radio and wipers only work if the headlights are turned on

I've got a 1969 Cadillac 3-way loader hearse and I have an interesting problem. The radio and wipers only work if the headlights are turned on. If you shut the headlights off niether will work. The funny thing is the key doesn't have to be on. If I have the key in the off position turn the radio on nothings happens but as soon as I turn the headlights on with the key still off the radio comes on. Any ideas. I recently was working on the turn signal lever. Had to cut an old end off and I'm wondering if I shorted something in the column. Also the GEN light comes on at start up but pull the light switch out and it goes off. Sometimes reving the engine will cause it to go out as well. Just started happening after I worked on the lever. Thanks for any help. Hello Sasquatch!

The headlight switch is separate from the ignition switch. The radio and wipers work off the ignition switch. Somehow the light switch is feeding the radio, and wipers, I guess, since you say they work only when the lights are on. Somebody must have driven an 'old' mechanic to the cemetary when he didn't want to go, so he put a 'curse' on the wiring.

As for the GEN light, it will come on when the alternator is not working, or the idle is too slow. Now, you may be having problems inside the alternator since you can rive the engine and it will go out, or you could have another wire bleeding into the wire going to that light...then again, could be that old curse.

You're gonna have to do some dash work to figure this out, but I'd start with where you did the work, earlier...look for wires that may have the insulation rubbed off, etc.

Good grace, In th Lord, Tommy All I did was cut off the end of the turn indicator lever and glue a plastic skull on it. Didn't touch any wiring. Could it be the turn indicator switch? Did a little hunting under the dash and initial findings are showing nothing unusal so far. I'll keep looking. Seems strange that the key can be in the off position but the radio will work if the headlights are on. Just started doing it. does it work when the key is not in the ignition Either way key in or key out. The ignition is in the off position. Turn the radio on and nothing but pull out the headlight switch and the headlights come on and so does the radio even though the ignition is in the off position. This also works with the wipers. Have had similar problems, ignition switch burns up inside. Current goes in wrong directions. What type of problems did you have? Ignition switch could be the problem. The turn indicator switch has every wire running through it as well. Since I was cutting on the turn switch lever that's what made me think that was the problem first. Any sure way to test other than just replacing the switch? Was just reading this in my service manual regarding the Wipers:

Moving the control switch lever to the "lo" position connects the relay control and shunt field circuit directly to ground. This provides the following cicuit: Current feed to the 25 amp windshield wiper fuse in the fuse panel comes from the accessry terminal on the ignition switch. Current flow through the 18 yellow wire to terminal number 2 of the wiper motor. It then flows through the tan wire to one contact point on the relay switch, and on through the red wire, the relay coil and through the red wire back to terminal number 1, through the light blue wire and the switch to ground. After passing through the relay points, current flows through the black and pink striped wire through the series field and divides; part flowing through the armature and circuit breaker and through the black ground wire, and other part flowing through the black with orange striped wire to ground at the control switch. So turn on the headlights and drive that way. What's the matter are the paying passengers complaining. lol HAHA

Good one!!! Still trying to figure it out.