that angles to the firewall. NO MORE FLASHING LIGHTS!