The car is a stock '82, the radio is aftermarket.

Here's what happens:
When the parking lights are turned on, it also turns on the radio as if the key is set to the ACC position on the ignition switch. The idiot lights don't come on, just the radio. The AC fan can also be turned on.

Also, when the key is turned past the OFF position, the parking lights automatically come on even when the light switch is off. I don't think they're supposed to do that.

I'm not too sure how long this has been going on because I don't normally turn the lights on without the engine running.

I have the wiring diagrams, but I don't see where anything meets and I'm not sure what to look for. I have a hunch there's something crossed in the steering column area. Granted, this really isn't a big concern, but I can't help but think this is related to my intermittently working choke. Anyone have a clue?

 

There are some wires inside the center console area. Some are for ACC, some for parking lights, and some for the ON position. Whomever installed the aftermarket radio probably spliced the wrong wire(s) back there. Take out the radio, figure out which wires do what, and reconnect everything correctly.

The choke problem may be different since it is intermittant. I had the same problem and the choke holder in the Cosmo eventually wouldn't work at all. I started using a nickel.

 

The adapters that I received from Crutchfield along time ago had the Illumination and Accessories wires reversed in their adapters. Might be as simple as that. A multimeter is your friend. Test light would work as well.

 

When looking for the ignition wire from your car, meaning the wire that will give you power when the key is on, no power when the key is off... if you grab a wire ran off the lighting you'll think u have the right one... but if you give the lights a quick on-off while you have the test light hooked up to the wire you grabbed, you'll know if it's a true ignition or hooked into the lighting system... common mistake. If you hooked up radios for a living you'd check it everytime before you grab what u think is the ignition wire to make sure.

 

Thanks for the responses.

Looks like one of the previous owners must've had some ideas of their own when putting in the radio. There are several clumps and connectors that have wires that don't match the factory wires or the aftermarket ones. I'll see if I can find it this morning spelunking around under there.